Sources of the Norm About Doubt of Law and Lack of Obligation—Can. 14

Abstract

In canon law, doubt is one of the conditions under which an ecclesiastical law may lack an obligation. The concepts contained in the text of the law in both canon 14 and CCEO canon 1496 pose a single reality of doubt with two facets of law or of fact. In doubt of law, laws even if they are disqualifying or invalidating, do not oblige. If the doubt is about a fact, the law obliges but the competent authority can dispense it.