The Autonomous Rights in the Canonical Legal Order, Central to Carrying out the rights of Minors

Abstract

In the study presented, the author points out the dilemmas which arose as a result of his reflection on the clause “except in cases in which minors, on the basis of divine law or canon law, are excluded from the authority of their parents or guardians,” included in can. 98 § 2 of the Code of Canon Law, in the context of the problem of autonomous rights to exercise the powers of minors in the canonical legal order. Without questioning the legitimacy of the introduction of the clause, he showed that the reference in it to Divine law generates serious difficulties of interpretation due to the fact that the autonomous matters of minors that result from the positivisation process in the canonical legal order, have not been precisely articulated. He pointed out that it is very difficult to draw clear, precise boundaries between divine law and positive law. He expressed the view that the autonomy of the powers of minors is not absolute in relation to matters of divine law, opting for the possibility for parents or guardians to correct attitudes.
 In view of the current scant state of the canonical heritage on this issue, which basically boils down to an exemplary enumeration of powers by the commentators of can. 98 § 2 of the Code of Canon Law (can. 89 CIC/17), the author postulates, suggesting more reliable research on this interesting issue.