Which body determines the consequences of penalties for grave delicts?

• A. The local parish council.
• B. Civil courts.
• C. The proper tribunal and canons.
• D. The pope alone.

Answer: (C)

Grave delicts are offenses against the Church that carry canonical penalties, and the authority to determine and apply those penalties rests with the ecclesiastical judiciary—the proper tribunal—acting under the canons. The proper tribunal has jurisdiction to adjudicate these matters and applies the penalties defined by the Code of Canon Law. Civil courts have no competence in canonical penalties, and a local parish council does not have judicial authority over grave delicts. While the pope is the supreme legislator and could issue laws or faculties, the actual determination and imposition of penalties for grave delicts are carried out by the proper tribunal according to the canons.