As we continue developing CaDRIS to serve the unique and sacred needs of the Church, one important question consistently comes up:
Does CaDRIS comply with Canon Law?
It’s a crucial consideration—and one we take very seriously.
Rooted in First Principles
Back in January, we took time to define and document our First Principles. These foundational ideas reaffirmed the sanctity of the sacraments and laid out our Sacramental Principles, with a strong focus on Canonical Compliance:
“The platform must adhere to Canon Law in sacramental record-keeping, respecting the Church’s governance over sacraments. The system should assist but never replace the authority or discretion of clergy and Church officials.”
Let us be clear—CaDRIS is not intended to circumvent Canon Law in any way. On the contrary, our platform is designed to work in harmony with it. We fully recognize and uphold the authority and requirements of the Church, especially the canons related to the sacraments (Canons 840–1165).
Our goal? To ensure each parish and diocese can accurately and securely capture necessary information, in full compliance with these requirements.
Built to Reflect Canon Law—Not Work Around It
Take the baptismal record, for example. CaDRIS captures all essential data including:
- Name, date, and place of birth
- Date of baptism
- Names of parents and godparents
- Name of the celebrant
- The consenting Catholic parent/guardian
- (For adults) Completion of the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults
All of this aligns with Canons 877 and 878, and every sacrament within CaDRIS has been built to reflect the canonical minimum data requirements.
Digital Support—Not a Replacement
It goes without saying: CaDRIS is not a replacement for official sacramental registers. Per Canon 535, every parish is still required to maintain physical registers for:
- Baptisms
- Confirmations
- Marriages
- Deaths
- (And where applicable) First Communions
These registers must continue to be:
- Stored securely (e.g., in a locked cabinet or safe)
- Preserved permanently
- Regularly inspected by the diocesan bishop or his delegate
- Archived or duplicated with the diocese as needed
CaDRIS complements this process. It enables parishes to digitally reflect these records, not replace them.
Canonical by Design
What truly sets CaDRIS apart is that sacramental requirements aren’t just a feature—they’re the foundation.
We’ve designed CaDRIS so that the baptismal record becomes the canonical anchor. In full alignment with Canon 535, all future sacraments and canonical life events are connected back to the baptismal entry, maintaining the integrity and spirit of Canon Law.
Strong Security & Privacy—By the Book
While Canon Law doesn’t explicitly address digital data privacy, Canon 220 does affirm the right to privacy and a good reputation. CaDRIS honors this through:
- Strict access controls: Only the parishioner (via a secure portal) or individuals with legitimate interest can view records
- Comprehensive audit logs
- Robust data recovery tools: To maintain historical accuracy and traceability
A Platform With a Pastoral Purpose
At its core, CaDRIS is a centralized, digital reflection of sacramental registers. It allows for:
- Better visibility into parishioners’ sacramental journeys
- Easier mobility and continuity between parishes
- Stronger pastoral connections throughout the diocese
We’re continuously adding features to support the Church’s mission—always with reverence for canonical requirements.
Let’s Continue the Conversation
This topic deserves thoughtful discussion, and we welcome it. If you have any questions or concerns—or if there’s something we haven’t considered—please don’t hesitate to reach out. I’d be happy to hop on a call. Just book a time on my calendar.
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