Scrutiny (2)
Scrutiny
(Lat. scrutinium from scrutari to search, to investigate)
A term variously employed in canon law.
(1) In promotion to orders a scrutiny or examination of the candidate is to be made according to the warning of the Apostle: “Impose not hands lightly upon any man” (1 Timothy 5:22). That the practice is ancient is testified to by St. Cyprian (who died in 258) in his thirty-eighth epistle. The ninth canon of the Council of Nicæa (325) supposes the scrutiny of candidates to be already in use. Many later synods enforced and defined more exactly this scrutiny of those who aspired to orders. The present discipline is laid down by the Council of Trent (Sess. XXIII, Cap. v, de ref.), though its observance in every detail has not been reduced to practice in all countries. A three-fold scrutiny is ordered: first, through the inquiry into the qualities of the candidates by the parish priest and teachers and by public proclamation in the Church. The information thus obtained is to be embodied in a testimonial letter to the bishop. Secondly, shortly before ordination through the bishop himself and ecclesiastical persons appointed to examine into the morals, faith, and doctrine of the candidates. Thirdly, through the ceremonial form prescribed by the Pontificale Romanum for the ordination of a deacon or priest.
(2) Scrutiny is also a form of ecclesiastical election and is made either by written ballot or by pronouncing the chosen name before legitimate scrutators alone. It is the usual form for electing the pope.
(3) Scrutiny is also the term for the examination of catechumens before baptism. In ancient times there were three such scrutinies and later on the number was increased to seven. From the Middle Ages onwards owing to the fact that most who received baptism were infants the prescribed scrutinies were reduced to that now found in the ritual for conferring baptism. The subject-matter of these scrutinies was the faith and dispositions of the candidate.
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WERNZ, Jus Decretalium, II (Rome, 1899).
WILLIAM H.W. FANNING Transcribed by Douglas J. Potter Dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ
The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume XIIICopyright © 1912 by Robert Appleton CompanyOnline Edition Copyright © 2003 by K. KnightNihil Obstat, February 1, 1912. Remy Lafort, D.D., CensorImprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York
Fuente: Catholic Encyclopedia
Scrutiny
is the name, also, of one of the three canonical modes of electing a pope in the Romish Church. It is the method almost invariably followed, and is thus managed: Blank schedules are supplied to each of the cardinals, who fills them up with his own name and that of the individual for whom he votes. If two thirds of the votes are not in favor of any one person, the cardinals proceed to a second vote by accessus (q.v.). See Gardner, Faiths of the World, s.v.; Walcott, Sac. Archaeol, s.v.
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
Scrutiny (2)
the inquiry into the faith and manners of candidates for baptism. It was made in the presence of the congregation on seven days the last being Wednesday before Passion-Sunday. The name of each candidate was called; then the deacon bade him prostrate himself five times and rise, in memory of the five wounds of Christ. The sign of the cross was made on his forehead by the sponsor and acolyte; lastly, he was sprinkled with ashes. The custom died out in 860.