Nolo's Plain-English Law Dictionary
Need Professional Help? Talk to a Lawyer
Enter Your Zip Code to Connect with a Lawyer Serving Your Area
Enter Your Zip Code to Connect with a Lawyer Serving Your Area
- Canon Law
- The laws of a church or religion, especially those of the Roman Catholic Church, that govern the powers of the clergy, administration of the church, and church ceremonies. Roman Catholic laws, which are drawn from ancient church documents, councils of bishops' decisions, and papal rulings, are collected in the Code of Canon Law. In medieval Europe, ecclesiastical courts used canon law to decide cases involving crimes and matters that today would be heard in civil courts.
Find us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Find us on Google+
Watch us on YouTube
Listen to us on iTunes