CONGREGATION FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH

DOCUMENTS

Disciplinary documents

Note: The disciplinary documents of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith are presented in reverse chronological order. Each text is given with its title in Italian or English, followed by the official title (usually in Latin) in parentheses, and the date of publication.

The next line, in bold typeface, provides references to official collections and editions (for example, Acta Apostolicae Sedis) and the final line gives references to unofficial collections and editions in various languages. 

List of abbreviations

• Decree of Erection of the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter, 1 January 2012
  OR 4.01.2012; OREsp 8.1.2012, p.11.
  [English, French, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish]

• Circular letter to assist Episcopal Conferences in developing Guidelines for dealing with cases of sexual abuse of minors perpetrated by clerics (May 3, 2011)
  AAS 103 (2011) 406-412
  [Czech, English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Slovak, Spanish]

  • Letter of Card. William Levada on the occasion of the presentation of the Circular letter to Episcopal Conferences concerning Guidelines for dealing with cases of sexual abuse of minors perpetrated by clerics (May 3, 2011)
    [Czech, English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish]

• Decree of Erection of the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham, 15 January 2011
  AAS 103 (2011) 129-133
  [English, Italian]

• General Decree regarding the delict of attempted sacred ordination of a woman (December 19, 2007)
  Decretum generale – De delicto attentatae sacrae ordinationis mulieris
  AAS 100 (2008) 403
  OR 30.5.2008; Notitiae 44 (2008) 135
  [Czech, English, French, German, Italian, Latin, Portuguese, Spanish]

• Normae de delictis Congregationi pro Doctrina Fidei reservatis seu Normae de delictis contra fidem necnon de gravioribus delictis, 21 May 2010
  AAS 102 (2010) 419-434
   
  • Rescriptum ex Audientia
    AAS 102 (2010) 419
    [Latin]
     
  • Norms
    AAS 102 (2010) 419-430
    Communicationes 42 (2010) 333-344
    [Czech, English, French, German, Italian, Latin, Polish, Portuguese, Slovak, Spanish]
     
  • Letter to the bishops of the Catholic Church and to the Ordinaries and Hierarchs, regarding the modifications introduced in the Normae de gravioribus delictis, 21 May 2010
    AAS 102 (2010) 431
    Communicationes 42 (2010) 345
    [Czech, English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish]
     
    • The norms of the Motu Proprio “Sacramentorum sanctitatis tutela” (2001): Historical introduction
      Communicationes 42 (2010) 349-353
      [Czech, English, German, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Slovak]
       
    • A brief introduction to the modifications made in the Normae de gravioribus delictis, reserved to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
      AAS 102 (2010) 432-434
      Communicationes 42 (2010) 346-348
      [Czech, English, French, German, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish]
       
    • The significance of the publication of the new "Norms concerning the most serious crimes". Note by Fr. F. Lombardi
      [English, French, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish]

• Complementary Norms for the Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum coetibus , November 4, 2009
  OR, 9-10.11.2009, p. 7.
  [Czech, English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Slovak, Spanish]

  • Illustrative Article: The significance of the Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum coetibus (Fr. Gianfranco Ghirlanda, S.J.)
    [English]

• Decree on attempted ordination of some Catholic Women, 21 December 2002
  Recursus quarundam excommunicatarum mulierum reicitur
  AAS 95 (2003),  271-273; DOCUMENTA 101
  Communicationes 35 (2003) 56-59
  [English, French, Italian]

• Letter sent to all Bishops and other Ordinaries and Hierarchs of the Catholic Church explaining New Norms for Church Handling of Certain Grave Offenses (graviora delicta)
  (Epistula ad totius Catholicae Ecclesiae Episcopos aliosque Ordinarios et Hierarchas interesse habentes de delictis gravioribus eidem Congregationi pro Doctrina Fidei reservatis), May 18, 2001
  AAS 93 (2001) 785-788
  Communicationes 33 (2001) 163-165;Origins 31 (2002) 528-529.
  [English, German, Italian, Latin, Spanish]

• Apostolic Letter Sacramentorum sanctitatis tutela, issued Motu Proprio, by which are promulgated Norms on more grave delicts reserved to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (April 30, 2001)
  AAS 93 (2001) 737-739
  [English, Italian, Latin, Portuguese]

• Dichiarazione sulla «Chiesa clandestina» nella Repubblica Ceca, February 11, 2000
  Boll Sala St 11/02/2000; RegnoDoc 5/2000, 166-167
  [Czech, Italian]

• Regulations for doctrinal examination - Ratio Agendi 
  (Agendi ratio in doctrinarum esamine), May 30, 1997
  AAS 89 (1997) 830-835
  OR 30.8.1997, 4; OR (F) 2.9.1997 [Gall.]; DocCtah 94 (1997) 819-821 [Gall.]
  [English, French, German, Italian, Latin, Portuguese, Spanish]

