ing of
abortion, and the like. For it should not be presumed that any
pope would be willing, in matters of hidden sin, to set so many
snares and dangers for men's souls. But when a sin has been
public, an open reserved case, it should be left entirely to the
authorities of the Church, no matter whether they are just or
unjust. In such case, however, the confessor may so moderate the
power of the keys[24] as not to let the penitent depart without
absolution, for those sins at least which he knows to be not
reserved. Just now, to be sure, I am in doubt, and have not yet
found a place for the proper discussion of it, whether any sin
can be reserved, or ever is reserved, so far as the remission of
guilt[25] is concerned; that the penalty can be reserved is not
doubted; but of this let others judge. But even in the remission
of the penalty, neither the confessor nor the penitent should be
too much troubled by scruples. The penalty I have especially in
mind is excommunication, or any other censure of the Church--what
they call their lightnings and thunders. Since excommunication
is only penalty and not guilt, and can be laid upon the innocent
and allowed to remain upon the man who has returned to his
senses, and, furthermore, since it is sometimes necessary to put
off satisfaction, because of the length of the journey required
or because of poverty; therefore the penitent who is
excommunicated or under censure should be absolved from all his
sins, if he seeks absolution, and be dismissed to the higher
authorities to be loosed from excommunication and to make
satisfaction. Thus he should be absolved in the judgment of God
and of conscience from guilt and sins, and sent to the judgment
of the Church to be freed from the penalty. This is what is meant
when it is said that the desire to make satisfaction[26] suffices
for the absolving of a sinner.

LAST

[Sidenote: Vows]

The subject of vows should also have consideration, for it is
almost the greatest question involved in this whole matter, and
gives rise to much more confusion than does the reservation of
cases, though this, too, rules its Babylon with great tyranny. If
one would wish to speak freely on this subject, "the land would
not be able to bear all his words," [Amos 7:10] as the impious
Amaziah says of Amos.

[Sidenote: Their Abuse]

The first and best plan would be for the pontiffs and preachers
to dissuade and deter the people from their proneness to the
ma