Bogoslovska smotra, Vol. 73 No. 4, 2003.
Original scientific paper
Sacred Places and Especially Churches in Canon Law
Nikola Škalabrin
; Catholic Faculty of Theology in Djakovo, University of Josip Juraj Strossmayer, Djakovo, Croatia
Abstract
Churches are like people: witnessing through centuries, they are existentially vulnerable, and »die« that they might be »born« again. The enemy often has, as its objective in war, to destroy what is most precious and holy to the opponent and that which is very closely linked to its identity. Unfortunately, this was true and maliciously confirmed in the recent homeland War for the liberation of Croatia.
In Đakovo on 18th November 2002, at the Faculty of Theology, a seminar was held on the theme of construction and restoration of sacred edifices. Special emphasis was placed on civil legislative regulations. This article discusses sacred places or canonical ordinances that need to be observed during the construction and restoration of churches. Sacred places are those dedicated or blessed, as prescribed by liturgical books, assigned to divine worship or to the burial of the faithful. Included are: churches, oratories, private chapels, shrines, altars and cemeteries. The Code of Canon Law, promulgated in 1983, gives primary importance to churches. The author has therefore, titled this article: Sacred Places and Especially Churches.
The Code of Canon Law in part amends the term church. It is considered a sacred building intended for divine worship, to which the faithful have right of access for the public exercise of divine worship. No church is to be built without the express and written consent of the diocesan Bishop. The Bishop himself is obliged to uphold the prescribed canonical conditions before giving his consent. According to the Agreement between the Holy See and the Republic of Croatia concerning legal issues, signed in Zagreb, 19th December 1996, the authorised institutions of the Republic of Croatia will not take into consideration a request for a building permit for a sacred edifice without the explicit written approval of the diocesan bishop (Art. 11, Para. 3). Having said this, the conclusion is that the approval by the diocesan bishop is more than necessary, and therefore, he is the most responsible for the construction of churches in his diocese.
Keywords
sacred places; dedication and blessing; church; oratories and private chapels; construction of churches; diocesan bishop
Hrčak ID:
27511
URI
Publication date:
10.2.2004.
Visits: 2.145 *