The Ministry of Law in the Church Today
Format:Paperback
Publisher:University of Notre Dame Press
Published:1st Mar '99
Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back
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- Hardback£83.00(9780268014414)
Many members of the Catholic Church today—clergy as well as laity—find no useful purpose for the Church's legal structure, or canon law. They may view canon law as arbitrary, antiquated, or even a hindrance to the movement of the Spirit, especially within the context of developments following the Second Vatican Council. Kevin E. McKenna counters this attitude with an overview of the positive features of Church law and a modern analysis of the canonical tradition of the Church. McKenna argues that the utilization of canon law in the Church today is not only desirable, but necessary and that it can be highly constructive when the law is viewed as a ministry of service. The call of the Church since Vatican II has been towards communion—with Christ, among Christians, and between local churches. The concept of communion provides a structure and a path that can clarify and encourage individual participation in developing the common good. After a discussion of the development of Church law and the effect Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II have had on contemporary canon law, McKenna's work underscores the role of canon law in highlighting the rights of all members of the Church. Canon law is necessary to assist in the orderly carrying out of the gospel demands and to protect the freedom of individual Church members. Practical applications of canon law include the annulment process and alternatives for resolving disputes within the Christian community. The Ministry of Law in the Church Today provides practical guidance and rationale for the role of law in the Church for pastoral ministers who are accustomed to seeing canon law as a problem rather than a solution. This book will also appeal to laity who harbor a curiosity about the usefulness of Church law in everyday Christian life.
“McKenna offers a positive examination of modern Church law and canonical tradition, treating the law as a needed ministry of service and communion and emphasizing the rights of all members. Historical perspective informs his review of post-Vatican II developments on practical issues such as human rights, confidentiality of church records, annulments, collaborative pastoral planning through diocesan synods, and reconciliation via alternative dispute resolution. Recommended for Catholic collections serving pastoral needs and for laity seeking current information on the reasoning behind Church law today.” —Library Journal
“This book helps all of us realize how canon law influences many of our daily activities and decisions, even though we do not always recognize it for what it is. For those who do not appreciate the salvific qualities of the law, this book might open new horizons in its readers. For, far from presenting the law as 'the dark side of the Good News,' it shows how the law is there to promote the salus animarum. Seen in this perspective, it can play a most important role in the life of the faithful.” —Studia Canonica
“McKenna takes a fresh look at the Code of Canon Law and finds that it now emphasizes human rights in keeping with the spirit of Pope Leo XIII’s 1963 encyclical Pacem in Terris. The church must preach human rights around the globe, McKenna concludes, just as ‘the Church’s legal apparatus must always recognize, guarantee and foster the fundamental rights of the faithful.’” —Initiatives
“As a Roman trained canonist with many years of practical experience in the United States, Fr. McKenna is versed in two canonical cultures. Both cultures shape a book that can definitely be recommended as a stimulating introduction to canon law in action. It is not the predictable general introduction one might think.” —Priests & People
ISBN: 9780268014421
Dimensions: 216mm x 140mm x 6mm
Weight: 135g
112 pages