Kara Sears
Canon law is a collection of laws of the Catholic Church. Canon lawyers are clergy and laity, men and women who have devoted several years to studying the subject. To obtain a licentiate of canon law, one must complete a six-semester program of canonical studies, pass an exam, and write a thesis. Notable faculties that offer this license include the Pontifical Lateran University, the University of Navarra in Pamplona, the Catholic University of America, and the Pontifical Gregorian University. Canon law can be studied at pontifical universities, which are approved or established by the Holy See. Examples of pontifical universities in the US and Canada include Catholic University in Washington, D.C., and St. Paul’s University in Ottawa, respectively.
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What You'll Learn
Priests
Canon law is a collection of laws of the Catholic Church. Canon lawyers are clergy and laity, men and women who have devoted several years to studying canon law and seek to serve the needs of justice and order within the Church. They do this by explaining ecclesial rights and obligations, levels of authority, and the procedures used to enhance them. While every priest is required to study some basic canon law in the seminary, the time spent studying canon law during ministerial training has been reduced considerably. This means that one's status as a priest does not necessarily mean that one is a qualified canon lawyer.
Pontifical universities are those approved or established by the Holy See. They have three defined faculties or colleges: Theology, Philosophy, and Canon Law, and then usually a fourth (or more) faculty in a subject of the school's choice, in which degrees are conferred. Examples of pontifical universities offering the licentiate of canon law include the Pontifical Lateran University (also known as "The Pope's University"), the Pontifical Gregorian University, the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (nicknamed The Angelicum), and the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross.
There was a time when priests sent to study Canon Law had no say in where they were going to study. Most ended up going to the universities where their Bishop or Cardinal got their degrees. However, this is not as common today, and priests can consider the unique character and method of teaching, equipment for technology, library, and programs offered by each pontifical university. For example, some universities offer more flexibility in terms of timing and virtual attendance. Language requirements may also be a consideration, as some pontifical universities require proficiency in Italian, Latin, and another unspecified language at the conversational level.
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Those with advanced degrees in related fields
Canon law is a collection of laws of the Catholic Church. Canon lawyers are clergy and laity, men and women who have devoted several years to their studies and seek to serve the needs of justice and order within the Church. Canon lawyers are not moral police or oracles of spiritual wisdom; they assist in the preservation of Church order by explaining ecclesial rights and obligations, levels of authority, and the procedures used to enhance them.
Canon law is taught at Pontifical Universities, which are universities approved or established by the Holy See. These universities have three defined faculties or colleges: Theology, Philosophy, and Canon Law, and then usually a fourth (or more) faculty in a subject of the school's choice, in which degrees are conferred.
To become a canon lawyer, one must obtain a licentiate of canon law, which is an advanced graduate degree offered by pontifical universities and ecclesiastical faculties of canon law. This typically involves a six-semester program of canonical studies, passing a comprehensive oral examination, and writing a thesis. The licence in canon law is required to teach canon law at a pontifical university or Catholic seminary and is a prerequisite for a doctorate in the same field. Notable universities offering the licentiate of canon law include the Pontifical Lateran University, the Pontifical Gregorian University, the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, and the Catholic University of America.
In conclusion, while having an advanced degree in a related field can be a good starting point for studying canon law, it is important to recognize the distinct nature of canon law and the specific training required to become a canon lawyer.
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Those who want to teach Canon Law
If you want to teach Canon Law, you must first become a qualified canon lawyer. Canon law is primarily focused on preserving the good order of the Church, which is necessary for preaching the Good News. Canon lawyers assist in this preservation by explaining ecclesial rights and obligations, levels of authority, and the procedures used to enhance them.
To become a canon lawyer, you must obtain a license in Canon Law, also known as a Licentiate of Canon Law (JCL). This is an advanced graduate degree offered by pontifical universities and ecclesiastical faculties of canon law. Pontifical universities are established or approved by the Holy See and typically have three defined faculties: Theology, Philosophy, and Canon Law. If you wish to study at an English-speaking pontifical university in the Americas, your options are Catholic University in Washington, D.C., or St. Paul's University in Ottawa, Canada. However, Rome is considered the center of Canon Law studies, with the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (The Angelicum) being one of the notable institutions.
