CHAPTER IV. Privileges

Can.76 §1. A privilege is a favor given through a particular act to the benefit of certain physical

or juridic persons; it can be granted by the legislator as well as by an executive authority to whom

the legislator has granted this power.

§2. Centenary or immemorial possession induces the presumption that a privilege has been

granted.

Can.77 A privilege must be interpreted according to the norm of can. 36, §1, but that

interpretation must always be used by which the beneficiaries of a privilege actually obtain some

favor.

Can.78 §1. A privilege is presumed to be perpetual unless the contrary is proved.

§2. A personal privilege, namely one which follows the person, is extinguished with that

person’s death.

§3. A real privilege ceases through the complete destruction of the thing or place; a local

privilege, however, revives if the place is restored within fifty years.

Can.79 A privilege ceases through revocation by the competent authority according to the norm

of can. 47, without prejudice to the prescript of can. 81.

Can.80 §1. No privilege ceases through renunciation unless the competent authority has accepted

the renunciation.

§2. Any physical person can renounce a privilege granted only in that person’s favor.

§3. Individual persons cannot renounce a privilege granted to some juridic person or granted

in consideration of the dignity of a place or of a thing, nor is a juridic person free to renounce a

privilege granted to it if the renunciation brings disadvantage to the Church or to others.

Can.81 A privilege is not extinguished when the authority of the one who granted it expires

unless it has been given with the clause, at our good pleasure (ad beneplacitum nostrum), or some

other equivalent expression.

Can.82 A privilege which is not burdensome to others does not cease through non-use or contrary

use. If it is to the disadvantage of others, however, it is lost if legitimate prescription takes place.

Can.83 §1. A privilege ceases through the lapse of the time period or through the completion of

the number of cases for which it had been granted, without prejudice to the prescript of can. 142,

§2.

§2. It also ceases if, in the judgment of the competent authority, circumstances are so

changed in the course of time that it becomes harmful or its use illicit.

Can.84 One who abuses the power given by a privilege deserves to be deprived of that privilege.

Therefore, when the holder of a privilege has been warned in vain, an ordinary is to deprive the

one who gravely abuses it of a privilege which he himself has granted. If the privilege was granted

by the Apostolic See, however, an ordinary is bound to notify the Apostolic See.