The Canonical Aspect of Church Archives

Abstract

Church archives are both ecclesiastical goods as well as cultural assets, and as such they are to be properly protected and valuated respecting the canon norms. This is why ecclesiastical institutions have long maintained various archives, and the Church authorities enacted necessary legislation. Accordingly, there is a universal obligation to establish and maintain archives in Church institutions.

The presented article first deals with Church archives as envisaged by former canon law, and then the notion and types of Church archives. Next, the Author presents the duty to establish an archive. More space is devoted to the question of a diocesan archive, as well as other types of archives in the Church. Apart from the norms of universal law, the question of establishment, management, and maintenance of Church archives is to be regulated by particular law.