Customer Reviews

Code of Canon Law a Text and Commentary, Study Edition

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This book first appeared as a hardback in 1985, just after the 1983 Code of Canon Law was released. The paperback "study edition", virtually identical to the hardback, came out later. In either form, this book is the standard American commentary on the revised code. It generally shows a high degree of scholarship and canonical insight. Written by a variety of commentators, however, the quality of writing is uneven, and some sections are open to criticism. One should not assume that opinions presented in this (or any other) commentary are official opinions, or even widely accepted. A substantially revised version is currently underway and can be expected around the end of 1998. Even so, this earlier version of the work will remain a valuable resource for practicing canon lawyers and others interested in Catholic Church law and practice. In particular, given that most of the commentary was actually written toward the end of the canonical reform period (which ran roughly from 1965-1983) the commentary herein tends to reflect accurately this period of uncertainity and speculation which affected all aspects of Church law following the Second Vatican Council. I use the book daily in my canonical practice and often recommended it to careful readers. The index is excellent. There is, alas, no Latin original text provided.

The Code itself seems complete, but the commentary has a very liberal (Americanized) interpretation. If you want commentary that is more true to Catholicism and acceptable to the Holy See, choose the older more expensive version put out by Caparros, Theriault, and Thorn which was published by Wilson and Lafleur Limitee. If you are a supporter of the values of EWTN, you will be disappointed with this book.