2nd Lateran Council, Crossbows, and Canons

[TarkanAttila]

Are we still prevented from using crossbows on fellow Christians?

I saw on Wikipedia a number of canons, one of them claiming a ban on crossbows, as well as that priestly marriage is condemned as well.

Are these canons as binding as dogma? If not, what makes canon law inferior to dogma?

 

[Chrono13]

You can use them as long as you don’t shoot another Catholic with it.

 

[The_Scott]

What you mentioned, such as celibacy of priests, are purely disciplines. They can change anytime that the Church decides.

 

[TarkanAttila]

What you mentioned, such as celibacy of priests, are purely disciplines. They can change anytime that the Church decides.

Yes, but in what way do canons relate to doctrines, disciplines, and dogmas?

 

[MPat]

Yes, but in what way do canons relate to doctrines, disciplines, and dogmas?

In most cases canon law concerns discipline. Of course, that doesn’t mean that a dogma can’t “hide” in a canon, but a randomly chosen canon is far more likely to concern discipline.

In short, while there might be some borderline cases, something that can be “true” or “false” is more likely to have something to do with doctrine, while something that can be a “good idea” or “bad idea” is more likely to concern discipline (something that is a good idea in one case might be a bad idea in another case).

Anyway, the explanation why something is a “good idea” is likely to have some (perhaps weak) relationship with doctrine.