INSIDE THE VATICAN - THE CHURCH VISIBLE

Timetable

I welcome the opportunity to talk with the students about their academic and research interests before or after class, or at other times by appointment.

Module aim (aims)

This course, decribing the Vatican (Holy See) and Roman Catholic Church as the public international jurid person, has two goals: The first goal is to introduce the students to critical understanding of the ecclesiastical norms, customs that regulate the concept the Church. Special emphasis in this par will be given to the basic equality that exists among all the Christ’s faithful. The second goal of the course is to introduce the students to critical understanding of the ecclesiastical norms and customs that regulate the concept of the hierarchical structures of the Church. Here, emphasis will be on institutional principles or principles of distinction of functions.

The students are expected to correctly understand and to apply the canons that introduce critical foundational and ecclesiological principles which characterize the true and genuine image of the Christ’s faithful, Church. The students are also expected to understand and to apply the canons that describe the rights and obligations of the Christ’s faithful that follow from baptismal consecration. It is also expected that students will know and apply the norms that regulate the diffident offices and their service in both the universal and particular Church.

Pre-requisites in terms of knowledge, skills and social competences (where relevant)

General understanding of basic concepts.

Syllabus

The course will be divided into two parts: The first part will treat the key theo-canonical teaching of the Church on the Christ’s faithful as the baptized, the degree of relationship of the baptized with the Catholic Church as “full communion” and “communion”. The first part will also deal with the Obligations and Rights of All Christ’s Faithful. It will give specific emphasis to concept, formation, admission to clerical life, incardination and excardination, and loss of Clerical State. The second part will encompass the hierarchical structures in the universal Church Particular Churches. Here, emphasis will be put on the hierarchical structure in a diocese. 

1. Holy See, Vatican City State and the International Community
2. The foundational and ecclesiological principles
3. The bill of rights and obligations in the Church
4. The supreme authority in the Roman Catholic Church
5. The consultative bodies in the universal Church
6. Particular Churches and Bishops
7. Groupings of the particular Churches and internal ordering

Reading list

1. Ernest Caparros eds., The Exegetical Commentary on the Code of Canon Law, English language Edition, Vo2/1. I, Montreal Canada, Wilson & Lafleur, 2004.
2. Coriden J, Green and Thomas, eds., New Commentary on Canon L London: Paulist Press, 2002.
3. Coriden J, Green and Thomas. Eds. The Code of Canon Law, A Text and Commentary. Bangalo: The Theological Publication, 1999.
4. Martin De Agar, Joseph, T. A Hand Book on Canon Law. Notre Dame: Wilson and Lafleur, 1999.
5. Woodall G.C., A Passion for Justice: Introductory Guide to The Code of Canon Law, Gracewing: Action Publishing Technology. 2011.