Canon

The written dogmas, rules, orthodox theology, and revealed wisdom of a religious body are its canon. In Christianity, for example, there are the Old Testament canonical books and the various canonical laws. The latter include, in Roman Catholicism in addition to council decisions, the papal decrees. Canon law is now almost entirely confined to church matters where once it held secular sway. It is somewhat Anachronistic however in that among Roman Catholics it is still of influence in questions of marital annulment.