An indult is a special permission granted by the Roman Catholic Church for an activity not normally allowed by church law. It is usually granted for compassionate reasons and recorded by the Church. The Holy See or a diocesan bishop must issue an indult after careful consideration and consultation with religious law scholars. Examples include allowing a priest to leave the church to become a layman and granting permission to use the older form of Mass. The term “Catholic indult” was once used pejoratively but is now outdated.
In Roman Catholic law, an indult is a special permission to engage in an activity that is not normally permitted by church law. It typically offers an exception for specific individuals or circumstances, and holds other church members to the original law. Most commonly, the church grants it for a compassionate reason. The Church maintains records of the granting of these dispensations, including all currently active dispensations.
Typically the Holy See or a diocesan bishop must issue an indult. Exceptions to church law require careful consideration, discussion, and consultation with religious law scholars. While lower church officials are able to offer advice and assistance, they are not qualified in the church hierarchy to grant dispensations. Those wishing to promote the cases of parties seeking pardons can do so through letters of support and other measures, such as attendance at open-ended hearings.
An example of a situation where a pardon is needed is when a priest wishes to leave the church to become a layman, often for the purpose of marriage. Under normal circumstances, religious vows last for life and the priest is expected to remain in the church. However, he may be able to receive a pardon in his case as an acknowledgment that the situation is special and that he has rendered devoted service to the church.
Another situation occurred in the 20th century when the church transitioned from an older form of Mass known as the Tridentine Mass in the late 1920s. The Pope has granted an indult allowing older priests to continue using this form of Mass in recognition that many may find it difficult to learn a new form. In addition, special dispensation has been granted in England and Wales in recognition of the cultural and historical role of this form of mass. This was known as “the Agatha Christie pardon,” after a famous proponent of the measure that allegedly influenced the Pope’s mind when he was considering the dispensation.
This papal dispensation led to the emergence of the term “Catholic indult” as a pejorative to refer to Catholics who preferred the older Mass and chose to attend services with this Mass whenever possible. A later decision by Pope Benedict XVI restored the right to use this mass without needing special permission from the church. The reversal of the original decision has rendered this term somewhat outdated, but it can still be seen in some texts and discussions of expressions of the Catholic faith.
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