The last canon in the Code of Canon Law, 1752, declares the “salvation of souls” to be “the supreme law” of the Catholic Church. This clearly means that it must take precedence over all other laws. But it is rarely cited, even in the debates and disputes over divorce and remarriage, where it could seem particularly apt. It is even more relevant to the related case of someone who has previously divorced and remarried and who subsequently wishes to become a Catholic. In the first case, the existing rules say a divorced and remarried Catholic should not receive Communion. This rule, increasingly honoured in the breach, is due to be debated and possibly recommended for relaxation at this autumn’s meeting of the Synod of Bishops on the Family in Rome. But the seco
23 July 2015, The Tablet
This does not smack of the supreme law of the Church, the salvation of souls
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User Comments (1)
I have an unofficially adopted son, an African priest in Rome, at present working for his doctorate in Canon Law, who last year while staying with me pointed out that very canon as he tried to explain to me that Canon Law is primarily to protect the members of the church and not to condemn them. I found it very cheering. That, combined with Jesus's statement which starts 'Whose sins you shall forgive...' (I don't need to go on - you know the rest) gives me hope of mercy. I assume you do know the rest of that quotation but often it seems to me that many members of the clergy remember better the second half of that quotation and that, in turn, has echoes in Mt.23:3-5...