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 Canon Twenty Nine

Code of Canon Law
of the
Evangelical Catholic Church

Canon 29:
Nullification of Orders, Solemn Professions
and
Clerical and Religious Incardination

Canon 12:26 identifies the particulars prerequisites rendering a candidate irregular and ineligible for Orders.  It is the duty and responsibility of those entrusted with the screening of candidates for Orders, Profession and Incardination to ensure eligibility. Despite all prudent safeguards, unworthy or ineligible candidates, through intentional acts of fraud and deception, will ascent to Holy Orders,  make Profession or obtain Incardination.

Should it be determined and documented  that a Cleric or Religious has attained their rank and status through acts of willful fraud and deception or lacked the necessary psychological and spiritual freedom to enter into Orders, Profession or Incardination, the appropriate Bishop or Religious Superior must move to have said Orders, Profession or Incardination declared Null and Void and return that person to their previous status.

Acts of Fraud and Deception include, but not limited to:

A. Submission of Application with false or misleading personal information.
B. Submission of False Academic Credentials or Canonical Credentials.
C. Withholding of any information which would deem one irregular for Orders, Profession or Incardination.

It is the belief of this Church that one who obtained Holy Orders through acts of willful fraud and deception or lacked the necessary interior psychological or spiritual freedom, lacked the necessary dispositional prerequisites [interior disposition] for the Sacrament to be validly received at the time of ordination, even when all necessary prescribed form was followed by the ordaining bishop.

It is the belief of this Church that one who made Profession or obtained Incardination through acts of willful fraud and deception or lacked the necessary interior psychological or spiritual freedom for the Canonical Act of Profession or Incardination to be validly conferred, even when all necessary prescribed liturgical form was followed by the bishop or religious superior.

It shall be the responsibility for Bishops or Religious Superiors to exercise all pastoral professionalism in the execution of Articles of Nullification.

Upon completion of the process of nullification of Holy Orders, Solemn Profession and Clerical and Religious Incardination, the names of those who have have their clerical or religious status nullified will be made part of the public record of this church body.

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©2011