NZ priests attend intensive canon law course

Fr Justin Lee CSJ, who is in ministry in Christchurch, and Auckland priest Fr Anthony Trenwith joined students from Australia, Samoa, and Singapore for the course last month.

The qualification is run as a partnership between the Broken Bay Institute (BBI), in Sydney’s west, and Saint Paul University in Ottawa, Canada. Students work through online and intensive on-campus courses and graduate with a licentiate in canon law.

One of the students, Fr Penetito Talafaaoti from Samoa, explained what motivated him.

“One quote I love about canon law is, ‘Law exists for the salvation of people’,” he said. “That inspires me to serve my people through this path. Coming here to Australia has been a grace, because it gives me the chance to meet and talk with other students who share the same interests and programme.”

Professor Gerard Moore, the chief executive officer and principal of BBI, said the Oceania region is facing a shortage of canon lawyers.

“The field covers marriage tribunal, governance, canonical advice, in fact all facets of the Code of Canon Law. St Paul offers the programme online with two face-to-face units each year.”

The current cohort of students includes diocesan and religious priests, a religious sister and a layman.

Fr Chris De Sousa CRS, a Sydney priest who is serving as a member of the governing council of the Somascan Fathers in Rome, spoke favourably of the course’s flexibility.

“It will assist many more to complete studies in canon law, an area of the Church that is in need of greater resourcing and trained advocates and judges,” he said.

FULL STORY

Facing up to the shortage of canon lawyers in the Pacific region (By Michael Cook/The Catholic Weekly)