Nicole Ferentz’s work in collaboration with Celeste West centered on subjects like lesbian sex and polyfidelity. On this congregation, as in others, issues of larger importance are thought-about by the total congregation of the cardinals; amongst these issues are the interpretation of laws in doubtful cases, the granting of unusual dispensations, the revision of provincial councils, and the like. As examples of issues of greater importance which must be considered by the complete congregation, the particular rules (normæ peculiares) mention the solution of doubts or of questions that may arise in regard to the interpretation of ecclesiastical legal guidelines, the examination of important administrative controversies, and kindred matters. At present, the interpretation of the Decrees of the Council of Trent is not of the unique competency of the Congregation of the Council, however is shared by every congregation inside the limits of its specific jurisdiction. As regards the doctrinal worth of Decrees of the Holy Office it should be noticed that canonists distinguish two kinds of approbation of an act of an inferior by a superior: first, approbation in common type (in forma communi), as it’s generally known as, which does not take from the act its nature and high quality as an act of the inferior.
Formerly a cardinal used to be chosen to preside over the Holy Office with the title of prefect; the primary to be appointed to this charge was Cardinal Michele Ghislieri, afterwards Pius V. The prefecture of the congregation, nevertheless, has lengthy been reserved by the pope to himself. It seems, subsequently, that this faculty should be held to signify only that, in particular circumstances, by which the sovereign pontiff, for special causes, may consider it fascinating to withdraw a matrimonial cause from the Rota, and submit it to the judgment of a congregation, the Congregation of the Sacraments should be thought-about the competent congregation underneath such circumstances. It is held below the presidency of the sovereign pontiff himself and is attended by all the cardinals who form the Congregation of Rites, the prelate-officials, and the consultors, all of whom vote – the consultors and the prelate-officials first, and then, when the consultors have withdrawn, the cardinals. The council subsequently made a powerful attraction to the sovereign pontiff to make provision for this important end, as is shown by the final (the twenty-fifth) session of the council, entitled De recipiendis et observandis decretis.
Matters of much less second are determined by the congresso, To offer an idea of the methods of procedure, it may be stated, for instance, that in the revision of a provincial council, all of the records of the council are referred to a consultor who’s required to offer a written opinion upon them. The variety of cardinals composing the Congregation of the Council was never restricted to eight, for to that quantity, which had been assigned by Pius IV, four extra were quickly added. The Constitution of Pius X provides that, notwithstanding the strict secrecy to which the officers of both congregations are held, they may talk to one another, upon occasion, those proceedings which relate to the prohibition of books, although they could talk nothing else. Wherefore, it’s forbidden for an officer of one of the congregations to serve in any manner as an agent, or as a procurator or advocate, in his personal department or in any other ecclesiastical tribunal. One of these sections has to deal with matters regarding religious orders; another, with the enterprise of religious congregations or associations of males, of no matter nature those associations could also be; the third, with enterprise regarding congregations of ladies.