New Commentary on the Code of Canon Law [Hardcover]

While the overall scholarship of the new commentary is impressive, there are some serious, significant and grave errors which compel me not to recommend this book. Instead of relying on sound jurisprudence, this edition degenerates with theological dissent, speculation and confusion. Book Three (the Teaching Office of the Church) is where it begins. The footnote on page 913 in reference to canon 749 on Infallibility attacks ORDINATIO SACERDOTALIS when it says: "the statement by the CDF [Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith] of October 28, 1995, that the teaching to the effect that the Church has no authority to confer priestly ordination on women requires the definitive assent of the faithful since `it has been set forth infallibly by the ordinary and universal Magisterium' is an exaggeration" Classifying the authortative interpretation of the CDF on Ordinatio Sacerdotalis as being an 'exaggertion' is going well beyond the bounds of judicial commentary and now enters the realm of theological dissent. Cardinal Ratzinger's Responsum ad Dubium (10-28-95) made it clear that while Ordination Sacerdotalis itself was not an EX CATHEDRA statement (like the papal document MUNIFICENTISSIMUS DEUS of Pius XII defining the dogma of the Assumption of Mary in 1950), nevertheless the TEACHING (doctrine) that only baptized males can be ordained (deacons, priests and bishops) IS infallible as it has been a consistent element of the ORDINARY MAGISTERIUM. "All members of the faithful are required to give their assent to the teaching stated therein." The Commentary continues in the footnote to attack the infallibility of the teaching when this is not a canonical issue, rather it is obviously doctrinal and the proper authority (CDF) has made a definitive ruling, not the CLSA.

Canon 752, according to the new Commentary "leaves room for dissent." This is based on the mistranslation of OBSEQUIUM by the Commentary. Ironically, the translated text in the same book reads "religious SUBMISSION of intellect and will" must be given to the authentic Magisterium (as opposed to an ASSENT of faith required of infallible teachings) whereas the commentary below the translated text keeps translating OBSEQUIUM not as SUBMISSION but as "RESPECT" or "DEFERENCE". Austin Flannery, OP, had no problem using SUBMISSION for OBSEQUIUM when he translated LUMEN GENTIUM #25 upon which canon 752 is based.

Another of many examples of an underlying agenda is shown in Book Four as well as Book Three. Canon 914 explicitly and unequivocally mandates First Penance BEFORE First Communion, yet the Commentary (p. 1110) suggests ""if the parents, who have the primary responsibility for the child's catechesis, should determine that their child is not yet ready for first penance but is ready for first communion, the child should not be denied the right to the sacrament." If that is not encouraging the faithful to oppose the law, what is it? Certainly not orthodox teaching or canonically licit behavior.

All in all, it is sad that the good scholarship has to be eclipsed by the creeping heterodoxy and subtle dissent in major portions of the book.

This volume contains the English wording of the 1983 Roman Catholic Code of Canon Law. Please, do not attempt to read and/or understand the canons "online". With only a B.A. in philosophy, even I knew enough to purchase at least several commentaries. Any Roman Catholic statement of the canons is worthless without other commentaries.

The study of Canon Law on one's own is difficult at best, so the reader must use these books with great care. Roman Catholic Canon Law is the most difficult and subtle system of all of the law books I have ever attempted to read or understand, including U.S. Constitutional Law.

Whether you're merely curious or struggling with some particular Catholic teaching, you must find a more suitable canon commentary. I refer you to the very lowest ratings of this book, especially the two star rating of this book by Fr. Trigilio here at Amazon, which begins with:

121 of 138 people found the following review helpful: 2.0 out of 5 stars Agenda proliferates instead of canonical comments, March 12, 2002
By Rev Dr John Trigilio, Jr, PhD, ThD

I don't know him personally; I do know of him as a result of his excellent EWTN work with which I am familiar.

Save your money on this book, it simply strays too far afield from my other commentaries to be of value to me, and likely to you.

The Canons, as legal rules in the Church, evolved through theology, and as such they must continue to evolve from the growing faith and experience of the Church. In the forewords of this book, Ladislas M. Orsy, SJ gives an exposition on "Theology and Canon Law" and Fredrick R. McManus gives us "A Canonical Overview of Canon Law" since 1983. These two works by universally respected canonist-professors, justify purchasing this book. They are timeless works to read and reread, without even opening the other eighteen hundred pages.

Pope John Paul II, in his Papal Allocutions to the Roman Rota, has emphasized repeatedly that "In effect, juridical-canonical work is pastoral by its very nature." In 1985, The Canon Law Society of America produced the first Commentary on the current Code of Canon Law promulgated in 1983. This was an extremely brave undertaking for any group. Nothing went before and the responsibility of producing such a maiden work was huge. That first edition became an indispensable tool to canonists universally. It provoked thought and discussion beyond any expectation. This is not a second edition. It is a whole new work with mostly new authors. In the spirit of the instruction of Pope John Paul II, this Commentary brings a veritiable treasure trove of priceless experience and thought. The many contributors to this Commentary include university professors, Tribuanl professionals, administrators of religious institutes, and parish priests. In the years since the 1983 Code was promulgated, there has certainly been change. There have been many documents and official interpretations. The Pontifical Council on the Interpretation of Legislative Texts has issued dozens of authoritative interpretations of the canons. There have been numerous decisions by ecclesial Tribunals all over the world, which have contributed to the meaning of particular canons. In addition there were such important documents as the 1988 Apostolic Constitution on the Roman Curia; the 1990 Ritual for the Celebration of Marriage; the 1993 Directory on Ecumenism; the 1996 Apostolic Constitution on Papal Elections; the 1998 Motu Propio on Episcopal Conferences; and the 1990 Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches. In addition to their consideration of these new documents and decisions, the contributors here bring many varied, lived experiences. And the life experiences of some of these authors is awesome. Two of the authors, also contributors to the first Commnetary, were Professors James H. Provost and Bertram F. Griffin. Both of these men were renowned canonists and their contributions are the last great works we have from these men before their deaths. Their work here proves how greatly they are missed. Contributor Lawrence G. Wrenn has long been an expert on American Catholic jurisprudential thought on marriage annulment. As usual, he excels here.

On the other end of the spectrum, this Commentary shows the depth of some new canonists. Barbara Anne Cusack, Diane L. Barr, John M. Huels, OSM, Rose M. McDermott, SSJ, Robert Geisinger, SJ, and Craig A. Cox, among many others, show that there is still much coming to provoke both thought and canonical action in the Church. The format of this book has each contributor presenting a canon, the state of related issue, and then, his or her own view in the ongoing debates. A commentary is not an authoritative text in the way the Pope is infalible. It is never meant to be. A reader of this type of text is of such a caliber intellectually that any explanation in a vacuum would make the work useless, even insulting. The intended reader is the challenged reader. Challenged to read, to think and to act, with the truest sense of justice, and on the most pastoral path of Christianity.

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