Note 446 — Chapter I · JURISDICTION

After the Council of Trent, a lengthy controversy arose among the theologians as to which bishop ought to give the approbation to the confessor; many thought it was the confessor’s bishop, others the penitent’s; with regard to exempted Regulars, it seemed probable that a single approbation, without restrictions from any bishop at all, was sufficient, since they are not the subjects of the bishops; this had been granted by Clement VII and Sixtus V; moreover, Gregory XIII gave Religious, when on a journey, the power of hearing confessions, provided they had the sanction of their Superior and approbation from any bishop; this privilege, however, was not to be made use of in the towns or places where the bishop was actually residing, without the latter’s permission. Innocent XII, however, withdrew all privileges contrary to his bull. S. Alph. l. c. n. 458.