Canonical Procedural Law (J.C.D.)

Program Overview

The Doctor of Canon Law (J.C.D.) in Canonical Procedural Law is built on a simple conviction: a right that cannot be vindicated is not yet a right. Book VII of the Code exists so that claims in the church are decided by someone competent, on evidence, within a process the parties can understand and a higher instance can review. This program trains canonists who can run that process well. Students study competence and the forum, the parties and their standing, procurators and advocates, the libellus and citation, the joinder of the issue, the law of proof in all its species, incidental questions, the publication of the acts, the discussion of the case, the sentence and its motivation, appeals, the complaint of nullity, restitutio in integrum, and the execution of judgments. The oral contentious process, penal procedure, the special processes for marriage and orders, and the procedure for the removal or transfer of pastors are each examined in turn, along with the structural questions that determine whether a tribunal actually functions: staffing, delay, cost, and access. Graduates serve as judges, judicial vicars, advocates, notaries, and tribunal administrators, and they teach procedure to those who will hold those offices. The dissertation ordinarily addresses a procedural defect or bottleneck and proposes a remedy grounded in law.

Core Courses

• JCD 801 — General Norms and the Structure of Church Law (6 credits)
• JCD 812 — Trials in General and Competence (6 credits)
• JCD 824 — The Ordinary Contentious Process (6 credits)
• JCD 836 — The Canonical Law of Proof (6 credits)
• JCD 848 — Remedies, Appeals, and Execution (5 credits)
• JCD 860 — Doctoral Research Design in Canon Law (4 credits)
• JCD 899 — Doctoral Dissertation in Canonical Procedural Law (24 credits)

Admission Requirements

• Master's degree or ecclesiastical licentiate in canon law, theology, ministry, or law
• Experience in tribunal, chancery, diocesan, religious institute, or church governance work
• Statement of purpose describing canonical interests and intended service to the church
• Reading ability in Latin, or willingness to develop it during the program
• Current curriculum vitae or ministry profile
• Official transcripts from prior institutions when available
• Writing sample, canonical opinion, or research paper when requested