General Norms 1 Flashcards
learn basic definitions used or assumed throughout the CIC 83
Law (general definition)
A binding norm duly promulgated by a competent legislator to a community capable of receiving a law which has as its purpose the common good.
Universal Law
Law made for the Latin Church by the Supreme Legislator which bind those for whom they were made wherever they go. These laws might not be binding due to: (1) A contrary custom (2) a contrary particular law, not expressly revoked, which was in force before the universal law went into effect (3) an apostolic privilege (can 76) or other apostolic indult (4) a dispensation for a particular case (can. 85).
Personal Particular Law
Particular laws given by a competent legislator for non-territorial defined groups of people who are capable of receiving law which bind the person, whether physical or juridic, wherever they go. Exs. Institutes of Consecrated Life, Societies of Apostolic Life, personal prelatures, and associations of the faithful.
Territorial Particular Law
particular laws given by a competent legislator for ecclesiastical territories which bind all those for whom it was issued. It generally only binds those with domicile and quasi-domicile while they are present in the territory unless those laws (1) provide for public order (2) determine the formality of acts (3) regard immovable goods located in the territory.
Peregrini (travelers)
Those outside their domicile or quasi-domicile [for less than 3 months]. They are not bound by the particular laws of their territory as long as those laws (1) are not personal (2) the transgression of those laws do not cause harm in their own territory. They are not bound by the particular laws of the territory in which they are present unless those laws (1) provide for public order (2) determine the formality of acts (3) regard immovable goods located in the territory.
Vagi (transients)
Those who have no domicile or quasi-domicile. They are bound by both universal and particular laws which are in force in the place where they are present.
Divine Law
The law of God binding all people. It can be positive [expressed] or natural [innate].
Ecclesiastical Law
The law of the Catholic Church which binds only Catholics which is created, abolished, and dispensed by a competent authority.
Common Good
GS 26 says that the common good is “the sum total of the conditions of social life enabling groups and individuals to realize their perfection more fully and readily.”
Custom
A norm introduced by a community for itself which they intend to be binding. Does not become law, but can obtain the force of law if the proper conditions are met. Customs can be universal or particular.
Centenary Custom
A custom that has been observed for at least 100 years. Can prevail against clauses prohibiting customs per cc. 5 and 26.
Immemorial Custom
A custom that has been observed for as long as anyone can remember. Can prevail against clauses prohibiting customs per cc. 5 and 26.
Optional Practice
A custom which the community does not consider to be binding
Factual Custom (custom of fact)
A custom which the majority of the community considers binding, but does not have the force of law. Can be removed by any competent superior.
Legal Custom
A custom which has the force of law. Can only be removed by a contrary law or custom.
Praeter Ius
A situation in which the law says nothing about the specific matter regulated by the custom.
Contra Ius
A situation in which the custom conflicts with what the law states
Conditions for Establishing Custom
- Specific approval: A custom can become a legal custom if: specifically approved by a competent legislature [the legislator must be equal to the breadth of the custom. ie. universal legislator for a universal custom etc…]. This can be done expressly by explicitly stating this in a public document, or tacitly, by being aware that a custom exists and doing nothing to eliminate it.
- Legal Approval comes when the following conditions are met: (1) The custom must be reasonable (ie. not expressly reprobated in law, not contrary to faith and morals, not contrary to common good, etc…) and cannot be contrary to divine law. (2) the community must be capable of receiving a law [lex] and must intend to introduce a normative practice [ius] (3) the custom must be observed for thirty continuous and complete years (4) the custom must not be reprobated by the competent authority. At this point, the custom is no longer a custom of fact, but has become a legal custom.
- If a law prohibits a contrary custom from forming in the future, it could not attain the force of law unless it was legitimately observed for one hundred compete and continuous years (centenary) or as long as anyone in the community could remember (immemorial). NB: A prohibition on future customs does not effect legal customs which already exist but it does effect factual customs already in existence which have not yet attained the force of law.
Continuity of a custom is broken by
(1) the majority of the community ceases to observe it for a time (2) the custom is continuously observed but for some of that period the community does not consider it normative (3) the custom is expressly disapproved by legitimate ecclesiastical authority
Communities Capable of Receiving Law (Lex)
(1) Juridic Persons (2) Communities and Institutions who have been juridically established in some way and are subject to ecclesiastical regulation and supervision (3) homogenous groups of people who belong to entities in (1) and (2). In short, it has to be a group juridically tied to the Church and subject to supervision by someone with legislative authority.
Abrogation
Complete revoking of a previous law.
Derogation
Partial revoking of a previous law
Civil Law
Certain laws of respective civil jurisdictions that bind citizens of the state.
Canonization of Civil Law
Can 22. The acceptance of effects of civil law within the canonical system when provided for by canon law. Seen most strongly in management of Temporal Goods. (Also can. 1290 with contracts)
Doubts of Law (dubium iuris)
A doubt which occurs when it is impossible to achieve moral certainty concerning the laws (1) meaning (2) applicability in a particular case (3) force.
Doubts of Fact (dubium facti)
A doubt about some concrete fact that pertains to the law’s applicability such as age, validity of the sacrament received, etc… Ordinaries may dispense from laws if there is a doubt of fact provided that, if it concerns a reserved dispensation, the authority to whom the dispensation is reserved normally grants it.
Promulgation of Law
The formal act of publication of a law. If this is omitted or done invalidly, the law has no effect and cannot be enforced.
Validity
Those elements which determine whether a juridical act is efficacious and produces the desired result.
Liceity
Those elements which determine whether a juridic act is legally allowed by law.
Ignorance
Lack of knowledge.
Error
Mistaken judgement.
General Decrees
This term applies to both laws and the administrative acts which provide for the execution of laws (general executory decrees). General decrees which are laws are issued by a competent legislator by way of a common prescript for a community capable of receiving law.
General Executive Decree
These do not create new laws, but rather specify the law or urge its observance. They are issued in the same way that law is promulgated by an executive authority, and bind those obliged to observance of the law. They do not derogate from laws, and cease to have force when (1) they are revoked by competent authority (2) law ceases (3) if provided for, the authority of the one who issued it ceases. Ex. Complementary Norms.
Administrative Acts
The action of governance which carry out the day-to-day application of abstract norms to the concrete circumstances of ecclesial life, apart from those activities entrusted to the courts.
Instruction
Instructions are issued by a competent executive authority in order to explain how the law is to be applied in practice. They are issued to and binding on those who execute laws. They do not derogate from laws, and any contradictions must be reconciled in favor of the law. They lose force by revocation of the competent authority who issued them or the cessation of the law for which they were issued. Ex. Dignitatis Conubii.
Singular Administrative Act
A juridic action issued by someone with executive authority within the limits of their authority. There are 3 general types: (1) decrees (2) precepts (3) rescripts.