View source for Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches

{{Italic title}}{{Short description|Eastern Catholic code of canon law}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}}{{For|Eastern Orthodox canon law|Canon law of the Eastern Orthodox Church}}
{{Canon Law}}
The '''''Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches''''' ('''CCEC'''; {{langx|la|'''Codex Canonum Ecclesiarum Orientalium'''}},<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.intratext.com/IXT/LAT0758/|title=CCEO - Table of Contents - IntraText CT|website=Intratext.com|access-date=8 July 2018}}</ref> abbreviated '''CCEO''') is the title of the 1990 work which is a [[Codification (law)|codification]] of the common portions of the [[Canon law (Catholic Church)|canon law]] for the 23 [[Eastern Catholic Churches]] in the [[Catholic Church]]. It is divided into 30 titles and has a total of 1546 [[Canon (canon law)|canons]].<ref>Pete Vere & Michael Trueman, ''Surprised by Canon Law'', vol. 2. Cincinnati, Ohio: Servant Books, 2007, p. 123</ref> The code [[entered into force]] in 1991.

The western [[Latin Church]] is governed by its own particular code, the [[1983 Code of Canon Law|1983 ''Code of Canon Law'']].

==History==
The 23 ''[[sui iuris]]'' Churches which collectively make up the [[Eastern Catholic Churches]] had been invited by the [[Holy See]] to [[Codification (law)|codify]] their own particular laws and submit them to the [[pope]] so that there may be a full, complete code of all religious law within Eastern Catholicism. Pope [[John Paul II]] promulgated the ''Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches'' on 18 October 1990, by the document ''Sacri Canones''.<ref>''[[Acta Apostolicae Sedis|AAS]]'', 82 (1990), pp. 1033-1063</ref> The code [[came into force]] on 1 October 1991.<ref> Thomas Kuzhinapurath, ''Salvific Law: Salvific Character of CCEO, An Historical Overview'', Malankara Seminary Publications, Trivandrum, 2008, p.79</ref>

==Language==
{{see also|Ecclesiastical Latin}}
The official language of the [[Canon law of the Catholic Church|canon law]] common to all the Eastern Catholic Churches (called "common law"{{efn|This usage should not be confused with the [[common law|common law civil legal system]] or with the ''[[jus commune]]''.}}) is [[ecclesiastical Latin|Latin]]. Although Latin is the language of the [[Latin Church]] and not of the [[Eastern Churches]], Latin was chosen as the language of the common law because there is no common language in use among all the Eastern Catholic Churches. The members of these churches use a diversity of languages, including Greek, Ukrainian, Arabic, Romanian, Malayalam, English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese, but no single one of these languages could be used as the language of the common law. Latin was chosen because it has a long history of legal and juridical tradition and was suitable for serving as the common text from which translations could be made.<ref name="FarisCXXVI">John D. Faris, "Codifications of Eastern Canon Law", in ''A Practical Commentary to the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches'', ed. John D. Faris & Jobe Abbass, OFM Conv., cxxvi.</ref>

==Emendations==
===''Ad Tuendam Fidem''===
In 1998, [[Pope John Paul II]] issued the ''[[motu proprio]]'' {{lang|la|[[Ad Tuendam Fidem]]}}, which amended two [[Canon (canon law)|canons]] (750 and 1371) of the [[1983 Code of Canon Law|1983 ''Code of Canon Law'']] and two canons (598 and 1436) of the ''Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches'', so as to add "new norms which expressly impose the obligation of upholding truths proposed in a definitive way by the [[Magisterium|Magisterium of the Church]], and which also establish related canonical sanctions".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/motu_proprio/documents/hf_jp-ii_motu-proprio_30061998_ad-tuendam-fidem_en.html|title=Ad Tuendam Fidem (18 May 1998) - John Paul II|website=Vatican.va|access-date=8 July 2018}}</ref>

