How to describe Canon Law

[MarcoPolo]

Does anyone have a good way to describe Canon Law with regard to its role in the Church and divine revelation.

Here’s what I have put together. Agree? Disagree?Canon Law is largely a guide for various norms practiced in the Church that can change and are not considered the “Word of God.” There may be mentions of matters of faith or morals in Canon Law, but these are not derived from Canon Law, rather Canon Law may mention them.

 

[Advocatus_Fidei]

The body of officially established rules governing the faith and practice of the members of the Catholic Church.

 

[Ocarm]

Does anyone have a good way to describe Canon Law with regard to its role in the Church and divine revelation.[/INDENT]

I would recommend Pope John Paul II’s Apostolic Constitution Sacrae Disciplinae Leges, given to mark the promulgation of the 1983 code of canon law. Of particular note:

*Christ the Lord, indeed, did not in the least wish to destroy the very rich heritage of the Law and of the Prophets which was gradually formed from the history and experience of the People of God in the Old Testament, but He brought it to completion (cf. Mt. 5:17), in such wise that in a new and higher way it became part of the heritage of the New Testament. Therefore, although St. Paul, in expounding the Paschal Mystery, teaches that justification is not obtained by the works of the Law, but by means of faith (cf. Rom. 3:28; Gal. 2:16), he does not thereby exclude the binding force of the Decalogue (cf. Rom. 13:28; Gal. 5:13-25; 6:2), nor does he deny the importance of discipline in the Church of God (cf. 1 Cor. chapters 5, 6). Thus the writings of the New Testament enable us to understand still more the importance itself of discipline and make us see better how it is more closely connected with the saving character of the evangelical message itself.

This being so, it appears sufficiently clear that the Code is in no way intended as a substitute for faith, grace and the charisms in the life of the Church and of the faithful. On the contrary, its purpose is rather to create such an order in the ecclesial society that, while assigning the primacy to faith, grace and the charisms, it at the same time renders easier their organic development in the life both of the ecclesial society and of the individual persons who belong to it.

The Code, as the principal legislative document of the Church, founded on the juridical - legislative heritage of Revelation and Tradition, is to be regarded as an indispensable instrument to ensure order both in individual and social life, and also in the Church’s activity itself. Therefore, besides containing the fundamental elements of the hierarchical and organic structure of the Church as willed by her divine Founder, or as based upon apostolic, or in any case most ancient, tradition, and besides the fundamental principles which govern the exercise of the threefold office entrusted to the Church itself, the Code must also lay down certain rules and norms of behavior. *

See: vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_jp-ii_apc_25011983_sacrae-disciplinae-leges_en.html

You might be able to extract from this a briefer summary of the role that the code fulfils.

 

[dans0622]

Generally, canon law is any ecclesiastical law which governs a particular Church in its structure, function, members, their rights and obligations.

For the Catholic Church, the Code of Canon Law (as well as canon law in general) has as its aim, “to create such an order in the ecclesial society that, while assigning the primacy to faith, grace and the charisms, it at the same time renders easier their organic development in the life both of the ecclesial society and of the individual persons who belong to it.” (John Paul II, Sacrae disciplinae leges)

As far as canon law and revelation, most of canon law is “merely ecclesiastical” (human) but it is all an attempt at applying divine law, whether positive or natural, to the visible society that is the Church. The ultimate purpose of canon law, as is the case for divine law, is the salvation of souls.

That’s how I would put it, anyway.

Dan

 

[Vince1022]

Does anyone have a good way to describe Canon Law with regard to its role in the Church and divine revelation.

Here’s what I have put together. Agree? Disagree?Canon Law is largely a guide for various norms practiced in the Church that can change and are not considered the “Word of God.” There may be mentions of matters of faith or morals in Canon Law, but these are not derived from Canon Law, rather Canon Law may mention them.

Some parts of canon law are considered divine law, and so are not changeable.

 

[MarkThompson]

Some parts of canon law are considered divine law, and so are not changeable.

Well, some parts of canon law reflect (or, if you like, enshrine) Divine Law; for instance, that only wheat bread and wine made from grapes can be used for the Eucharist. The canon could definitely be repealed, but the truth it states would remain nevertheless. It’s worth remembering that having a “Code of Canon Law” at all is, comparatively speaking, a very recent thing.

 

[MarcoPolo]

I would recommend Pope John Paul II’s Apostolic Constitution Sacrae Disciplinae Leges, given to mark the promulgation of the 1983 code of canon law. Of particular note:

*Christ the Lord, indeed, did not in the least wish to destroy the very rich heritage of the Law and of the Prophets which was gradually formed from the history and experience of the People of God in the Old Testament, but He brought it to completion (cf. Mt. 5:17), in such wise that in a new and higher way it became part of the heritage of the New Testament. Therefore, although St. Paul, in expounding the Paschal Mystery, teaches that justification is not obtained by the works of the Law, but by means of faith (cf. Rom. 3:28; Gal. 2:16), he does not thereby exclude the binding force of the Decalogue (cf. Rom. 13:28; Gal. 5:13-25; 6:2), nor does he deny the importance of discipline in the Church of God (cf. 1 Cor. chapters 5, 6). Thus the writings of the New Testament enable us to understand still more the importance itself of discipline and make us see better how it is more closely connected with the saving character of the evangelical message itself.

This being so, it appears sufficiently clear that the Code is in no way intended as a substitute for faith, grace and the charisms in the life of the Church and of the faithful. On the contrary, its purpose is rather to create such an order in the ecclesial society that, while assigning the primacy to faith, grace and the charisms, it at the same time renders easier their organic development in the life both of the ecclesial society and of the individual persons who belong to it.

The Code, as the principal legislative document of the Church, founded on the juridical - legislative heritage of Revelation and Tradition, is to be regarded as an indispensable instrument to ensure order both in individual and social life, and also in the Church’s activity itself. Therefore, besides containing the fundamental elements of the hierarchical and organic structure of the Church as willed by her divine Founder, or as based upon apostolic, or in any case most ancient, tradition, and besides the fundamental principles which govern the exercise of the threefold office entrusted to the Church itself, the Code must also lay down certain rules and norms of behavior. *

See: vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_jp-ii_apc_25011983_sacrae-disciplinae-leges_en.html

You might be able to extract from this a briefer summary of the role that the code fulfils.

I think his saying the code is not a “substitute for faith” and it is the “principle legislative document” of the Church reflects what I was trying to say. It speaks of “norms” that I mentioned and how it supplements faith. I may adjust my comments to reflect the Pope’s language better, thanks.

I do wonder what passage is really meant in reference to Rom 13:28 because there are only 14 verses in that chapter… Forums Extreme

And thanks everyone else!

 

[Vince1022]

Well, some parts of canon law reflect (or, if you like, enshrine) Divine Law; for instance, that only wheat bread and wine made from grapes can be used for the Eucharist. The canon could definitely be repealed, but the truth it states would remain nevertheless. It’s worth remembering that having a “Code of Canon Law” at all is, comparatively speaking, a very recent thing.

The example you note is not divine law.

While having a formal Code of Canon Law may be relatively recent, having obligatory rules that provide guidance for the Christian community that is the Church is not.