Book One: General Norms

Although in the Code of Canon Law the discipline of the Eastern Church is also often referred to, nevertheless the Code itself has regard to the Latin Church alone, and does not bind the Eastern Church, unless there is question of those matters which, from the very nature of the thing, also affect the Eastern Church.

The Code, for the most part, determines nothing concerning the rites and ceremonies which the liturgical books, approved by the Latin Church, prescribe to be observed in the celebration of the most holy sacrifice of the Mass, in the administration of the Sacraments and Sacramentals, and in the carrying out of other sacred rites. Therefore all liturgical laws retain their force unless some one of them is expressly corrected in the Code.

The canons of the Code in no way abrogate, nor derogate in anything from, conventions entered into by the Apostolic See with various Nations; therefore these shall continue to be in force just as at present, notwithstanding contrary prescriptions of this Code in the least.

Rights acquired by others, and likewise privileges and indults which, up to this time, have been granted by the Apostolic See to physical or moral persons, are still in use, and have not been revoked, remain intact, unless they are expressly revoked by the canons of this Code.

Customs now in force against the provisions of these canons, whether universal or particular, if indeed they are expressly reprobated by the canons themselves, are to be corrected as corruptions of the law, even though they are immemorial, and are not to be allowed to revive in the future; others, which indeed are centenary and immemorial, may be tolerated if Ordinaries, according to the circumstances of places and persons, judge that they cannot prudently be removed; the rest are to be held suppressed unless the Code expressly provides otherwise.

The Code generally retains the discipline in force up to this time, although it brings suitable changes. Therefore:

1° Any laws whatsoever, whether universal or particular, opposed to the prescriptions of this Code, are abrogated, unless concerning particular laws something else is expressly provided.

2° Canons which reproduce the old law in its entirety are to be assessed from the authority of the old law, and therefore from the interpretations received among approved authors.

3° Canons which agree only in part with the old law are to be assessed, insofar as they agree, from the ancient law; insofar as they differ, they are to be judged from their own meaning.

4° In doubt whether some prescription of the canons differs from the old law, one must not depart from the old law.

5° As regards penalties of which no mention is made in the Code, whether spiritual or temporal, medicinal or, as they are called, vindicative, automatic (latae sententiae) or to-be-imposed (ferendae sententiae), they are to be held as abrogated.

6° If any of the other disciplinary laws which have been in force until now is contained neither explicitly nor implicitly in the Code, it must be said to have lost all force, unless it is found in approved liturgical books, or the law is of divine law, whether positive or natural.

By the name Apostolic See or Holy See in this Code are meant not only the Roman Pontiff, but also, unless something else appears from the nature of the matter or the context of the language, the Congregations, Tribunals, and Offices through which the same Roman Pontiff is accustomed to transact the affairs of the universal Church.