The different types of suspension.

First of all, the same kind of suspension shall apply to either order, the ecclesiastical and the popular, or (as the matter may be better known under the common words), to the clergy and the laity, and there shall be different ways in which this penalty shall be applied, so that sometimes those accused shall not enter into the church any more, unless perchance they wish to attend the commination, sometimes they shall be banned from participation in the sacraments, and occasionally they shall be prevented from administering the sacraments. Therefore, since the kinds of suspension vary, when the judge imposes this penalty on the accused person he shall say spcifically and expressly which of these he prefers to be understood. Nevertheless, suspension shall never bar anyone from familiar association with other people.

What the causes of suspension are.

Those who incur the penalty of suspension through their own wrongdoing, shall either call themselves back to good works or receive the penalties of their crimes which have been imposed on them. If the magnitude of their sin demands satisfaction, these people shall be kept in this punishment until they have fulfilled completely the will of the judge and satisfied the church. Sometimes the stubbornness or negligence of the accused must be punished by this relegation from sacred things, since the judge does not carry the vibrating thunderbolt of excommunication for a minor offence, and it often happens that even if actual crimes cannot be proved, nevertheless suspicions, especially of atrocious crimes, must be punished by the church if they have lasted a long time and attracted bad publicity, since good people will be deeply upset if the sacraments are administered to such infamous people.

How suspension is brought to an end.

When people are suspended from the sacraments for a period of time, or as we say in the most vulgar manner, when the suspension is of such a kind that those affected have a set time when they can return to the church, as soon as that time quamprimum advenerit, absque ulla relaxatione vel absolutione reus liber erit.