Justice in the Church : A Fundamental Theory of Canon Law, livre ebook

This book by Carlos Jose Errazuriz M. explains different juridical theories and the Church’s response to each. The classical antijuridical theories—spiritualist and statist—are explained and scrutinized in light of Catholic tradition. New attitudes toward canon law since the reforms of Vatican II are presented and explained. Finally, the author presents a fundamental theory of canon law based on justice. He offers both static and dynamic views of what is just in the Church and the role each plays in her life. This excellent book […] offers a comprehensive approach to the reality of canon law and the author effectively grounds this on the notion of justice. Law and justice are inseparable, in fact law can only be perceived from the point of view of that which is just. On the other hand, justice for the canonist is that which lies within the nature of the Church which necessarily involves a profound reflection on certain realities that characterize the Church and determine the nature of canon law within it: the central place of the Word of God and the sacraments and the con-eel understanding of genuine liberty within the context of a disciplinary structure directed in the final analysis to supernatural ends. The fruits of this relatively new and significant approach to our understanding of canon law are found in this fine book. This is an extremely important contribution as it establishes that the former criteria upon which the existence and nature of canon law were justified and […] it often continues to be justified are no longer an adequate explanation for the presence of law in the Church. There is no doubt that the book points the way to the future by offering an approach to canon law that is no longer caught up in the former debates centred on a comparison of the Church’s legal system with other civil legal systems, but rather places canon law inescapably where it must find its raison d’être. This is within the mystery of the Church. Professor ERRÁZURIZ is to be especially congratulated for this very important contribution. […] I warmly invite all those interested in canon law to apply the words of Saint Augustine to this book: Tolle Legge. Msgr. Brian E. FERME