Report No. 90

Appendix 2

Extracts Relating to Canon Law1

Classification of Impediments

Impediments are:

1. Of divine law or of ecclesiastical law, according to their origin;

2. Impediment (merely prohibitive) or diriment (invalidating), according to their effect (C. 1036);

3. Absolute or relative, according as they affect the person regardless of, or only in relation to certain other persons;

4. Public or occult, according as they can or cannot be proved in the external forum (C. 1037);

5. Permanent or temporary, according to their duration;

6. Certain or doubtful;

7. Dispensable or non-dispensable, according as they can or cannot be removed by dispensation;

8. Major or minor, according to their grade (C. 1042).