The word "canon" is often used to refer to the body of laws and
regulating norms enacted and promulgated by ecclesiastical
authority for the orderly and pastoral administration and government
of the Church. The most recent revision of the Code of Canon Law
became effective on November 27, 1983 and consists of 1752
canons, that is laws, organized into seven books. The seven books
are: general norms, the people of God, the teaching mission of the
Church, the sanctifying mission of the Church, temporal goods of the
Church, penal law and procedural law. This revision replaced the
1917 revision. Code of Canon Law - 1983 English
