THE ROLE OF CANON LAW TODAY Francis G. Morrisey, O.M.I.
1 . What is Canon Law? Canon Law is the complete body of rules or thot legal system by which 1he Church direds its specifie social actîvities and those of îts members. as such. The term "canon" derives from the Greek "kanon," a rule or a norm. The designation "Canon Law" has been, since the twelfth century, the usuel way of speaking of the body of ecclesiastical legislation.
2. Why does the Church have a law? Christ come on earth to establish a community of believers who, through their love of Gad and of neighbour, would give witness ta the perfection of charity and to the transcendent values of the spirituel arder. But this community is composed of humons, with their qualifies and their faults. Because of the weakness of mankind; it has been found necessary in many demains to establish regulations ta guide his conduct. The sorne applies in the spirituel arder. As Christ promulgated His law of love, He also provided His Church with basic norms of conduct, which tradition has brought dawn tous in the "Sermon on the Mount." As the number of believers increased, it became necessary to add additional norms, and at the sorne lime remove certain restrictions of the Mosoic Law. The Apostles, and Paul particulor, faced si1uations in the early Church with firmness and understanding. ln the course of time, this role was ossumed more directly by the Roman Pontiff and his representatives. The law thot the Church proposes ta ifs members today is, to a great extent, the result of a long evolutive process. This law, in a certain way, expresses the wisdom and experience of the post centuries. lt must be remembered thal Church law has as its primary purpose to provide for the spirituel well-being of the faithful. Consequently, ît îs situ-
ated at the leve! of a means, and is not an end in itself. The Church maintains ih low to provide for the 1aithful guidelines helping them unite themselves more closely to Christ and to His People, the Church.
236