Legally blind Jesuit who worked in NZ to discuss vulnerability

In the free seminar on February 19, Fr Justin Glyn SJ will discuss how the term “vulnerable” has been used in recent Church documents and will reflect on how useful a theological or canonical concept it might be.

One of the areas where his theological and legal interests intersect is in growing the Church’s understanding of “vulnerable persons” (people who, for various reasons are in need of protection), and how this can be developed in a healthy way which neither infantilises nor exploits people.

In the seminar, Fr Glyn will discuss how the term might be interpreted in a way which avoids the creation of an “underclass” within the Church. In the process, he will consider the relationship between vulnerability and disability and theological and canonical parallels elsewhere in Church practice.

Fr Glyn is legally blind, and is a lawyer, canonist and academic currently residing in Melbourne. He serves as general counsel to the Australian Province of the Society of Jesus, where he works in both civil and canonical legal practice. Fr Glyn has also practised law in South Africa and New Zealand.

He is a member of the Law Institute of Victoria, the Canon Law Society of America and the Canon Law Society of Australia and New Zealand, where he chairs the editorial board of its journal, The Canonist. 

Fr Glyn is also a consultor to the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life, a Vatican department that is involved in disability issues.

FULL STORY

Fr Justin Glyn SJ discusses Vulnerability, Disability and Canon Law – Jesuits Australia (Jesuits Australia)

Vulnerable to Canons? – Jesuits Australia (Jesuits Australia)