CANON LAW AS A LEGAL SCIENCE: A LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

Canon law is the branch of law that orders the Catholic Church as a human institution, it is a valuable instrument that aims not only at the internal ecclesiastical organization, but has its importance under Western law as a legal science. The present study carried out, through a bibliographic review in the specialized literature, an analysis of canon law and its importance as a science of law. From the bibliographic analysis, 19 lay and ecclesiastical documents were selected that best represented the theme. In view of the present work, it is possible to highlight the importance of canon law and its influence as a legal science because from the knowledge of canon law it is possible to understand the bases of law in the West, seeking to highlight its sources, principles and current applications. The bibliographic deficiency on the subject is highlighted, often restricting it only to the ecclesial scope.