Penal Law in Action

Book excerpt: This book on penal law explains the main topics of penal law, with cases and examples of its implementation, using the changed text of Book 6 of the Code of Canon Law that will come into effect on December 8, 2021. Pope Francis has revised Book 6 of the Code of Canon Law, “Penal Sanctions in the Church,” canons 1311-1399. Of these 89 canons, 63 have been changed and others have been renumbered. Changes include a new canon 1376 concerning the crimes of stealing and misappropriation of church property; canon 1398 §2 making the sexual abuse of minors by religious brothers and sisters a crime; c. 1398 §1 no. 2 making grooming a crime. Other changes in canon law since 1983 have been incorporated into the new book 6. These include raising the age for sexual abuse from under age 14 to under age 18; a 1988 law imposing penalties for recording confessions; penalties for the attempted ordination of a woman; penalties for bishops failing to report or take sufficient measures against perpetrators of sexual abuse; and for clerics using pornography of those under age 18.