Summa Question 19 Article 6

[Byzantine]

St. Thomas says that those excommunicated cannot use the keys, but I thought that those excommunicated could do that in dire need? Am I wrong?

Also, the use of the keys here is a reference to Reconciliation, right?

[qfnol31]

[quote name='Byzantine' timestamp='1350950222' post='2496101']
St. Thomas says that those excommunicated cannot use the keys, but I thought that those excommunicated could do that in dire need? Am I wrong?

Also, the use of the keys here is a reference to Reconciliation, right?
[/quote]This question falls under the Supplemental portion of the [i]Summa[/i], so while it follows Thomistic theology, the answer was probably constructed by one of his students.

Here the keys do refer to Reconciliation, but particularly the Church's role in that reconciliation. In Matthew 16:19 Jesus tells Peter "I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." The Church says that this binding and loosing is given to Peter and to all the bishops, who come from the Apostles (CCC 1444). When we go to Confession, we are reconciled to God [u]and[/u] with the Church. We sin against God, but our sins also wound the Church.

Canon Law 965-986 gives clear instructions for who may hear the Sacrament. The Sacrament belongs most properly to the Pope and bishops (particularly in their own diocese). The local ordinary can give permission for a priest to hear confessions within the diocese. Canon 976 says that a priest without faculties, can hear a confession in the case of need. Canon 844 also adds: "§2. Whenever necessity requires it or true spiritual advantage suggests it, and provided that danger of error or of indifferentism is avoided, the Christian faithful for whom it is physically or morally impossible to approach a Catholic minister are permitted to receive the sacraments of penance, Eucharist, and anointing of the sick from non-Catholic ministers in whose Churches these sacraments are valid."

The Code of Canon Law does not specify precisely which Churches might be included, but since excommunication implies valid Sacraments, it is possible that a person might seek penance validly in special need. Canon Law is very clear, however, on the requirements for the need and a person cannot simply choose such a route for personal preference.

Applying this to the Supplemental text, we see that the[i] [/i][i]Summa [/i]is not applicable here. But that's okay because St. Thomas actually makes a few errors in the [i]Summa[/i] that we don't consider much today. Also, I believe the practice of the Church could change so that the requirements are slightly different in each time, but on this I am less certain.