Canon law of the Catholic Church

Canon Law of the Catholic Church

The Canon Law of the Catholic Church is the system of laws and legal principles made and enforced by the hierarchical authorities of the Catholic Church to regulate its members' behavior. It is the oldest continuously functioning legal system in the Western world, predating the development of modern European civil law traditions.

Historical Development

The development of canon law began in the early Christian communities, where the Apostolic Fathers and early Church councils established norms for Christian conduct. Over the centuries, these norms were compiled and expanded upon, leading to the creation of comprehensive legal codes.

Early Collections

The earliest collections of canon law were the Didache and the writings of the Church Fathers. The Council of Nicaea in 325 AD was a significant milestone, as it produced canons that were widely accepted across Christendom.

The Decretum Gratiani

In the 12th century, the monk Gratian compiled the Decretum Gratiani, a comprehensive collection of nearly 4,000 canons. This work became the foundation of canon law as a distinct legal system and was used as a textbook in medieval universities.

The Corpus Juris Canonici

The Corpus Juris Canonici was the collection of significant sources of canon law in the Catholic Church that was applicable until the 1917 Code of Canon Law. It included the Decretum Gratiani, the Decretals of Gregory IX, the Liber Sextus, the Clementines, and the Extravagantes.

The 1917 Code of Canon Law

The first comprehensive codification of canon law was promulgated by Pope Benedict XV in 1917. This code, known as the Code of Canon Law (1917), was a systematic collection of laws that governed the Church until it was replaced by the 1983 Code.

The 1983 Code of Canon Law

The current code, the Code of Canon Law (1983), was promulgated by Pope John Paul II and came into effect on November 27, 1983. It is divided into seven books:

1. General Norms
2. The People of God
3. The Teaching Function of the Church
4. The Sanctifying Function of the Church
5. The Temporal Goods of the Church
6. Sanctions in the Church
7. Processes

Eastern Catholic Churches

The Eastern Catholic Churches have their own code of canon law, the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches, which was promulgated in 1990. This code respects the traditions and practices of the Eastern Churches while maintaining unity with the Roman Pontiff.

Sources of Canon Law

The primary sources of canon law include:

• Sacred Scripture
• Sacred Tradition
• Ecumenical Councils
• Papal Encyclicals
• Apostolic Constitutions

Canon Law and Civil Law

Canon law and civil law are distinct legal systems, but they can intersect, especially in areas such as marriage, education, and the administration of church property. Canon law is binding on Catholics and governs internal church matters, while civil law governs the secular aspects of life.

See Also

• Catholic Church hierarchy
• Ecclesiastical court
• Canon lawyer

References

• Code of Canon Law: Latin-English Edition. Washington, DC: Canon Law Society of America, 1983.
• Coriden, James A., et al. The Code of Canon Law: A Text and Commentary. New York: Paulist Press, 1985.

External Links

• Code of Canon Law - Vatican website