Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Measure 1963

49 Censures. E

(1) The censures to which a person found guilty of an offence under this Measure renders himself liable are the following, namely,—

(a) deprivation, that is to say, removal from any preferment which he then holds and disqualification from holding any other preferment except as hereinafter provided, and if he holds no preferment at the time the censure is pronounced, disqualification from holding any preferment in the future except as hereinafter provided;

(b) inhibition, that is to say, disqualification for a specified time from exercising any of the functions of his Order;

(c) suspension, that is to say, disqualification for a specified time from exercising or performing without leave of the bishop any right or duty of or incidental to his preferment or from residing in the house of residence of his preferment or within such distance thereof as shall be specified in the censure;

(d) monition that is to say an order to do or refrain from doing a specified act;

(e) rebuke.

(2) Where a censure of suspension or inhibition has been pronounced against any person, he shall not be readmitted to his benefice or permitted to exercise the functions of his order unless he satisfies the bishop (or, where the person is himself a bishop, the Upper House of the Convocation of the relevant province) of his good conduct during the term of his suspension or inhibition.

(3) [F1 In proceedings under this Measure] no censure more severe than monition shall be imposed unless the Court is satisfied that the accused has already been admonished on a previous occasion in respect of another offence of the same or substantially the same nature.

(4) No censure of deprivation on any archbishop or bishop or on any person in respect of any preferment the right to appoint to which is vested in Her Majesty (not being a parochial benefice) shall have effect unless and until Her Majesty by order in Council shall confirm the same.

(5) Where by virtue of any censure of deprivation a bishop, priest or deacon is disqualified from holding any preferment, the disqualification shall not extend to a preferment to which the bishop of a diocese, with the consent of the archbishop of the relevant province and in the case of a priest or deacon of the bishop of the diocese in which the proceedings were instituted, shall appoint him, and shall cease upon the occasion of any such appointment if the archbishop when consenting thereto shall so direct.

(6) Not more than one censure shall be imposed in respect of any one offence save that when a censure of suspension is pronounced a censure of inhibition may be pronounced for the same period.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 49(3) substituted (1.1.2006) by Clergy Discipline Measure 2003 (No. 3), s. 48(2), Sch. 1 para. 7 (with s. 47); S.I. 2005/6, Instrument made by Archbishops