Canon 961§1,2^o
- General Reconciliation

§1: Absolution cannot be imparted in a general manner to a number of penitents at once without previous individual confession unless:

2^o: a serious necessity exists, that is, when in light of the number of penitents a supply of confessors is not readily available rightly to hear the confessions of individuals within a suitable time so that the penitents are forced to be deprived of sacramental grace or holy communion for a long time (diu) through no fault of their own; it is not considered a sufficient necessity if confessors cannot be readily available only because of the great number of penitents as can occur on the occasion of some great feast or pilgrimage.

§2: It is for the diocesan bishop to judge whether the conditions required in §1, n.2, are present; he can determine general cases of such necessity in light of criteria agreed upon with other members of the conference of bishops.

Complementary Norm: The National Conference of Catholic Bishops interprets the meaning of diu of canon 961§1,2^o to be "one month," by which the diocesan bishop judges whether and when the conditions of grave necessity for general absolution are verified in his diocese.

Approved: General Meeting, June 1988

Reviewed: Holy See (Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments) (oral communication) Action not considered a decree (c. 455§2); therefore, does not require recognitio of the Holy See

Promulgated: Memorandum to All Bishops, December 15, 1989