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Canon law is the internal legal system of some Christian sects, including the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches. It establishes rules and punishments for Church members and officiants, and has been adapted by different sects. Canon law does not apply to non-members, and some Christians push for reforms. Canon lawyers may represent individuals in ecclesiastical courts and offer legal advice, but are not admitted to practice law outside of the Church.
Canon law is the internal law of some Christian sects. Both the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches have very ancient and complex legal systems. It is not “law” in the sense that it is legally binding on all citizens, but it establishes a system of rules along with a mechanism for holding trials and imposing punishments which is used within the Church. As a legal system, canon law is very old; the canon of the Roman Catholic Church is one of the oldest continuously operating legal systems in the world.
The term “canon” comes from a Greek word meaning “council.” The internal law of the Church was initially developed by councils of religious scholars who wished to establish ground rules that applied to the internal functioning of the Church. It covers everything from the activities of religious officiants to grounds for excommunication, and includes standards for trials and other hearings that may be held to decide Church matters. Church members and officiants are subject to mandates established by Church law.
The original canon law relied heavily on Roman law. As Christianity began to experience schisms and split into sects, the concept of canon law was adopted in many of these sects. Different sects have adapted and modified the law to suit their needs. Numerous societies have incorporated Christian law into their legal systems and drafters of canons which in turn have been borrowed from civil and criminal law.
Canon law does not apply to people who are not members of the Church, and individual Christians can follow it to varying degrees. Some Christians disagree with some aspects of church law and have pushed for reforms to modernize the law and address emerging religious and ethical issues. Some of these individuals may be engaged in activities that are technically grounds for penalties and excommunication under canon law, and they may use this as an illustration that some aspects of the law are clearly outdated.
Numerous translations of canon law are available online and in published legal texts. Canon law scholars may study the law from a purely academic sense or because they are interested in applying it. Several educational institutions offer degrees in canon law to individuals who wish to become canon lawyers. Canon lawyers may represent individuals in ecclesiastical courts, provide legal advice on the interpretation of canon law, and offer other services to Church officials and members. Canon lawyers are not admitted to practice the legal profession, but only before courts and tribunals held by the Church.
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