| CODE | PLC2222 | ||||||
| TITLE | Basic Notions of Canon Law and Procedure | ||||||
| UM LEVEL | 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 5 | ||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | ||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Pastoral Theology, Liturgy and Canon Law | ||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit will present and discuss the role of law and order in the life of the Catholic Church. It will help students to familiarise themselves with the basic notions and elements of canonical legislation, especially those norms and jurisprudence that regulate the institution of marriage. Through study-cases and an off-campus visit to the Metropolitan tribunal, students will also be introduced to the different procedures adopted by ecclesiastical tribunals in handling cases of the nullity or dissolution of marriage. Lectures will mainly deal with the study and analysis of canons 1055–1165 and 1400-1716 of the Code of Canon Law, the Instruction Dignitas Connubii and the reform of canonical procedure for the nullity of marriage promulgated by Pope Francis in the Motu Proprio Mitis Iudex Dominus Iesus. Study-Unit Aims: The study-unit aims to: (a) introduce the student to the nature and role of canonical norms in the Catholic Church; (b) introduce the student to the procedure and workings of ecclesiastical tribunals; (c) introduce the student to the canonical doctrine and discipline with regard to the institution of marriage. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: (a) appreciate the development of canon law and its relation to civil law throughout the centuries; (b) identify the main differences between contemporary canon and civil and law, particularly with regard to the institution of marriage; (c) demonstrate an understanding of the key aspects of canonical procedures before ecclesiastical tribunals. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: (a) interpret and apply different canonical legislations; (b) distinguish between separation of spouses, divorce, marriage nullity, and dissolution of marriage; (c) follow the canonical procedures in relation to marriage before ecclesiastical tribunals. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts: - Code of Canon Law (1983). - Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts, ‘Dignitas Connubii’. Instruction to be observed by diocesan and interdiocesan tribunals in handling causes of the nullity of marriage, 2005. - Pope Francis, Apostolic Letter Motu Proprio ‘Mitis Iudex Dominus Iesus’ by which the canons of the Code of Canon Law pertaining to cases regarding the nullity of marriage are reformed, 2015. Supplementary Readings: - Amenta, P., Le Procedure amministrative in materia di matrimonio canonico. Storia, legislazione e prassi, 2008. - Bajada, J., "The canonical process for the declaration of the nullity of marriage in the 1983 Code of Canon Law and the 2005 Instruction 'Dignitatis Conubii'", in Id-Dritt, 20 (2009) 232-291. - Beyer, J.B., Dal Concilio al Codice. Il nuovo Codice e le istanze del Concilio Vaticano II, 1984. - Coccopalmerio, F. – Bonnet P.A. – Pavoni, N., Perché un Codice nella Chiesa, 1984. - Coriden, J.A., An introduction to canon law (Revised), 2004. - Dugan, P.M., (ed.), The penal process and the protection of rights in canon law, 2005. - Ferme, B.E., Introduction to the history of the sources of canon law. The Ancient Law up to the Decretum of Gratian, 2007. - Ghirlanda, G., Il diritto nella Chiesa mistero di comunione, 2014. - Gruppo Italiano Docenti di Diritto Canonico, eds., Il diritto nel mistero della Chiesa, vol. I-III, 1994-2004. - Hendriks, J., Diritto matrimoniale. Commenti ai canoni 1055-1165 del Codice di diritto canonico, 1999. - Hervada, J., Introduction to the study of canon law, 2007. - Ludicke, K. – Jenkins, R.E., Dignitas Connubii. Norms and commentary, 2006. - Martin de Agar, J.T., A handbook on canon law, 2007. - Papale, C., Il processo penale canonico, 2012. - Peters, E., The 1917 Pio-Benedictine Code of Canon Law, 1918/2001. - Woestman, W.H., Special marriage cases: non-consummation, Pauline privilege, favour of the faith, separation of spouses, validation-sanation, presumed death, 1994. - Wrenn, L.G., The invalid marriage, 1998. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | ||||||
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| LECTURER/S | Kevin Schembri |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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