In canon law, who typically grants an indult?

• A. A general permission granted by civil authorities.
• B. A permanent exemption from sacraments.
• C. A requirement to obtain civil authorization.
• D. A temporary permission for a specific case is granted by the competent authority.

Answer: (D)

Indult is a temporary permission granted by the proper ecclesiastical authority to do something that is normally forbidden or restricted, and it applies to a specific case. The authority to grant this rests with the competent ecclesiastical authority—typically the local bishop or the Holy See—depending on the matter at hand. Because it is limited in scope and duration, it is not a general rule, nor is it issued by civil authorities. It’s not a permanent exemption either; it addresses a particular situation for a defined period.

So, the correct idea is that a temporary permission for a specific case is granted by the competent ecclesiastical authority. The other options don’t fit because they either imply civil authority, a permanent exemption, or a requirement for civil authorization, none of which capture the case-specific, temporary nature of an indult.