Aggravation of Penalties under Canon Law and Polish Criminal Law

Abstract

Canon 1326 § 1 and 2 CIC/83 provides for circumstances that are optional but can result in a harsher punishment of the offender. Regulations which provide for the aggravation of penalties were also incorporated in Article 64 § 1 and 2, Article 65 § 1, Article 57a § 1 and 2, and Article 91 § 1, 2 and 3 of the Penal Code. Both of these systems, however, do not exist in a vacuum. They refer to specific individuals who are simultaneously the faithful of the Catholic Church but also Polish citizens. The presented article is intended to characterize institutions that aggravate penalties and to demonstrate the similarities and differences between the two systems. Therefore, the systems of canon law and civil law contain systematic regulations that are both similar (as in the case of reoffending) and different, the latter being more numerous. The main reason for this is that criminal law is highly abstract law because it addresses all Polish citizens as well as individuals staying on the Polish territory. The regulations are designed to punish the perpetrator in a manner consistent with the expectations of the public as well as to serve preventive and educational objectives that the penalty is to achieve with regard to the offender, and the need to develop legal awareness in society. In contrast, canon law addresses specific entities that are the faithful of the Catholic Church. In addition, it is guided by the principle of clemency of church punishment contained in canon 1349 CIC/83.