Canon Law

The Latest

Archbishop Sławoj Leszek Głódź.

Polish Catholic archbishop sanctioned by Vatican defends election as mayor

Jul 1, 2021

By CNA Staff

Archbishop Sławoj Leszek Głódź insisted his new role did not conflict with canon law. Read more

Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Georgetown, Washington, D.C.

Biden's DC parish says it will not deny Communion

Jun 29, 2021

By Matt Hadro

President Joe Biden’s regular parish in Washington, D.C. issued a statement on Tuesday that its priests and ministers will not... Read more

The entrance to the office of Rep. Ted Lieu in Washington D.C. on July 18, 2017.

Congressman dares bishops to deny him Communion over support for abortion, contraception

Jun 21, 2021

By Kate Scanlon

In a series of tweets from his personal social media account over the weekend, Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) called the... Read more

Poll: Regular Mass attendees say politicians who oppose Church teaching on grave matters ‘create confusion’

Jun 15, 2021

By Kate Scanlon

A poll by a Catholic advocacy group released on Tuesday found that, among Catholics who attend Mass regularly, the vast... Read more

Press Conference about amendments to Book VI of the Code of Canon Law on June 1, 2021 at the Holy See Press, Rome.

'A welcome necessity': Canon law society praises revisions to Church penal sanctions

Jun 2, 2021

The Canon Law Society of America on Tuesday expressed gratitude for the Vatican’s new revisions to Book VI of the... Read more

Pope Francis unveils sweeping reform of Catholic Church’s penal sanctions

Jun 1, 2021

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis wrote in the apostolic constitution introducing the changes that those who have committed a crime “need both mercy... Read more

The dome of St. Peter's Basilica.

Vatican responds to bishops’ call to amend Church law on crimes against minors

May 11, 2021

The Vatican told English and Welsh bishops that it was in the process of altering the Code of Canon Law. Read more

Cardinal Luis Ladaria Ferrer, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, in Rome June 28, 2018. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA.

Cardinal Ladaria: Pastoral care, Church law are not in conflict in marriage cases

Apr 28, 2021

By Hannah Brockhaus

The cardinal spoke at a study day devoted to the 2001 instruction Potestas ecclesiae. Read more

Survey: Two-thirds of Catholics say Biden should be able to receive Communion

Mar 31, 2021

Two-thirds of U.S. Catholics say that President Joe Biden, who has contradicted Church teaching on abortion, marriage, and gender ideology,... Read more

Archbishop Wilton Gregory at a Mass celebrated at the Capital One Arena before the 2020 March for Life.

Analysis: Archbishop Gregory says he won’t deny Biden communion. How will Catholics respond?

Nov 24, 2020

By JD Flynn

Washington’s archbishop, who will be made a cardinal this weekend, told a journalist Tuesday that in his diocese, he will... Read more

Pope Francis at his general audience in the library of the Apostolic Palace Nov. 4, 2020.

Pope Francis requires bishops to have Vatican permission for new diocesan religious institutes

Nov 4, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis has changed canon law to require a bishop to have permission from the Holy See prior to establishing... Read more

Cardinal Raymond Burke. CNA file photo.

Cardinal Burke: Biden should not receive Holy Communion

Sep 29, 2020

Cardinal Raymond Burke, a canon lawyer and formerly the prefect of the Church’s highest court, has said that Catholic politicians... Read more

Pope Francis ordains 10 men to the priesthood May 7, 2017.

Detroit man thought he was a priest. He wasn't even a baptized Catholic

Aug 22, 2020

By JD Flynn

Father Matthew Hood of the Archdiocese of Detroit thought he became a priest in 2017. He hadn't even been baptized.  Read more

A Dutch church closed because of the global Coronavirus pandemic.

Analysis: The sacramental shutdown, coronavirus, and canon law

Mar 26, 2020

By Ed Condon, JD Flynn

The coronavirus pandemic has caused disruption around the world. To politics, economics, and to the life of the Church: most... Read more

Theologians say there is ‘doubt’ of sacramentality in marriages between ‘baptized non-believers’

Mar 5, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

The International Theological Commission this week published a study into the question of whether two “baptized non-believers” can contract sacramental... Read more

Prime Minister Thomas Thabane of Lesotho at the United Nations.

Lesotho PM murder case could have canon law consequences

Feb 25, 2020

By Ed Condon, JD Flynn

Prime Minister Thomas Thabane has been charged with the murder of his estranged former wife. The trial could also have an canonical... Read more

Pope Francis.

Pope Francis: Canon law revision project is concluding

Feb 21, 2020

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis said on Friday that canon law can be like medicine, because justice is healing for the entire Church.... Read more

Pope Francis meets with Patriarch Bartholomew at Domus Sancta Marta, Sept. 19, 2019.

Pope Francis: 'Canon law is essential for ecumenical dialogue'

Sep 19, 2019

By Courtney Mares

In an audience Thursday with members of the Society for the Law of the Eastern Churches, Pope Francis said that “canon... Read more

Baptism.

Baptismal record for same-sex couples causes controversy in Colombia

Jul 25, 2019

The recent baptism of a child raised by a same-sex couple has caused a controversy in Colombia, after a parish... Read more

Fr. Hermann Geissler, FSO.

Signatura: Geissler 'acquittal' came after formal process

May 17, 2019

The Vatican announced Friday that a former Curial official accused of sexual solicitation in the confessional was found not guilty... Read more