Church law {canon law}| {church law} uses Christian concepts and Roman judicial-procedure law. For disputes between Church and state, parties can use church or territorial law.
Church writers {Apologists} wanted Church to be supreme in both spiritual and civil matters. St. Augustine wanted Church to be supreme only in spiritual judgments.
Early religious societies {ecclesia, religion}| developed laws {ecclesiastical law} that became canon law.
Catholic Church altered trial forms {Catholic Church court}, by ending compurgation and ending trial by ordeal or battle. Church used written pleadings, witnesses, and written evidence. Canon law helped change from accusatorial systems, in which injured parties make complaints against other parties, to inquisitorial systems, in which prosecutors bring complaints to courts.
Catholic Church had, and still has, a council {Chancery}. A Cardinal Chancellor, second to Pope, heads the Cancellaria.
Sacra Romana Rota {Rota} is the highest church court.
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Date Modified: 2022.0225