Number 84 of the Vademecum on Certain Points of Procedure in Treating Cases of Sexual Abuse of Minors Committed by Clerics provides for three types of definitive penal sentences. This appears to be in contrast with can. 1608, which would seem to provide for only two types of sentences: “constat” and “non constat”. This article answers the question of whether the aforementioned practice of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith can be applied in common penal law, i.e. in criminal proceedings in cases not reserved to the competence of that Dicastery. The conclusion is negative, both due to the presumption of innocence of the accused as well as due to the structure of the canonical process as regulated in the current Code.