The Centre of Canon Law Studies at St Peter's Pontifical Institute was established in response to a felt need in the Church of India and at the initiative of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) to prepare and form suitable candidates for specialised ministries and research in Canon Law. With due deliberation, the Conference requested St Peter's Pontifical Institute to obtain the necessary permission for this purpose. Through the President of the Conference, the Institute petitioned the then Congregation for Catholic Education (CCE), which considered an Institute of higher learning in Canon Law as having vital importance for the Indian Church. Consequently, on 7 November 1988, the Congregation issued a Decree of canonical erection of the Centre of Canon Law Studies (CCLS) aggregating it to the Faculty of Canon Law at the Pontifical Urban University, Rome. The Centre of Canon Law Studies is a national institute for the study and research of Canon Law for the promotion of ecclesiastical juridical disciplines under the guidance of the Magisterium and in the light of the mystery of the Church.
The Centre has the following primary scientific and pastoral objectives:
i) to promote the study, teaching and application of ecclesiastical law according to the living tradition of the Church, taking into account the law's continuing renewal and progress in the life of the Church;
ii) for the fulfilment of various functions necessary to the life of the universal Church and particular churches;
iii) to form necessary personnel who will serve in the diocesan curia, and ecclesiastical tribunals, especially in India and other Asian countries;
iv) to train researchers, teachers, and practitioners of Canon Law as well as those holding ecclesiastical offices at institutes of higher learning, seminaries, and religious institutes;
v) to promote collaboration and exchange among the various ecclesiastical tribunals in India and the Canon Law Society of India (CLSI).
The Centre offers the following courses:
i) Degree of Licentiate in Canon Law
(Three years)
ii) Diploma in Canon Law
(Biennial Studies: Two years-60 credits)
iii) Certificate Programme
(One year or two years - 30 credits)
The three-year (six semesters) LCL (Licentiate in Canon Law) degree programme aims at specialised juridical formation during which the entire Codex Iuris Canonici (CIC 1983) is studied in depth, along with other disciplines having affinity with it, and also in comparison with the Codex Canonum Ecclesiarum Orientalium (CCEO). The exposition of the courses consists not only of explaining the laws and institutions of the Church but also of learning the theological and canonical principles in light of conciliar teaching and their historical connections. The courses are expounded exegetically, facilitating a comprehensive study of the sources of the canons, both magisterial and disciplinary, so that students can appreciate the spirit, origin, evolution, theological sense, and pastoral aims of the ecclesiastical laws. The programme, which initiates students into scientific research, consists of lectures, seminars, assignments, colloquia, and a scientifically prepared thesis.
a) Prerequisites for Admission
Applicants to the LCL programme may be admitted according to the following provisions:
i) The applicant may be admitted provided he or she has obtained a Baccalaureate in Theology (B. Th) or completed a philosophical-theological curriculum in a seminary or a theological faculty, or the applicant has completed the First Cycle programme in Canon Law and has a Baccalaureate degree in any discipline valid for admission to a civil university. This is done unless the Director deems it necessary or opportune, before his/her admission, to require that he/she take a preliminary course in Latin or the fundamental concepts of Canon Law.Students who prove they have studied some of the subjects of the first cycle at a theological faculty or university institute may be dispensed from them;
language; ii) The applicant should have a good command of the English
iii) In addition to the above criteria of eligibility, the candidate should have adequate knowledge of Latin and a modern language, preferably Italian. Those who do not have adequate knowledge of these languages would be required to obtain the requisite knowledge to the satisfaction of the Centre
b) Registration
Registration for the LCL programme should be done at the beginning of the academic year, along with all the necessary documents as per the rules and regulations of St Peter's Pontifical Institute and the Statutes of the Centre. The students are expected to complete the course requirements of the programme within three academic years. Those failing to do so will have to maintain their registration until completion of all degree requirements and pay the required fees as specified by the Institute.
c) Methodology
The teaching method involves lectures, seminars, group discussions, written assignments, colloquia, assigned readings, case studies and practical assignments. To facilitate the study programme, students may be given a set of reading materials during the course or even before its commencement, including a course outline, a teaching plan, and an up-to-date bibliography consisting of articles, books and jurisprudence.
