The contribution of canon law to the debate about democracy The paper examines the origins of certain principles of democracy in the history of canon law: first, the concept of representation and the elections of the most important offices, especially of the diocesan bishops and of the pope. The contribution illustrates how it has come to the majority principle in a legal system that favors unanimity. Particular emphasis is given to the tradition of participation in the decisions outlined by religious orders and congregations. In the second part the article analyzes the praxis of the ecumenical councils that is developed in the Church since the early centuries and it explains the techniques of creation of the collegial will. Ample space, then, is dedicated to the movement of thought called “conciliarism”: from his birth on the occasion of the Great Schism of the West to its sunset. The paper, taking into account the contributions of the Council of Trento and Vatican I leads to the Second Vatican Council, that has founded his ecclesiological vision on the principles of collegiality and participation. But, nevertheless, remains the fundamental question: democracy is possible in the Church?
Il saggio esamina le origini nella storia del diritto canonico di alcuni principi della democrazia: dal concetto di rappresentanza alle procedure elettorali dei più importanti uffici, soprattutto dei vescovi diocesani e del papa. Si illustra come si è giunti al principio maggioritario in un ordinamento che privilegia la unanimità. Particolare rilievo è dato alla tradizione di partecipazione alle decisioni delineata dagli ordini e congregazioni religiose. Nella seconda parte si analizzano la prassi dei concili ecumenici sviluppatasi nella Chiesa dai primi secoli e le tecniche di formazione della volontà collegiale. Ampio spazio si dedica alla corrente di pensiero definita “conciliarismo”: dalla sua affermazione in occasione del grande scisma d’Occidente al suo abbandono. Trascorrendo dal Concilio di Trento al Concilio Vaticano I si giunge fino al Concilio Vaticano II che ha valorizzato la collegialità e la partecipazione. Ma è possibile la democrazia nella Chiesa?
Il contributo del diritto canonico al dibattito sulla democrazia
BONI, GERALDINA;ZANOTTI, ANDREA
2017
Abstract
The contribution of canon law to the debate about democracy The paper examines the origins of certain principles of democracy in the history of canon law: first, the concept of representation and the elections of the most important offices, especially of the diocesan bishops and of the pope. The contribution illustrates how it has come to the majority principle in a legal system that favors unanimity. Particular emphasis is given to the tradition of participation in the decisions outlined by religious orders and congregations. In the second part the article analyzes the praxis of the ecumenical councils that is developed in the Church since the early centuries and it explains the techniques of creation of the collegial will. Ample space, then, is dedicated to the movement of thought called “conciliarism”: from his birth on the occasion of the Great Schism of the West to its sunset. The paper, taking into account the contributions of the Council of Trento and Vatican I leads to the Second Vatican Council, that has founded his ecclesiological vision on the principles of collegiality and participation. But, nevertheless, remains the fundamental question: democracy is possible in the Church?I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