To be admitted to a Canon Law program at a pontifical university, you typically need to have a bachelor's degree or a preliminary level of collegiate studies in any major. Proficiency in languages such as Italian and Latin may also be required for admittance to universities in certain countries. Once enrolled, you will undertake a comprehensive study of the whole corpus of canon law in the Roman Catholic Church, including its theological, philosophical, and historical background.
After obtaining your license in Canon Law, you can pursue teaching opportunities at various institutions, such as seminaries, universities, or ecclesiastical faculties. However, please note that competition for teaching positions in Canon Law may vary, and additional requirements or qualifications may be necessary depending on the specific institution and location.
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Those who want to work in Catholic ecclesiastical courts
Canon law is a collection of laws of the Catholic Church. Canon lawyers assist in preserving Church order by explaining ecclesial rights and obligations, levels of authority, and the procedures used to enhance them. Canon law is not the same as Church teaching or principles of morality. Instead, it supports and protects Church teaching. Canon lawyers are clergy and laity, men and women who have devoted several years to studying canon law.
To become a canon lawyer, you must obtain a licence in canon law. This requires completing a six-semester program of canonical studies, passing an oral examination, and writing a thesis. Notable universities that offer this degree include the Pontifical Lateran University, the Pontifical Gregorian University, the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, the Catholic University of America, and Saint Paul University in Canada.
If you want to work in Catholic ecclesiastical courts, you must obtain at least a licentiate degree in canon law. This degree is a prerequisite for several officers of the Catholic ecclesiastical courts, including judges (including the judicial vicar), the Promoter of Justice, and the Defender of the Bond.
The licentiate of canon law is an advanced graduate degree offered by pontifical universities and ecclesiastical faculties of canon law. Pontifical universities are those approved or established by the Holy See. They have three defined faculties or colleges: Theology, Philosophy, and Canon Law, and usually a fourth faculty of the school's choice.
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Those who want to study abroad
If you want to study Canon Law abroad, you will first need to find a Pontifical University. These universities are few and far between and are approved or established by the Holy See. They have three defined faculties or colleges: Theology, Philosophy, and Canon Law, and then usually a fourth (or more) faculty in a subject of the school's choice, in which degrees are conferred.
If you want to study in the US, your choice is Catholic University in Washington, D.C. In Canada, you can study at St. Paul’s University in Ottawa in the English Language. If you want to study Canon Law in its true home, Rome is the place to go. However, the challenge of studying in Rome is the language. As a result, some of the requirements for admittance involve proficiency in Italian, Latin, and another unspecified language at the conversational level.
There are other options to study Canon Law abroad, including the University of Navarra in Pamplona, the Catholic University of America, the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas in Manila, the Philippines, the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven in Belgium, the Institut Catholique de Paris, the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, the Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster in Germany, and the Faculty of Canon Law "S. Pio X" in Venice, Italy.
When deciding where to study Canon Law abroad, there are a few things to consider. Firstly, can you afford to study full-time in another country? Tuition abroad is relatively low and can help offset some living expenses. You should also consider the exchange rate and whether you can fit in a virtual program that may require less time on campus. Some universities, like Catholic U, offer programs that involve summer studies and take five years to complete. St. Paul's University also offers flexibility in timing and virtual attendance. Language may be another important consideration, as some universities may require proficiency in multiple languages.
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Frequently asked questions
Canon Law is studied by those who want to become Canon Lawyers. Canon Lawyers are clergy and laity, men and women who have devoted several years to studying Canon Law and seek to serve the needs of justice and order within the Church.
To obtain a Licentiate of Canon Law, a candidate must complete a six-semester program of canonical studies, pass an oral examination, and write a thesis. The licence in canon law is required to teach canon law in a university or Catholic seminary.
Canon Law can be studied at a Pontifical University, which is a university approved or established by the Holy See. Examples of Pontifical Universities that offer Canon Law include the Catholic University in Washington, D.C., St. Paul’s University in Ottawa, and the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas in Rome.
