churchlaw

Church law, also known as ecclesiastical law or canon law, is the body of rules by which a Christian church or denomination governs its internal order, governance, and religious practice. It covers matters such as ecclesiastical hierarchy and governance, clerical discipline and ordination, the administration of sacraments and liturgical norms, marriage and family issues, the status and rights of clergy and laity, the operation of religious orders, and the management of property and finances. Many churches maintain ecclesiastical tribunals to interpret and enforce these norms.

Canon law has its roots in early church councils and patristic writings; a major milestone was Gratian’s Decretum (12th century). The most familiar codification for the Latin Church is the Code of Canon Law (1917, revised 1983). The Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches was issued in 1990 for the Eastern Catholic churches. Different traditions use slightly different legal frameworks, with canons, constitutions, and regulations shaping governance in denominations such as the Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Orthodox churches.

In civil-law jurisdictions, churches are also subject to general civil statutes governing incorporation, taxation, employment, property, contracts, and anti-discrimination. Civil authorities may recognize religious marriages, regulate charitable status, and resolve secular disputes involving church property or administration. Some jurisdictions use concordats or constitutional provisions to regulate church–state relations and the recognition of church law within the public sphere.

Modern church law interacts with secular law on safeguarding, financial transparency, and governance, and its specifics vary widely by denomination and country, reflecting diverse theological traditions and historical Developments.