Cure of Ars Posted June 24, 2004 Share Posted June 24, 2004 How does canon law fit into our faith? Can canon law change and is it infallible? I have never really read cannon law, should I? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StColette Posted June 24, 2004 Share Posted June 24, 2004 well here first of all is a website that has the 1983 Code of Canon Law [url="http://www.ourladyswarriors.org/canon/"]Code of Canon Law[/url] The canon law is made up of the constitutions or canons of councils, the decrees of popes, and the traditions which have at any time received the pontifical sanction. It is important to understand the Canon Law since it is the rules that govern the faith and the practice of the members of the Catholic Church. So its a big part in our faith by the fact that it encompasses our rules in the Church. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorphRC Posted June 24, 2004 Share Posted June 24, 2004 [url="http://mywebpages.comcast.net/enpeters/canonlaw.htm"]http://mywebpages.comcast.net/enpeters/canonlaw.htm[/url] That whole site is devoted to anything on Canon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qfnol31 Posted June 24, 2004 Share Posted June 24, 2004 [quote]the Code is in no way intended as a substitute for faith, grace, charisms, and especially charity 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 love, grace and charisms, it at the same time renders their organic development easier in the life of both the ecclesial society and the individual persons who belong to it.[/quote] [quote]As a matter of fact, the Code of Canon Law is extremely necessary for the Church. Since the Church is organized as a social and visible structure, it must also have norms: in order that its hierarchical and organic structure be visible; in order that the exercise of the functions divinely entrusted to it, especially that of sacred power and of the administration of the sacraments, may be adequately organized; in order that the mutual relations of the faithful may be regulated according to justice based upon charity, with the rights of individuals guaranteed and well-defined; in order, finally, that common initiatives undertaken to live a Christian life ever more perfectly may be sustained, strengthened and fostered by canonical norms. Finally, by their very nature canonical laws are to be observed. The greatest care has therefore been taken to ensure that in the lengthy preparation of the Code the wording of the norms should be accurate, and that they should be based on a solid juridical, canonical and theological foundation.[/quote] --Forward to the Code of Canon Law Canon Law ensures that the Church continues its goal to save souls and to tell how that is to be accomplished. It is changeable, as hinted at by the fact that the one we use came out in 1983. It is binding on the Church at the time, and everyone is subject to it, however I do not believe it to be an infallible document just because it can change. I know that there have been very many cases where Canon Law is what's used to figure out if someone is in the Church, as with excommunication. Oftentimes you'll hear cases argued about under Canon Law. This is especially true regarding annulments and excommunication. One of the larger battles today actually has to do with SSPX, and you'll see many people quoting the Law as to whether or not the order is in the Church. To me, that's where it's used most often. However, the Law also describes the roles of priests, laity, etc. In a way, I guess you could say it is analogous to the Constitution, just larger and better. Plus, it goes beyond that, and defines parts of our faith. Here is an example of what the Code talks about: [quote]TITLE III. THE MOST HOLY EUCHARIST (Cann. 897 - 958) Can. 897 The most August sacrament is the Most Holy Eucharist in which Christ the Lord himself is contained, offered, and received and by which the Church continually lives and grows. The eucharistic sacrifice, the memorial of the death and resurrection of the Lord, in which the sacrifice of the cross is perpetuated through the ages is the summit and source of all worship and Christian life, which signifies and effects the unity of the People of God and brings about the building up of the body of Christ. Indeed, the other sacraments and all the ecclesiastical works of the apostolate are closely connected with the Most Holy Eucharist and ordered to it. Can. 898 The Christian faithful are to hold the Most Holy Eucharist in highest honor, taking an active part in the celebration of the most august sacrifice, receiving this sacrament most devoutly and frequently, and worshiping it with the highest adoration. In explaining the doctrine about this sacrament, pastors of souls are to teach the faithful diligently about this obligation.[/quote] Anyways, I've read parts of the Canon Law and have found it a very interesting way to see what some things mean today. However, a good portion is dedicated to law and punishment. That's my .02. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
p0lar_bear Posted June 24, 2004 Share Posted June 24, 2004 It depends on what it is... Some things in Canon Law are unchangeable (You cannot marry your child, the priesthood is reserved to men, etc.). Some things are disciplinary (the position and authority of a parish council). Pope John Paul II's Apostolic Constitution in the introduction of the Code states: [quote]And in fact a Code of Canon Law is absolutely necessary for the Church. Since the Church is established in the form of a social and visible unit, it needs rules, so that its hierarchical and organic structure may be visible; that its exercise of the functions divinely entrusted to it, particularly of sacred power and of the administration of the sacraments, is properly ordered; that the mutual relationships of Christ’s faithful are reconciled in justice based on charity, with the rights of each safeguarded and defined; and lastly, that the common initiatives which are undertaken so that Christian life may be ever more perfectly carried out, are supported, strengthened and promoted by canonical laws.