ABIURA

ABJURATION. — A retraction of error in matters of faith. In classical Latin and in late Latin (cf. Du Cange, Glossarium mediae et infimae latinitatis, Paris 1840), the terms abiurare and abiuratio were used in the proper sense of denying with an oath: abiurare. In modern usage, it signifies the renunciation or retraction of an idea or doctrine, and in ecclesiastical legal language, the retraction of error by a non-Catholic in order to be admitted or readmitted to communion with the Church.

Current canonical discipline requires a formal act of abjuration from all who, having committed in the external forum the crime of apostasy, heresy, or schism, desire to be readmitted to communion with the faithful (CIC, can. 2314, § 2) and to the use of the sacraments (can. 731, § 2). The reason is that when heresy, schism, or apostasy are public, they scandalize others, and such scandal demands adequate reparation; whereas if they do not appear outwardly, repentance and confession suffice.

I. SUBJECT OF ABJURATION

Abjuration is imposed only on adults, since only adults are considered capable of having given full and true adherence to error. Children and minors, before receiving baptism, make only a profession of faith in the presence of witnesses (Holy Office, 8 March 1882). And these adults must be Christians. For pagans, Muslims, Jews who desire to enter the Catholic Church, baptism alone suffices. Now, the cases in which we are concerned with adults requesting abjuration are two: either it concerns a Catholic who has publicly become heretical, schismatic, or apostate (passing to Judaism or Protestantism, or to a dissident Church, etc.), or it concerns a non-Catholic Christian, i.e., one baptized in heresy or schism, who wishes to convert to Catholicism. In the first case, since the offender has ipso facto incurred excommunication (CIC, can. 2314, § 1), the following process is followed: abjuration, then absolution from