===''Mitis et Misericors Iesus''===
{{main|Matrimonial nullity trial reforms of Pope Francis}}
On 15 August 2015, [[Pope Francis]] issued the motu proprio ''Mitis et Misericors Iesus'' which amended canons 1357 to 1377 of the CCEO.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Apostolic Letter Motu Proprio Mitis et misericors Iesus by which the canons of the Code of Canons of Eastern Churches pertaining to cases rearding the nullity of marriage are reformed (15 August 2015) {{!}} Francis |url=https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/motu_proprio/documents/papa-francesco-motu-proprio_20150815_mitis-et-misericors-iesus.html |access-date=2023-09-18 |website=www.vatican.va}}</ref> It reformed the procedures for matrimonial nullity trials and instituted a briefer process.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pope Francis reforms Church law in marital nullity trials |url=http://www.archivioradiovaticana.va/storico/2015/09/08/pope_francis_reforms_church_law_in_marital_nullity_trials/en-1170336 |access-date=2023-09-18 |website=www.archivioradiovaticana.va}}</ref>

=== ''Competentias quasdam decernere'' ===

The ''motu proprio'' ''Competentias quasdam decernere'' issued 15 February 2022 changed canons 489, 496, 499, 501, 552. 546, 1052, and 1054.<ref>{{Cite web|last=CNA|title=Pope Francis changes 10 articles of the Code of Canon Law, which rules the Church|url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250392/pope-francis-seeks-healthy-decentralization-with-new-changes-to-canon-law|access-date=2022-02-22|website=Catholic News Agency|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Apostolic Letter issued “Motu proprio” Competentias quasdam decernere introducing changes to some norms of the Code of Canon Law and the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches (11 February 2022) {{!}} Francis |url=https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/motu_proprio/documents/20220211-motu-proprio-assegnare-alcune-competenze.html |access-date=2023-03-24 |website=www.vatican.va}}</ref>

=== ''Vocare peccatores'' ===
On 5 April 2023, Pope Francis released the apostolic letter, issued ''motu proprio'', ''Vocare peccatores''. It was signed 20 March 2023, and [[come into force|came into force]] on 29 June 2023.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2023-04-05 |title=Pope revises penal law of the Eastern Churches |url=https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2023-04/pope-revises-penal-law-of-the-eastern-churches.html |access-date=2023-04-12 |website=Vatican News |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1" />

It changes 23 canons: canons 1402, 1406, 1407, 1409, 1410, 1414, 1416, 1424, 1429, 1430, 1436, 1442, 1443, 1446, 1449, 1453, 1456, 1459, 1463, 1464, 1466, 1467, and 1152.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Brockhaus |first=Hannah |date=5 April 2023 |title=Pope Francis revises the penal law of the Eastern Catholic Churches |url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254027/pope-francis-revises-the-penal-law-of-the-eastern-catholic-churches |access-date=2023-04-12 |website=Catholic News Agency |language=en}}</ref>

=== ''Iam pridem'' ===
On 17 April 2023, Pope Francis released the apostolic letter, issued ''motu proprio'', ''Iam pridem''. It had been signed on 16 April 2023. The new legislation made it so that Eastern Catholics who are at the age of 80 or more cannot take part in votings of their [[Synods]]. ''Iam pridem'' states the new legislation does not concern "[[Patriarchs]], [[Major archbishop|Major Archbishops]], [[Diocesan bishop|Eparchial Bishops]] and [[Exarch|Exarchs]]" who are currently in office "despite them having reached the age of eighty". The new legislation is to enter into force one month after it is published.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2023-04-17 |title=Pope sets Eastern Churches Bishops' age limit for voting at Synods|url=https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2023-04/pope-fixes-eastern-churches-bishops-age-limit-for-vote-at-synods.html |access-date=2023-04-17 |website=Vatican News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Brockhaus |first=Hannah |date=17 April 2023 |title=Pope Francis introduces voting age limit for bishops of Eastern Catholic Churches |url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254113/pope-francis-introduces-voting-age-limit-for-bishops-of-eastern-catholic-churches |access-date=2023-04-17 |website=Catholic News Agency |language=en}}</ref>

It changes canons 66&nbsp;§&nbsp;1, as well as canons 102, 149 and 183.<ref name=":2" />

== Division ==
The text of the CCEO is divided into 31 sections, 30 titles and a section of preliminary [[Canon (canon law)|canons]].