[/quote] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phatcatholic Posted June 24, 2004 Share Posted June 24, 2004 [quote name='MorphRC' date='Jun 24 2004, 02:24 AM'] [url="http://mywebpages.comcast.net/enpeters/canonlaw.htm"]http://mywebpages.comcast.net/enpeters/canonlaw.htm[/url] That whole site is devoted to anything on Canon. [/quote] dude, i went to that site and found some amazing articles, a small sampling of which include the following (all must reads!!): --[url="http://mywebpages.comcast.net/enpeters/a_catechistintro.htm"]A Catechist's Introduction to Canon Law[/url] --[url="http://mywebpages.comcast.net/enpeters/a_denialofeucharist.htm"]Denial of the Eucharist to Pro-Abortion Politicians[/url] (this one's my favorite!) --[url="http://mywebpages.comcast.net/enpeters/a_mary.htm"]Mary and the Saints in the Code of Canon Law[/url] thanks for providing that site! pax christi, phatcatholic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qfnol31 Posted June 24, 2004 Share Posted June 24, 2004 [quote name='p0lar_bear' date='Jun 24 2004, 08:27 AM'] It depends on what it is... Some things in Canon Law are unchangeable (You cannot marry your child, the priesthood is reserved to men, etc.). Some things are disciplinary (the position and authority of a parish council). Pope John Paul II's Apostolic Constitution in the introduction of the Code states: [/quote] LoL, you took my quote. The reason some things are unchangeable is because they exist as part of Natural or Divine Law. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
p0lar_bear Posted June 25, 2004 Share Posted June 25, 2004 [quote name='qfnol31' date='Jun 24 2004, 04:49 PM'] LoL, you took my quote. [/quote] I realized that after I posted.... sorry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorphRC Posted June 25, 2004 Share Posted June 25, 2004 [quote name='phatcatholic' date='Jun 25 2004, 05:09 AM'] dude, i went to that site and found some amazing articles, a small sampling of which include the following (all must reads!!): --[url="http://mywebpages.comcast.net/enpeters/a_catechistintro.htm"]A Catechist's Introduction to Canon Law[/url] --[url="http://mywebpages.comcast.net/enpeters/a_denialofeucharist.htm"]Denial of the Eucharist to Pro-Abortion Politicians[/url] (this one's my favorite!) --[url="http://mywebpages.comcast.net/enpeters/a_mary.htm"]Mary and the Saints in the Code of Canon Law[/url] thanks for providing that site! pax christi, phatcatholic [/quote] yw Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St. Catherine Posted June 26, 2004 Share Posted June 26, 2004 (edited) Edited June 26, 2004 by St. Catherine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cure of Ars Posted June 26, 2004 Author Share Posted June 26, 2004 Thanks everyone for the help. Thanks MorphRC for the link. I learned some things. Apologetics keeps me humble. The more I learn the more I learn that there's more to learn. I have another question on the canon/slavery and the Catholic Church. I have not had time to look into this fully and I plan on it. If anyone already has the answer then please let me see it. I suspet that there are more than one type of slavery and the Catholic Church has always rejected slavery that reduced people to property but not the type of slavery like a surf. But anyway her is a quote that I am going to address. I have ready some of the links in the reference section but not all. [quote]340 CE Manichean Christians had been inciting slaves of the Roman Empire to take charge of their destiny and emancipate themselves. (Manichaeism was a Christian heresy based upon the teachings of a 3rd century Persian philosopher, Mani.) In response, the Christian Council (Synod) of Gangra issued a statement supporting slavery: "If anyone, on the pretext of religion, teaches another man's slave to despise his master and to withdraw from his service, and not serve his master with good will and all respect, let him be anathema." [color=red]This resolution became part of the Catholic church's canon law and was quoted as an authoritative source until the middle of the 18th century. [/color][/quote] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phatcatholic Posted June 26, 2004 Share Posted June 26, 2004 (edited) cure of ars............my articles on slavery in the History entry answer all ur questions when i get the chance, i'll provide the pertinent paragraphs Edited June 26, 2004 by phatcatholic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorphRC Posted June 29, 2004 Share Posted June 29, 2004 [b]General Articles on Canon Law - Yahoo! Search - catholic canon law[/b] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- New Advent - [url="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09056a.htm"]Canon Law[/url] [b]Canon Law[/b] [i]This subject will be treated under the following heads:[/i] [b]I.[/b] General Notion and Divisions [b]II.[/b] Canon Law as a Science [b]III.[/b] Sources of Canon Law [b]IV.[/b] Historical Development of Texts and Collections [b]V.[/b] Codification [b]VI.[/b] Ecclesiastical Law [b]VII.[/b] The Principal Canonists --------------- Code of Canon Law - [url="http://www.intratext.com/X/ENG0017.htm"]Complete Online Text -Index's[/url] [b]Code of Canon Law[/b] [i]I IntraText Edition LT Copyright Èulogos 2003 - See also: Credits[/i] --------------- Catholic-Pages.Com - [url="http://www.catholic-pages.com/dir/canon_law.asp"]Over 30 Articles on Canon Law[/url] [i][b]Online Books & Files[/b][/i] 1917 Code of Canon Law - (Latin) 1917 Code of Canon Law - (Latin) 1983 Code of Canon Law 1983 Code of Canon Law 1983 Code of Canon Law - Translation by Canon Law Society of England and Wales 1983 Code of Canon Law 1983 Code of Canon Law - In original Latin 1983 Code of Canon Law - In original Latin ---------------- New Advent - [url="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01178a.htm"]Affinity (in Canon Law)[/url] ---------------- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phatcatholic Posted June 30, 2004 Share Posted June 30, 2004 i wish an english translation of the 1917 canon was available online..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phatcatholic Posted June 30, 2004 Share Posted June 30, 2004 oh, and can anyone find in the canon where it says that: --no one has higher authority than the pope --no council, conference, or college can overthrow the pope --there is no authority to supercede the pope or something of that nature. i need documentation that the pope cannot be "deposed" of his office. i know its in the canon somewhere..... thanks, phatcatholic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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