• Letter to Ordinaries regarding norms on Exorcism
  Epistula Ordinariis locorum missa: in mentem normae vigentes de exorcismis revocantur), September 29, 1985
  AAS 77 (1985) 1169-1170
  Communicationes 18 (1986) 46-47; DocCath 83 (1986) 197 [Gall.]; EV 9, 1614-1617; LE 5143; Dokumenty, II, 14
  [English, French, German, Italian, Latin, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish]

• Irreconcilability between Christian Faith and Freemasonry - Reflections a Year After Declaration of Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, March 11, 1985
  OR 11.03.1985
  [English, French, Italian, Portuguese, Slovak, Spanish]

• Declaration on Masonic Associations
  (Declaratio de associationibus massonicis), November 26, 1983
  AAS 76 (1984) 300; DOCUMENTA 54
  OR 27.11.1983 [Lat./Ital.]; CivCat 135 (1984) 1, 393; Communicationes 15 (1983) 160;DocCath 81 (1984) 29; EV 9, 481-487; LE 5011; Dokumenty, II, 9
  [English, French, German, Italian, Latin, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish]

• Replies to questions on the interpretation of the decree Ecclesiae Pastorum
  (Responsa ad proposita dubia de interpretatione decreti «Ecclesiae Pastorum»), July 7, 1983
  AAS 76 (1984) 45-52; DOCUMENTA 51
  OR 29.10.1983, 2; DocCath 80 (1983) 1074 [Gall.]; EV 9, 336-345 [Ital./Gall]; LE 4991; Dokumenty, II, 6
  [English, French, German, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish]

• Notification regarding the canonical penalties incurred by His Excellency Mons. Pierre Martin Ngô-dinh-Thuc and other completely illicit ordinations
  (Notificatio qua poenae canonicae Episcopis qui illicite alios episcopos ordinaverunt illisque hoc modo illegitimo ordinatis denuo comminantur), March 12, 1983
  AAS 75 (1983) 392-393; DOCUMENTA 49
  OR 8.4.1983, 1; DocCath 80 (1983) 618-619 [Gall.]; EV 9, 114-119; LE 4960; Dokumenty, II, 4
  [English, French, German, Italian, Latin, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish]

• Declaration on behalf of some clergy and laity formerly or actually belonging to the Episcopal (Anglican) Church for full communion with the Catholic Church, April 1st, 1981
  DOCUMENTA 45
  OR 1.4.1981; DocCath 78 (1981) 433 [Gall.]; EV 7, 1110-1113; LE 4836; Dokumenty, I, 45
  [English, French, German, Italian, Portugiesisch, Spanish]

• Declaration concerning status of Catholics becoming freemasons
  (Declaratio de canonica disciplina quae sub poena excommunicationis vetat ne catholici nomen dent sectae massonicae aliisque eiusdem generis associationibus), February 17, 1981
  AAS 73 (1981) 240-241; DOCUMENTA 44
  OR 2-3.3.1981, 2 [Ital.]; Communicationes 8 (1981) 42-43; DocCath 78 (1981) 349 [Gall.]; EV 7, 1036-1039; LE 4832; Dokumenty, I, 44  
  [English, French, German, Italian, Latin, Portuguese, Slovak, Spanish]

• Risposte ai dubbi proposti circa l’interpretazione del Decreto «Ecclesiae Pastorum»
  (Responsa ad proposita dubia de interpretatione decreti «De Ecclesiae Pastorum»), June 25, 1980
  AAS 72 (1980) 756; DOCUMENTA 39
  Communicationes 12 (1980) 234; DocCath 78 (1981) 433 [Gall.]; EV S1, 712-715; LE 4782; Dokumenty, I, 39
  [French, German, Italian, Latin, Polish, Spanish]

• Notificazione circa la devozione alla Divina Misericordia nelle forme proposte da Suor Faustina Kowalska, April 15, 1978
  AAS 70 (1978) 350; DOCUMENTA 33
  DocCath 75 (1978) 790; LE 4562; Dokumenty, I, 33
  [German, Italian, Polish, Spanish]

• Norms regarding the manner of proceedings in the discernment of presumed apparitions or revelations
  (Normae de modo procedendi in diudicandis praesumptis apparitionibus ac revelationibus), 25 February 1978
  [Dutch, English, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Latin, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish]
  • Preface (Card. William Levada, Prefect), 14 December 2011
    [Dutch, English, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish]

• Decree concerning certain unlawful priestly and episcopal ordinations
  (Decretum circa quasdam illegitimas ordinationes presbyterales et episcopales), September 17, 1976
  AAS 68 (1976) 623; DOCUMENTA 29
  OR 20-21.9. 1976, 1; CivCat 127 (1976) 4, 375-378; DocCath 73 (1976) 857.859 [Gall.]; EV 5, 1388-1391; LE 4467; Dokumenty, I, 29
  [English, French, Italian, Latin, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish]

• Decree regarding public celebration of Mass in the Catholic Church for other Christians who have died – Accidit in diversis
  (Decretum de Missa publice celebranda in Ecclesia Catholica pro aliis christianis defunctis), June 11, 1976
  AAS 68 (1976) 621-622; DOCUMENTA 28
  OR 17.9.1976, 1; Communicationes 8 (1976) 75-76; DocCath 73 (1976) 809 [Gall.]; EV 5, 1331-1335; Notitiae 12 (1976) 364-365; LE 4454; Dokumenty, I, 28
  [English, French, German, Italian, Latin, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish]

