I like a lot of what you are saying. If the church redirected it's focus from teaching canon law, or simply laws, to teaching the way of Christ, the church would naturally adapt to a changing society instead of being caught in a web of its own making (i.e. outdated canon laws).

Teaching based on law is passive by nature, as laws never change. However, teaching based on action, or judgement (i.e. determining the way of Christ for ourseleves), is dynamic because it is always changing depending on the circumstances.