The profession of the evangelical counsel of chastity through vows or other sacred bonds. About the scope of the impedimentum voti of can. 1088

Abstract

Assuming the evangelical council of chastity, trhough vow or any other sacred bond, implies the renounce to get married. In this incompatibility, almost absolute between being married and the vow of chastity, lies the basic reason for the impedimentum voti found in the can. 1088. As a matter of fact current legislation has overcome discriminations and ambiguities from the past abolishing the secular distinction between simple and solemn vow. But it is also true that it does not consider appropriate extending that invalidating effect in order to marriage to other public forms of assuming the vow of chastity. The article tries to show this non sense in the case of commitments assumed in a way stable, permanent, and public, because it happens in institutes approved by the Church, Holly See or Bishop —secular institutes— or straight by the Bishop —eremites or consecrated virgins. We conclude that the invalidating effect usually given to the public final religious vow does not depend on some of its essential qualities (totality, publicity) but on facts and reasons non essential and superimposed. The legislator wants to promote them concretely in order to protect and safeguard the most institutional consecration form: the religious life. It tries to avoid corruptions, interferences, scandals, contradictions.