Canon Law

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rben20

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Is canon law mere disciplines and therefore easily changeable? What were the reasons for updating or changing the older canon law?
 
Most of canon law involves disciplinary issues but some of it is the practical matter around doctirnal issues. The “who, what, when and where” so to speak.

I am sure there were many reasons for the most recent update but I would assume the changes that came about due to Vatican II, such as the national conferences of Bishops, and the availablity of more rapid forms of communication had a lot to do with it.
 
rben20 said:
Is canon law mere disciplines and therefore easily changeable? What were the reasons for updating or changing the older canon law?
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Canon law is not entirely disciplinary. For example, there is a section on each of the sacraments, and in each there is a canon that identifies the valid minister of the sacrament, which is not merely disciplinary, but doctrinal.

I’m not sure whether even the disciplinary parts of canon law can be called “easily changeable”. Of course the pope could do it, but I think he would put significant weight on tradition before electing to change a canon.
 
It is my understanding that much of the code of 1917 was no longer applicable, thus necessitating an updating. The original Code of Canon Law from 1917 was many, many years (decades and possibly even centuries) in the making.
 
Timothysis said:
It is my understanding that much of the code of 1917 was no longer applicable, thus necessitating an updating. The original Code of Canon Law from 1917 was many, many years (decades and possibly even centuries) in the making.
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The actual collection of the laws only took two papacies to complete (Pius X and Benedict XV), but the laws themselves were indeed a product of centuries 😉
 
Spirithound said:
The actual collection of the laws only took two papacies to complete (Pius X and Benedict XV), but the laws themselves were indeed a product of centuries 😉
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You are correct. It was Pope John XIII who, just 40 years after the 1917 code, announced the need for a revision. It took 20 years before Pope John Paul II was able to promulgate the new code in 1983. Those guys must have been paid by the hour! 🙂
 
Timothysis said:
You are correct. It was Pope John XIII who, just 40 years after the 1917 code, announced the need for a revision. It took 20 years before Pope John Paul II was able to promulgate the new code in 1983. Those guys must have been paid by the hour! 🙂
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:rotfl:
 
The first canon law was codified in 1917, and as any first it was problematic. The beneficiums were long gone by that time, and still that was the center of the 1917 Canon Law.

As far as I know the countries which are based in written law (unlike England, the US and the Church before 1917) refresh it in regular basis. The principles are unchanged, but the words differ.
 
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