The Canonical Condition of the Faithful as the Cornerstone of the Ecclesial System

Abstract

This article identifies the canonical condition of the faithful as the cornerstone of the ecclesial system and the (constitutional) root of its different scientific branches. The rights of the faithful serve as a clear and demonstrable directive for the entire juridical system. The focus of this analysis is primarily epistemological and conceptual in nature, centering around the three modes of influence of these fundamental rights within the ecclesial order : direct (the intrinsic “dueness” of the salvific goods) ; derived (the structure of ecclesiastical organization, of canonical conditions, and of the Latin and Eastern disciplines) ; and that which is united with human acquisitions in reference to so-called instrumental goods (the normative structure, administrative activity, and the judicial and penal sectors). The thesis proposed is that of the affirmation of a system of law based on values and principles of a constitutional nature.