RELS 116: Catholicism (Clark)

The Papacy

For more information on locating documents issued by Popes, see this page.

Helpful Books: 

Types of Documents

Below is a list of the major types of Papal documents and their descriptions. Where possible, document types are linked to their corresponding entry in The New Catholic Encyclopedia. 

• Papal Bull

  A bull is a formal papal document authenticated with a bulla or seal. Originally, metal was used for the seal, but today metal is used only for the most solemn bulls. Bulls typically begin with the issuing pope's name and the phrase, "episcopus servus servorum Dei", and conclude with the date. The content may cover any topic. Many important papal documents are issued as bulls. Bulls are generally referred to using the first couple of words of their (Latin) text. 
• Apostolic Constitution

  Apostolic constitutions are the most solemn form of legal document issued by the pope in his own name. Frequently issued as bulls, they deal primarily with serious doctrinal matters. Since 1911 they have also been used to establish dioceses and provinces. Many important documents have been issued as apostolic constitutions, including The Code of Canon Law.
• Motu Proprio

  Motu proprios are legislative, apostolic letters written and signed by the pope. Originally used to settle the affairs of the Curia and administer the Papal States, they now handle legislative matters which are significant but do not merit a constitution. Motu proprios are generally brief, and handle specific issues relevant to the Church in a specific time in history. In recent years they have been one of the principal sources of new Church laws outside of the Code of Canon Law. 
• Encyclical Letter

  Encyclicals are pastoral letters, used in their current form since 1740. These letters offer counsel and shed light on existing doctrine as part of the Holy Father's ordinary  teaching authority.  Because of this, they do not belong formally to the "deposit of revelation" (that is, they are not teachings issued ex cathedra or with infallibility), and their teachings are not definitive unless specifically stated as such. Therefore, certain points of their teachings can often be changed.
• Apostolic Epistle

  When an encyclical is written in response to a particular need, or when it is addressed to a specific group of persons, it is called an apostolic epistle. These epistles primarily discuss social concerns and are not considered legislative documents.
• Apostolic Exhortation

  Apostolic exhortations are papal reflections on a particular topic which are addressed to all of the clergy and faithful. The form was first used by Pope Pius XII in 1939. Exhortations generally encourage a particular virtue or mission, and are given on specific occasions. They do not contain dogmatic definitions or policies, and they are not considered legislative documents.
• Decretal Letter

  Decretals, first used in the 2nd century, originally contained papal decisions related to questions of discipline and administration. During the Middle Ages they were often issued in the form of bulls. In modern times, they are reserved for solemn matters such as dogmatic definitions and canonizations. It is generally accepted that decretals belong to the extraordinary magisterium of the Holy Father (that is, his authority to speak infallibly or ex cathedra); however, they are not considered legislative documents.
• Allocutiones / Addresses

  Prior to the 19th century, the term "allocutiones" was generally reserved for solemn addresses given by the Holy Father to his cardinals. Today, however, a variety of less-formal papal allocutions and addresses are published in the Acta Apostolicae Sedis and other sources. Their content is not necessarily tied to the Church or liturgy, but attempts to address specific issues or circumstances and is aimed at particular groups of people.
• Papal Rescript

  A papal rescript generally answers a petition placed before one of the Roman Curiae or the Holy Father himself. It is signed by the cardinal prefect and the secretary of the relevant congregation, and also bears that congregation's seal.
• Apostolic Brief

  Apostolic briefs, also called brevia, are a simple form of document dealing with matters of relatively-minor importance. This form emerged during the reign of Pope Martin V (1417-31) as a replacement for the ancient form of litterae.

Congregations 

For more information on locating documents issued by Congregations, see this page. 

Congregations are departments within the Roman Curia, composed of cardinals and bishops assisted by other administrators, which are devoted to specific tasks or issues of the church. They and the other offices of the Curia "study the major problems of the present age...promote initiatives for the good of the universal Church...[and]review matters that the Christian faithful, exercising their own right, bring to the attention of the Apostolic See."(see Pastor Bonus Art. 13). Generally speaking, congregations defer to the authority of the Pope and must submit to their decisions to him for approval.

The congregations meet regularly, at least once per year and sometimes more, and will, on occasion, produce documents publishing their decisions, discussion and other important material. Below is a list of the active congregations: 

Councils

For more information on finding documents released by Church Councils, see this page. 

Councils (also sometimes known as synods in the Roman Catholic tradition) are gatherings of clergy, usually bishops, convened to make an important decision or decisions related to the faith. These councils are often gathered in cases of emergency. There are many different kinds of councils and synods. In addition to councils convened on special occasions, the Curia also includes pontifical councils, headed by Cardinals, which meet regularly to work on specific projects of the church. 

One of the more commonly-known types is the ecumenical council. These councils, sometimes also called general councils, are "assemblies of bishops and other invited persons who meet with and under the authority of the Roman Pontiff to discuss and determine matters of faith, morals, and discipline for the entire Catholic Church" (New Catholic Encyclopedia). While ecumenical councils are not convened very frequently, they often produce critical church doctrine and documents due to the high-stakes nature of their content. One of the most well-known ecumenical councils was the Second Vatican Council, but you may be familiar with the seven ecumenical councils of the early Church -- 1st Nicaea, 1st Constantinople, 1st Ephesus, Chalcedon, 2nd & 3rd Constantinople, and 2nd Nicaea.

Unlike ecumenical councils, which are universal, plenary councils usually pertain to specific nations, while provincial councils or synods pertain to specific provinces within the church (and, as you might guess, diocesan councils/synods relate to specific dioceses and are convened by the bishop of that diocese). 

Canon Law 

Canon Law is the body of ecclesiastical laws which govern the actions of the Catholic Church and its followers. In the earliest days of the Church, Canon Law existed as a loosely-defined body of literature, including the various papal, conciliar, etc. documents referenced on other pages of this guide. A single Code of Canon Law was established for the first time in 1917, and was revised in 1983. The 1983 Code of Canon Law is the Code currently in use by the Church.  The Code is interpreted and built upon by the various congregations, councils and tribunals of the Catholic Church as well as by the Pope himself. 

Like all official legal documents of the Catholic Church, the Code of Canon Law was issued in Latin; however, officially-sanctioned translations are available in the local languages of the church's many dioceses, including English. 

Like civil law, church law is practiced by lawyers -- canon lawyers, to be specific. Canon lawyers obtain graduate degrees in Canon Law -- first at the licentiate, or masters, level, after which they can choose to pursue a doctorate. For more information about canon lawyers, or canonists, and what their work involves, see this article from EWTN. 

For more information on Canon Law, see this page, or visit this more-comprehensive guide created by the Catholic University of America Libraries.