The Pastoral Companion: A Canon Law Handbook for Catholic Ministry (Paperback)

by John M. Huels (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 355 pages
• Publisher: Franciscan Pr (March 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0819909009
• ISBN-13: 978-0819909008
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #454,662 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Canon Law for Non-Canonist, November 30, 2001

By	Pete Vere (Ottawa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Pastoral Companion: A Canon Law Handbook for Catholic Ministry (Hardcover)

Intellectually, Fr. Huels is among the leading and most gifted canon lawyers currently living in North America. In this book, Fr Huels applies his canonical genius to the pastoral application of canon law. This book is not so much for the canonist, but for the non-canonist engaged in pastoral ministry. It teaches the basics of canon law, provides a handy glossary of canonical terms, and tells you when you are facing a canonical situation over your head and need to phone a canonist.

In particular, the non-Canonist will find Fr. Huels' treatment of marriage law handy. It outlines in what situations a dispensation is necessary, as well as in what circumstances a proposed marriage is invalid. It also provides a handy canonical reference to other common questions that arise around the celebration of the sacraments -- such as who can be a sponsor for baptism and confirmation.

I highly recommend this book to non-canonists engaged in pastoral ministry who are seeking a handy reference concerning how canon law applies in common pastoral situations.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars New edition available, October 31, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Pastoral Companion: A Canon Law Handbook for Catholic Ministry (Hardcover)

This is actually the third edition of this excellent book. It is now available directly from the publisher.

5.0 out of 5 stars Plain but useful, like a pair of sensible shoes, May 31, 2006

By	Jean E. Pouliot (Newburyport, MA United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Pastoral Companion: A Canon Law Handbook for Catholic Ministry (Hardcover)

The Pastoral Companion

Plain but useful, like a pair of sensible shoes

There's nothing sexy or exciting about "The Pastoral Companion." It's everything that most Roman Catholic parish workers -- from pastors to pastoral assistants -- might need to answers typical questions involving Canon Law. As might be expected, law involving the sacraments is treated most heavily. But other parish concerns -- the ecumenism, sacramentals, the liturgy of the hours and the role of parish administrators -- are given their share of space.

The book is written in sturdy, accessible prose that refers to the canons by number, but without necessarily quoting them. The book also quotes from other helpful Church documents -- the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM), documents of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF), the Book of Blessings and many others.

A handy guide for those who aren't canonists and whose ministry is on the parish level, "The Pastoral Companion" was assigned as a main reference in a Canon Law class for lay people that I took at a mainstream Catholic seminary in the Northeast.