Právní omezení v udělování svátosti smíření v CCEO a CIC

The article deals with the historical development and current form of legal restrictions for confessors in the administration of the sacrament of penance in the Catholic Church, and specifically in relation to the indiction of the extraordinary jubilee of mercy (2015–2016) by Pope Francis. It summarizes the evolution of the canonical regulation in the Christian East and West, particularly with regard to (re)codification of canon law in the 20th century, and indicates the original version and Czech translation of fundamental texts which were only accessible with difficulties and little known. It emphasizes the clarification of the distinction reserved for sins because of their nature (ratione sui) and because of censures (ratione censurae). It analyzes, explains and evaluates upon this basis the extraordinary faculties granted to confessors in the Czech Republic decades ago. The author finally presents his personal reflections and suggestions for future legislation (de lege ferenda) and for Christian practice, with an emphasis on the social dimension of personal sins and on the reactions of the Church to them.