CHAPTER V. Dispensations

Can.85 A dispensation, or the relaxation of a merely ecclesiastical law in a particular case, can

be granted by those who possess executive power within the limits of their competence, as well

as by those who have the power to dispense explicitly or implicitly either by the law itself or by

legitimate delegation.

Can.86 Laws are not subject to dispensation to the extent that they define those things which are

essentially constitutive of juridic institutes or acts.

Can.87 §1. A diocesan bishop, whenever he judges that it contributes to their spiritual good, is

able to dispense the faithful from universal and particular disciplinary laws issued for his territory

or his subjects by the supreme authority of the Church. He is not able to dispense, however, from

procedural or penal laws nor from those whose dispensation is specially reserved to the Apostolic

See or some other authority.

§2. If recourse to the Holy See is difficult and, at the same time, there is danger of grave

harm in delay, any ordinary is able to dispense from these same laws even if dispensation is

reserved to the Holy See, provided that it concerns a dispensation which the Holy See is

accustomed to grant under the same circumstances, without prejudice to the prescript of can.

291.

Can.88 A local ordinary is able to dispense from diocesan laws and, whenever he judges that it

contributes to the good of the faithful, from laws issued by a plenary or provincial council or by

the conference of bishops.

Can.89 A pastor and other presbyters or deacons are not able to dispense from universal and

particular law unless this power has been expressly granted to them.

Can.90 §1. One is not to be dispensed from an ecclesiastical law without a just and reasonable

cause, after taking into account the circumstances of the case and the gravity of the law from

which dispensation is given; otherwise the dispensation is illicit and, unless it is given by the

legislator himself or his superior, also invalid.

§2. In a case of doubt concerning the sufficiency of the cause, a dispensation is granted

validly and licitly.

Can.91 Even when outside his territory, one who possesses the power to dispense is able to

exercise it with respect to his subjects even though they are absent from the territory, and, unless

the contrary is expressly established, also with respect to travelers actually present in the territory,

as well as with respect to himself.

Can.92 A dispensation is subject to a strict interpretation according to the norm of can. 36, §1,

as is the very power to dispense granted for a particular case.

Can.93 A dispensation which has successive application ceases in the same ways as a privilege

as well as by the certain and total cessation of the motivating cause.