=== Preliminary canons ===
The six preliminary [[Canon (canon law)|canons]] deal with scope and continuity, what is affected by the CCEO and how prior legislation and customs shall be handled.

'''Can. 1''' The CCEO regards solely the Eastern Catholic Churches unless otherwise mentioned.

'''Can. 2''' The CCEO is to be assessed according to the Ancient Laws of the Eastern Churches.

'''Can. 3''' The CCEO does not "for the most part legislate on liturgical matters"<ref>{{Cite book|url=http://www.intratext.com/X/ENG1199.HTM|title=Code of Canons of Oriental Churchs|publisher=Èulogos SpA|year=1990|edition=I IntraText Edition CT|at=Can. 3}}</ref> and therefore the [[liturgical books]] are to be observed unless contrary to the canons of the CCEO.

'''Can. 4.''' The CCEO neither degrades or abrogates treaties/pacts entered into by the [[Holy See]] with nations and political societies. Therefore, they still have their force, notwithstanding any prescriptions of the CCEO to the contrary.

== Churches ''sui iuris'' and rites ==
{{Eastern Catholicism }}
A [[church sui iuris|church ''sui iuris'']] is "a community of the Christian faithful, which is joined together by a hierarchy according to the norm of law and which is expressly or tacitly recognized as sui iuris by the supreme authority of the Church" (CCEO, can. 27). The term ''sui iuris'' is an innovation of the CCEO, and denotes the relative autonomy of the Eastern Catholic Churches. This canonical term, pregnant with many juridical nuances, indicates the God-given mission of the Eastern Catholic Churches to preserve their patrimonial autonomous nature. The autonomy of these churches is relative in the sense that they are under the authority of the [[Bishop of Rome]].{{efn|For a better understanding of the concept of church sui iuris see, Žužek, ''Understanding The Eastern Code'', pp.&nbsp;94–109.}}<ref>{{cite web |date=8 July 1994 |title=Österreichisches Archiv für Kirchenrecht |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=N09OAAAAYAAJ&q=%22quale+con+il+proprio+Sinodo+costituisce+la+superiore%22 |access-date=8 July 2018 |publisher=Herder |via=Google Books |quote=Una Chiesa Orientale cattolica è una parte della Chiesa Universale che vive la fede in modo corrispondente ad una delle cinque grandi tradizioni orientali - Alessandrina, Antiochena, Costantinopolitina, Caldea, Armena- e che contiene o è almeno capace di contenere, come sue componenti minori, più comunità diocesane gerarchicamente riunite sotto la guida di un capo comune legittimamente eletto e in comunione con Roma, il quale con il proprio Sinodo costituisce la superiore istanza per tutti gli affari di carattere amministrativo, legislativo e giudiziario delle stesse Communità, nell'ambito del diritto comune a tutte le Chiese, determinato nei Canoni sanciti dai Concili Ecumenici o del Romano Pontefice, sempre preservando il diritto di quest'ultimo di intervenire nei singoli casi}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Canon law (Catholic Church)]]
*[[1983 Code of Canon Law|1983 ''Code of Canon Law'']]
*[[1917 Code of Canon Law|1917 ''Code of Canon Law'']]
*[[Roman Catholic (term)]]
{{Clear}}

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* Faris, John D., & Jobe Abbass, OFM Conv., eds. ''A Practical Commentary to the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches'', 2 vols. Montréal: Librairie Wilson & Lafleur, 2019.

==External links==
*[https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/la/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_jp-ii_apc_19901018_index-codex-can-eccl-orient.html Codex Canonum Ecclesiarum Orientalium], Latin ''editio typica'' of the ''Code''
*[http://armenianchurchco.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Code-of-Canons-of-the-Eastern-Churches-PDF.pdf "Code of Canons of Eastern Churches"], English translation
*[https://archive.org/details/ApostolicConstitutionSacriCanonesJohnPaulIi1990 Text of ''Sacri Canones''], issued by Pope John Paul II at the promulgation of the ''Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches''

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