canon law
noun
: the usually codified law governing a church
Example Sentences
a marriage valid under Catholic canon law
Recent Examples on the Web Christian denominations often have their own internal ecclesiastical processes, ranging from the Roman Catholic Church’s system of canon law to the boards and panels used by Protestant churches for internal discipline. 
Matt Ford, The New Republic, 27 July 2022 He was ordained a priest in 1950 and obtained a doctorate in theology at the prestigious Pontifical Gregorian University and in canon law from the Pontifical Lateran University, both in Rome. Frances D'emilio, BostonGlobe.com, 28 May 2022 After a church is deconsecrated and made available for secular purposes and possible sale, canon law holds that all sacred relics and furnishings must be removed for use in other sacred edifices or stored in ecclesiastical custody. New York Times, 24 Dec. 2021 The pope is the successor of the Apostle Peter, the head of the college of bishops, the Vicar of Christ, and the pastor of the universal Catholic Church on Earth, according to the church's in-house canon law. Nicole Winfield, Star Tribune, 6 July 2021 Many conservative-leaning U.S. bishops have simply allowed the Latin Masses to continue, and one, Bishop Thomas Paprocki of Springfield, Ill., shared the text of his dispensation on a canon law listserv so other prelates could follow suit. Washington Post, 17 Sep. 2021 The criminal code of the Vatican City State is based on the 1889 Italian legal code as well as elements of the canon law of the universal Catholic Church. Nicole Winfield, Star Tribune, 3 July 2021 The changes deal specifically with church penal sanctions; other parts of canon law — the church’s vast set of ecclesiastical rules — remain unchanged. Washington Post, 1 June 2021 Defrocking a priest is among the most severe punishments in canon law. New York Times, 1 June 2021 See More
Matt Ford, The New Republic, 27 July 2022 He was ordained a priest in 1950 and obtained a doctorate in theology at the prestigious Pontifical Gregorian University and in canon law from the Pontifical Lateran University, both in Rome. Frances D'emilio, BostonGlobe.com, 28 May 2022 After a church is deconsecrated and made available for secular purposes and possible sale, canon law holds that all sacred relics and furnishings must be removed for use in other sacred edifices or stored in ecclesiastical custody. New York Times, 24 Dec. 2021 The pope is the successor of the Apostle Peter, the head of the college of bishops, the Vicar of Christ, and the pastor of the universal Catholic Church on Earth, according to the church's in-house canon law. Nicole Winfield, Star Tribune, 6 July 2021 Many conservative-leaning U.S. bishops have simply allowed the Latin Masses to continue, and one, Bishop Thomas Paprocki of Springfield, Ill., shared the text of his dispensation on a canon law listserv so other prelates could follow suit. Washington Post, 17 Sep. 2021 The criminal code of the Vatican City State is based on the 1889 Italian legal code as well as elements of the canon law of the universal Catholic Church. Nicole Winfield, Star Tribune, 3 July 2021 The changes deal specifically with church penal sanctions; other parts of canon law — the church’s vast set of ecclesiastical rules — remain unchanged. Washington Post, 1 June 2021 Defrocking a priest is among the most severe punishments in canon law. New York Times, 1 June 2021 See More Word History
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined above
Legal Definition
canon law
noun
: a body of religious law governing the conduct of members of a particular faith
especially : the codified church law of the Roman Catholic Church
Note: Common law has been influenced by canon law in the areas of marriage and inheritance. Roman Catholic canon law, like the civil law, has been modeled on ancient Roman law. The source for Roman Catholic canon law is the Code of Canon Law. The Rudder (Pedalion) is a source for Greek Orthodox canon law. Jewish canon law is contained in the Talmud.
canon law
noun
as in philosophy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- philosophy
- theology
- ideology
- doctrine
- principle
- belief
- conviction
- creed
- tenet
- idealogy
- credo
- dogma
- canon
- axiom
- symbol
- precept
- protopresbyter
- protoproteose
- protopteran
- protopterous
- protopterus
- protoptile
- protore
- protorosaur
- Protorosauria
- protorosaurian
- protorosauroid
- Protorosaurus
- Protorthoptera
- protorthopteran
- protorthopteron
- protorthopterous
- Protoselachii
- Protosiphon
- protosiphonaceous
- Protosphargis
- Protospondyli
- protospondylous
- protostar
- protostars
- Protostega