• Decree regarding the censorship of Pastors of the Church on books – Ecclesiae pastorum
  (Decretumde Ecclesiae pastorum vigilantia circa libros), March 19, 1975
  AAS 67 (1975) 281-284; DOCUMENTA 26
  Notitiae 11 (1975) 99-100; DocCath 72 (1975) 361-362; EV 5, 741-749; LE 4368; Dokumenty, I, 26
  [English, French, German, Italian, Latin, Polish, Spanish]

• Lettera al Nunzio apostolico in Brasilia riguardante alcune interpretazioni delle norme circa l’iscrizione alle sette massoniche, February 26, 1975
  LE 4360; Revista ecclesiastica Brasileira 35 (1975) 898

• Notificazione ai Presidenti delle Conferenze episcopali riguardante l’appartenenza di cattolici ad associazioni massoniche, July 19, 1974
  DocCath 71 (1974) 856 [Gall.]; EV 5, 350-351; Notiziario CEI (1974) 191; LE 4309; Origins 3 october 1974

• Notification regarding the alleged apparitions and revelations of "Our Lady of All Nations" in Amsterdam, May 25, 1974
  DOCUMENTA 22
  OR 14-15.6.1974, 2; DocCath 71 (1974) 618 [Gall.]; EV S1, 494-495; LE 4293; Dokumenty, I, 22
  [English, French, German, Italian, Polish, Spanish]

• Declaration on the meaning to be given to the approval of the translations of the Sacramental Formulas – Instauratio liturgica
  (Declaratio de sensu tribuendo adprobationi versionum formularum sacramentalium), January 25, 1974
  AAS 66 (1974) 661; DOCUMENTA 21
  OR 30.10.1974, 2 [Lat./Ital.]; DocCath 71 (1974) 1007; LE 4261; Dokumenty, I, 21
  [English, French, German, Italian, Latin, Polish, Spanish]
  • Comment
    [Italian]

• Notificazione riguardante la condizione scismatica dei fedeli della «Chiesa Cattolica Latina», già «Chiesa Antica Cattolica», October 4, 1973
  DocCath 71 (1974) 467; LE 4228

• Decreto sulla sepoltura ecclesiastica per i peccatori manifesti
  (Decretum de sepultura ecclesiastica), September 20, 1973
  AAS 65 (1973) 500; DOCUMENTA 18
  Communicationes 5 (1973) 145; DocCath 70 (1973) 1006; EV 4, 1698-1699; LE 4223; Dokumenty, I, 18
  [French, German, Italian, Latin, Polish, Spanish]

• Lettera circolare sulla sepoltura ecclesiastica dei fedeli in situazione matrimoniale irregolare
  (Litterae circulares ad venerabiles Praesules Conferentiarum Episcopalium de sepultura ecclesiastica eorum fidelium, qui in conditione matrimoniali irregolari inveniuntur), May 29, 1973
  DOCUMENTA 16
  DocCath 70 (1973) 707; EV 4, 1620-1623; LE 4204; Dokumenty, I, 16
  [French, German, Italian, Latin, Polish, Spanish]

• Formula da usarsi per il giuramento di fedeltà
  (Formula qua iusiurandum fidelitatis ab iis dandum erit qui episcopi dioecesani nominati sunt), 1972
  EV S1, 450-453; REspDCan 32 (1976) 379
  [Italian, Latin]

• The Norms for doctrinal investigation – Ratio Agendi
  (Nova agendi ratio in doctrinarum examine), January 15, 1971
  AAS 63 (1971) 234-236; DOCUMENTA 9 
  OR 5.2.1971 [Lat./Ital.]; Communicationes 3 (1971) 37-39; DocCath 68 (1971) 157-158 [Gall.]; EV 4, 81-87 [Lat./Ital.]; LE 3948; Dokumenty, I, 9
  [English, French, German, Italian, Latin, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish]

• Decreto circa i cann. 1399 e 2318 non più in vigore
  (Decretum de interpretatione «Notificatio» die 14 iunii 1966 circa «Indicem» librorum prohibitorum), November 15, 1966
  AAS 58 (1966) 1186; Nuntius 1 (1967) 12; DOCUMENTA 4
  LE 3491; Dokumenty, I, 4
  [French, German, Italian, Latin, Polish, Spanish]

• Notificazione riguardante l’abolizione dell’Indice dei libri
  (Notificatio de Indicis librorum prohibitorum conditione), June 14, 1966
  AAS 58 (1966) 445; Nuntius 1 (1967) 10-11; DOCUMENTA 2
  OR 15.06.1966; DocCath 63 (1966) 1175-1176 [Gall.]; EV 2, 674-677; LE 3448; Dokumenty, I, 2
  [French, German, Italian, Latin, Polish, Spanish]