canon law

/ˌkænən ˈlɔ/

Other forms: canon laws

Some Christian churches have a set of rules known as canon law. In Catholicism, canon law stipulates how the church is organized and as the rules its congregants must follow.

The Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Eastern Orthodox churches follow canon law; the specific regulations vary between denominations and evolve over time. These rules are a way to structure the church and govern its members, and Catholic canon law is considered to be the oldest Western legal system in the world. It includes details of carrying out religious services, actions prohibited by the church, the use of church buildings, and more. The term derives from the Greek kanon, or "rule."

Definitions of canon law

1. noun

   the body of codified laws governing the affairs of a Christian church
   synonyms: ecclesiastical law

   type of:

   jurisprudence, law

   the collection of rules imposed by authority