1. Sententia a Tribunali Cardinalium die 24 ianuarii 1953 lata (cf. AAS 45 [1953] 765ss.) vigens adhuc tenenda est; nam nulla nota diplomatica inter Sanctam Sedem et Ordinem S. Ioannis Hospitalis Hierosolymitani habita in discrimen vocavit nec eam idem Ordo proprio marte in nihilum reducere potuisset, cum de actu Sanctae Sedis agatur.
2. Extra dubium exstat natura religiosa Ordinis S. Ioannis Hospitalis Hierosolymitani et quidem, praecise dictu, qua membra primae classis, Equites nimirum Iustitiae, vota emittunt castitatis, paupertatis et oboedientiae, quippe qui Congregationi pro Institutis vitae consecratae et Societatibus vitae apostolicae subiciuntur, uti professi in Institutis vitae consecratae.
3. Equites Honoris et Devotionis in Oboedientia, quippe qui in Constitutione anni 1961 instituti sint, Congregationi pro Institutis vitae consecratae et Societatibus vitae apostolicae canonice non subiciuntur, quippe qui expertes sint tituli iuridici ad dependentiam ab ea quod attinet, id est professionis religiosae.
4. Qui ad Ordinem S. Ioannis Hospitalis Hierosolymitani pertinent at vota non emittunt «dipendono dall’Ordine e, per esso, dalla Santa Sede», de mediata dependentia et quidem per Ordinem satis innuens praefata Sententia Cardinalium. Cum ideo Sancta Sedes suam competentiam indirecte in membra haud religiosa et quidem per Ordinem exercet, certe vi huius exercitii indirecti auctoritatis haud valet Congregatio pro Institutis vitae consecratae et Societatibus vitae apostolicae recursus hierarchicos circa dimissionem ab Ordine S. Ioannis Hospitalis Hierosolymitani eorum qui ad Ordinem pertinent at vota non emittunt, pertractare ac definire.
| 1. The sentence pronounced by the Court of Cardinals of 24 January 1953 (cf. AAS 45 [1953] 765ff.) must still be considered in force; in fact, no intervening diplomatic note between the Holy See and the Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem has questioned it, nor could the Order itself have annulled it on its own initiative, since it is an act of the Holy See.
2. There is no doubt about the religious nature of the Order of St. John; indeed, as the members of the first class, namely the Knights of Justice, take the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience, so they are subject to the Congregation for Institutes of consecrated life and Societies of apostolic life, such as those professed members of Institutes of consecrated life.
3. The Knights of Honor and of Devotion and Obedience, those established in the 1961 Constitution, are not canonically subject to the Congregation for Institutes of consecrated life and Societies of apostolic life, since they lack the juridical title which pertains to dependence on the Congregation, that is, the religious profession.
4. Those who belong to the Order of St. John but do not cast votes "depend on the Order and, through it, on the Holy See", as the aforementioned Judgment of the Court of Cardinals refers to this mediated dependence, and that through the Order. Since therefore the Holy See exercises its competence indirectly over non-religious members and does so precisely through the Order, certainly by virtue of this indirect exercise of authority the Congregation for Institutes of consecrated life and Societies of apostolic life cannot handle or decide the hierarchical recourse against the dismissal from the Order of St. John those who belong to the Order, but do not issue votes. |
