[Alex Murphy]

Sorry, Alex. I can't find any references to Cannon 1341 that back up your claim.

Sorry Mark, but it wasn't my claim. Still, somehow I was able to find the exact quote at the "Our Lady's Warriors" webpage. Here's the quote from the thread:

‘‘start a judicial administrative procedure, for the imposition or the declaration of penalties, only when he perceives that neither by fraternal correction nor reproof, nor by any methods of pastoral care, can the scandal be sufficiently repaired, justice restored, and the offender reformed’’.

And here's the quote from Our Lady's Warriors [matching sections are bolded]:

TITLE V: THE APPLICATION OF PENALTIES

Can. 1341 The Ordinary is to start a judicial or an administrative procedure for the imposition or the declaration of penalties only when he perceives that neither by fraternal correction or reproof, nor by any methods of pastoral care, can the scandal be sufficiently repaired, justice restored and the offender reformed.

Perhaps your search was thrown by the misspelling of the word "canon" in the article.

[Poe White Trash]

Being a “cannon” lawyer must be tough on the ears, don’t you think?

[MarkBsnr]

Got it, thanks. http://www.thinkingfaith.org/articles/20090320_1.htm says that:

“Penal remedies in the 1983 Code

The 1983 Code of Canon Law reflects many of the insights of the Second Vatican Council, and particularly its emphasis on human dignity and rights. The Code Revision Commission sought to limit penal law to the external forum, abolished a series of vindictive and expiatory penalties, gave greater emphasis to the principle of mercy, and emphasised pastoral considerations (such that punitive measures did not damage the wider interests of the faithful) in the administration of sanctions.

The Code gives the reasons for sanctions: reform of the offender, restoration of justice, and the reparation of scandal (canon 1341). Several means for achieving the objectives are outlined in canon 1341, apart from the ‘correction’ and ‘repute’ mentioned in canon 1339.”

I guess I’m still puzzled as the claim of secrecy in the thread article and how it is claimed that it was hidden from clergy and the people.