[di-kreet-l] 
| 1. | pertaining to, of the nature of, or containing a decree or decrees. |
| 2. | a papal decree authoritatively determining some point of doctrine or church law. |
| 3. | Decretals, the body or collection of such decrees as a part of the canon law. |
| de·cre·tal (dĭ-krēt'l) n. Roman Catholic Church A decree, especially a papal letter giving a decision on a point or question of canon law. [Middle English, from Old French decretale, from Late Latin dēcrētālis, fixed by decree, from Latin dēcrētum, principle, decision; see decree.] |
decretal
a reply in writing by the pope to a particular question of church discipline that has been referred to him. In modern usage, such a document is referred to as a rescript (reply). Decretals issued in response to particular questions were authentic decisions for the case in question only and did not have the force of general law. This is true of rescripts in modern church law. Nevertheless, the decretals exercised enormous influence on the development and interpretation of church law because of their frequent application to the solution of analogous situations. At the same time, some decretals became general church law by decree of a pope.
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