Derecho canónico

Canon law (from Ancient Greek: κανών, kanon, a 'straight measuring rod, ruler') is a set of ordinances and regulations made by ecclesiastical authority (Church leadership), for the government of a Christian organization or church and its members. It is the internal ecclesiastical law, or operational policy, governing the Catholic Church (both the Latin Church and the Eastern Catholic Churches), the Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox churches, and the individual national churches within the Anglican Communion. The way that such church law is legislated, interpreted and at times adjudicated varies widely among these three bodies of churches. In all three traditions, a canon was originally a rule adopted by a church council; these canons formed the foundation of canon law.

El derecho canónico (del griego κανον kanon, para regla, norma o medida)​ es una ciencia jurídica que conforma una rama dentro del derecho cuya finalidad es estudiar y desarrollar la regulación jurídica de la Iglesia católica. Bajo esta definición se engloban tres conceptos que han conformado controversia acerca de su consideración a lo largo de la historia hasta nuestros días: su finalidad, su carácter jurídico y su autonomía científica.