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Studia canonica

General Presentation

Studia canonica is a scholarly journal on canon law published twice a year by the Faculty of Canon Law of Saint Paul University in Ottawa, Canada.

There is no better way to present it than by quoting from the foreword of volume 1, number 1, issued in May 1967:

“New ideas and methods are continually enabling the Church to transmit to all mankind Christ’s message of love and salvation. And the field of canon law is no exception. Since the Council, [...] numerous canonical studies have been undertaken, with the result that many points are being investigated in [a] new manner and better understood by all. [...] This review, Studia canonica, will give canonists an opportunity to express their ideas and continue further research into canonical problems. Above all, its purpose is to render service to the Church, in Canada and abroad” (p. v).

This statement is as valid today as it was more than 30 years ago.

Prof. Michel Thériault, former Editor

Studia canonica: History and Current Information

On 17 November 1966, shortly after the first Annual Convention of the Canadian Canon Law Society held in Ottawa in October 1966, Rev. Francis G. Morrisey, O.M.I., proposed to the authorities of Saint Paul University that a canon law journal be created which would consist of the following 5 sections:

1. articles (in this section would be papers presented at the Annual Conventions of the newly founded Canadian Canon Law Society and at meetings of other canon law societies);
2. short notes on timely subjects;
3. chronicles of canonical events;
4. book reviews;
5. documents, official and unofficial, of canonical interest.

The title suggested at first for the journal was Ephemerides canonicæ Ottavienses. The proposal was that it be published twice a year by the Faculty of Canon Law and that it contain articles in French and English. Apart from libraries and other institutional subscribers, the other, individual, subscribers would be canonists.

The proposal of Rev. Morrisey was accepted by the Council of Administration of Saint Paul University, and the journal was formally created on 16 February 1967 (Minutes of the Council, p. 116). Before its publication, the working title was changed to that of Studia canonica. Volume 1, issue 1 was published in May 1967. The solid red cover of volume 1 was replaced from volume 2 (1968) until volume 19 (1985) by a 3-colour cover. From volume 20 (1986) until volume 33 (1999), a new layout was given to the journal, with the special feature that the colour changed every year. Starting with volume 34 (2000), a new design was inaugurated.

Over the years, has the content corresponded to the original plan? This is for the long-time subscribers to judge. In fact, the articles and short notes were merged into one category, and only a few chronicles were printed; the fifth section has mainly been devoted to the jurisprudence of the Tribunal of the Roman Rota, though judgements and decrees from other ecclesiastical tribunals have been published from time to time. But the journal has always remained faithful to its main objective: to publish articles, some of which are more conceptual or academic in nature, while others focus more on the practice of canon law. Evolving circumstances, including the development of the novus habitus mentis regarding canon law that was a leitmotif of Paul VI, the process of revision of the Church’s legislation as well as the promulgation of the Code of Canon Law in 1983 and of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches in 1990, have led the journal to open its pages to writers in ecclesiology, sacramental theology, history of canon law and Eastern canon law (Catholic, Orthodox and Ancient Oriental Churches). The jurisprudence section will occasionally print civil judgements in ecclesiastical matters.

The first Editorial Board (called “Board of Directors” then) was composed of

• Rev. Arthur Caron, O.M.I.
• Rev. Raymond Chaput, O.M.I.
• Rev. René Latrémouille, O.M.I.
• Rev. Jean Moncion, O.M.I.
• Rev. Francis G. Morrisey, O.M.I.
• Rev. Jean Thorn.

The editor was Rev. Francis G. Morrisey, O.M.I. All the members of the Board were associated with the Faculty of Canon Law: the first five were full-time professors and the Rev. Jean Thorn was a guest lecturer and also the first president of the Canadian Canon Law Society.

The membership of the Board changed from time to time, of course. It ceased to exist in 1984. From volume 19 (1985) to volume 26 (1994), while Rev. Morrisey was still the editor, Profs. Michel Thériault and Jean Thorn were added as associate editors. In 1995, Prof. Michel Thériault became editor; Prof. Lynda Robitaille was appointed associate editor to replace him. After the death of Prof. Thorn in 1996, Prof. Roch Pagé became an associate editor. After the death of Prof. Thériault in 2000, Prof. Roch Pagé became editor.

Starting with volume 20 (1986), a group of Editorial Consultants was added to help the editors evaluate submissions. The current editorial consultants are:

• Rev. Paul Baillargeon
• Prof. Ernest Caparros
• Sr. Marie-Paule Couturier, F.M.A.
• Chorbishop Elias El-Hayek
• Rev. Robert J. Kaslyn, S.J.
• Sr. M. Anne Murray, I.B.V.M.

Studia canonica is a member of the Canadian Association of Scholarly Journals and receives grants from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (Aid to Research and Transfer Journals Program) as well as a postal subsidy from the Canada Post Corporation funded by the Department of Canadian Heritage (Low Frequency Periodical Assistance Program).

The contents of Studia canonica are indexed or abstracted in the following working tools:

• ATLA Religion Database on CD-ROM
• Canon Law Abstracts
• Catholic Periodical and Literature Index
• Dietrichs Index philosophicus
• Ephemerides theologicæ Lovanienses: elenchus bibliographicus
• Francis, Bulletin signalétique 527: Histoire et sciences des religions
• IBR — International Bibliography of Book Reviews in Scholarly Literature
• IBZ — International Bibliography of Periodical Literature
• Index to Book Reviews in Religion
• Index to Canadian Legal Periodical Literature
• Index to Commonwealth Legal Periodicals
• Index to Periodical Articles Related to Law
• KIOSK: CBCA (Canadian Business and Current Affairs) on CD-ROM
• Religion Index One: Periodicals
• Religion Indexes: RIO/RIT/IBRR 1975- on CD-ROM

The subscribers to the KIOSK:CBCA Fulltext Reference Program of Micromedia Limited (Toronto) have access to Studia canonica on CD-ROM.

Studia canonica is available on microform from Micromedia Limited, 20 Victoria Street, Toronto (ON) M5C 2N8.

Out-of-print issues: some hardbound volumes and single issues are available in photocopy from Wm. W. Gaunt & Sons, Inc., Gaunt Building, 3011 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, FL 33510-2199, U.S.A.

Submission of Manuscripts

Studia canonica welcomes submissions of articles, in English and French, to the editor according to the Guidelines for Articles.

Subscription 2009

Annual subscription : Canada: C$50.00 (GST incl.)
Abroad: US$50
Surcharge: (Air US) C$17or US$17 – (Abroad) C$32/US$32
Single issue: Canada: C$25.00 (GST incl.)
Abroad: US$25

N.B.

Some past issues are still available. Contact the subscription office for details.

In 1992, the Index of vols. 1-25 (1967-1991) was published. It is sold separately from the subscription.

Canada: C$8.00 (GST incl.) plus postage

Abroad: US$5.75

For subscribers and clients in Canada: Goods and Services Tax Registration number 10816 1282RT

Subscription agency discount: 15%.

For subscription and sales information, contact:

Ms. Carole Paquette
Saint Paul University
223 Main Street
Ottawa (ON)
Canada K1S 1C4
Telephone: +613-236-1393, x-2214
Fax: +613-782-3005
E-mail: cpaquette@ustpaul.ca

Regarding the content of Studia canonica and editorial matters, contact:

Editor
Faculty of Canon Law
Saint Paul University
223 Main Street
Ottawa (ON)
Canada K1S 1C4
Telephone: 613-236-1393, extension 2236
Fax: 613-751-4036
E-mail: studia-canonica@ustpaul.ca