Lex (Canon law)

Lex (Canon law)

'Lex' is Latin for one sense of the English term, law. In the Canon Law of the Catholic Church, "lex" refers to law which has been formulated in written form and promulgated by competent authority. While this is the usual sense of "law" in modern legal systems, the legal system of the Catholic Church includes another form of law, "ius", which refers to the oral teachings, practices, customs, theological understandings of liturgy and liturgical practices generally prior to the Council of Nicea in 325 a.d., when written legislation became the normative means of communicating Church law.

"Lex" takes several forms:

:*Decrees or canons of ecumenical councils.:*Decrees or canons of regional Church councils or synods (regionally binding):*Decrees (or decretals) of the Pope.:*Canon Law (binding either universally or by rite)

It is important to understand that much of Church legislation (unless otherwise stated) is either a development of earlier law or a restatement of earlier law, particularly law contained in the oral tradition from apostolic teaching, or "ius".


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Canon Law — • Canon law is the body of laws and regulations made by or adopted by ecclesiastical authority, for the government of the Christian organization and its members Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Canon Law     Canon Law …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Canon law — Law Law (l[add]), n. [OE. lawe, laghe, AS. lagu, from the root of E. lie: akin to OS. lag, Icel. l[ o]g, Sw. lag, Dan. lov; cf. L. lex, E. legal. A law is that which is laid, set, or fixed; like statute, fr. L. statuere to make to stand. See… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Ius (Canon Law) — Ius or jus is Latin for one sense of the English word, law. In the Canon Law of the Catholic Church, ius refers to custom, practice or Tradition. The early law of the Church, especially prior to the First Council of Nicaea in 325 a.d., was… …   Wikipedia

  • Interpretation (canon law) — In relation to the canon law of the Roman Catholic Church, canonists give rules for the exact interpretation and acceptation of words, in order that decrees may be correctly understood and the extent of their obligation determined.Who can give an …   Wikipedia

  • canon — can·on / ka nən/ n [Greek kanōn rod, measuring line, rule] 1 a: a regulation or doctrine decreed by a church council b: a provision of canon law 2 a: an accepted principle or rule canon s of descent b: a bo …   Law dictionary

  • lex — index act (enactment), canon, code, enactment, law, statute, term (provision) …   Law dictionary

  • Words (in Canon Law) — • Canonists give many rules for the exact acceptation of words, in order that decrees may be correctly understood and the extent of their obligation determined Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Words (in Canon Law)      …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • law — / lȯ/ n [Old English lagu, of Scandinavian origin] 1: a rule of conduct or action prescribed or formally recognized as binding or enforced by a controlling authority: as a: a command or provision enacted by a legislature see also statute 1 b:… …   Law dictionary

  • Law — (l[add]), n. [OE. lawe, laghe, AS. lagu, from the root of E. lie: akin to OS. lag, Icel. l[ o]g, Sw. lag, Dan. lov; cf. L. lex, E. legal. A law is that which is laid, set, or fixed; like statute, fr. L. statuere to make to stand. See {Lie} to be… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Law binding — Law Law (l[add]), n. [OE. lawe, laghe, AS. lagu, from the root of E. lie: akin to OS. lag, Icel. l[ o]g, Sw. lag, Dan. lov; cf. L. lex, E. legal. A law is that which is laid, set, or fixed; like statute, fr. L. statuere to make to stand. See… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”