The students are expected to come prepared for the classes by reading the suggested material and to participate attentively and actively during the class sessions. Practical assignments lead to a more profound understanding of canonical literature and its application as presented in lectures, particularly with regard to the CIC 1983. These exercises include: exegesis of canons undertaken by the students themselves and presented to the class under the guidance of professors; questions posed by professors and written assignments; colloquia on a given topic; tutorial courses; case studies and legal drafting. The multidisciplinary approach employed in teaching and learning, using various pedagogical tools, broadens students'
horizons in the scientific and pastoral domains.
d) Evaluation of the Courses
The evaluation of the course takes into account the student's active participation and interaction in class and seminars, assignments, and comprehension of the subject through oral and written exams. It is advisable that the professor give class tests or assignments during the course of the lectures and consider students' performance on these for their grades in the examination at the end of the course. A three-credit course or more will have an oral examination of at least fifteen minutes duration, a written examination of two hours, or a combination of both written and oral exams.
The pass mark is 60% for courses and seminars. A student may not, without the professor's authorisation, be absent from an oral or written examination for a course or hand in a term paper later than the prescribed date. Non-compliance with this regulation will result in failure in the course.
A student who fails an examination may be allowed to undergo a supplementary examination only once. If the student fails even in the supplementary examination, he/she will have to repeat the course. Notwithstanding the possibility of appearing for a supplementary examination, any student who fails in more than three subjects during one academic year shall have to withdraw from the programme if the centre's staff council decides so.
e) Dissertation and Defence
Students enrolled in the LCL programme are required to write a thesis of approximately 100-125 pages within their chosen area of specialisation. The thesis topic must be approved bythe Director. Students should select a professor from the Centre, preferably one who is specialised or teaches a course relevant to the chosen topic. Additionally, the Director will appoint a co-moderator for the thesis in consultation with the moderator. Students are expected to adhere to the Institute's guidelines on registration deadlines and the required format for thesis writing and binding. A public defence of the thesis will take place for 60 minutes before a Board of Examiners, which will include both the moderator and co-moderator. Following the defence, students must submit four copies of the thesis to the Institute Office after making the necessary corrections indicated during the defence.
Students found to have copied content from other theses, dissertations, or scientific literature without appropriate citation and acknowledgement will be subject to stringent disciplinary action, not excluding disqualification from the degree.
f) Comprehensive Examination
As an integral part of the programme, students of the LCL Degree are required to pass a comprehensive oral examination based on the principal courses of the entire degree programme. Each student is required to choose fifteen themes for the examination from the list provided by the Centre and present the list of chosen themes to the Director at least three months before the comprehensive examination, which will last one hour and be conducted before at least a panel of three professors.
g) Marks, Grades and Degree
To receive a degree, a student must have passed the examinations in each subject in the programme and fulfilled all other requirements of the programme. The final computation of the marks earned during the LCL programme will be as follows:
i) 50% for the course examinations, inclusive of seminars;
ii) 25% for the dissertation and defence;
iii) 25% for the final comprehensive oral examination.
The cumulative average of a student's marks indicates the academic grade.
Grading System (Marks)
Probatus (Pass Mark) 60-69.99
Bene Probatus 70-79.99
Cum Laude 80-89.99
Magna cum Laude 90-96.99
Summa cum Laude 97-100
A Licentiate in Canon Law Degree granted by the Pontifical Urban University, Rome, for students successfully completing the programme in the Centre of Canon Law Studies at St Peter's Pontifical Institute, Bangalore, qualifies them for admission to the doctoral programme in Canon Law in all ecclesiastical universities worldwide. It also renders them eligible to teach in seminaries and to obtain ecclesiastical offices, which require such a Degree in Canon Law.
1.2. Biennial Studies Programme
The Biennial Studies consist of two years (four semesters) for those who have no previous training in philosophy or theology, including those who already hold an academic degree in civil law. Candidates without the requisite philosophical and theological training, even if they possess a civil law degree, cannot be dispensed from the Biennial studies if they want to enrol in the second cycle in Canon Law.
During this period, students shall study the fundamental concepts of Canon Law, the philosophical and theological disciplines and Conciliar teachings required for an advanced formation in Canon Law.
Students who successfully complete the courses will receive a diploma. The diploma will, however, not be equivalent to a Baccalaureate Degree.
A student may be admitted to the Biennial studies on a propaedeutic basis for possible later admission to the second cycle, provided that he or she has fulfilled prior academic requirements (especially a baccalaureate in any discipline) necessary for admission to a recognised university of the nation in which those studies were completed. The student must have adequate knowledge of English and must be presented by his Ordinary or his/her Major Superior, as the case may be. Lay Faithful may present a letter of recommendation from the parish priest.
1.3. Certificate and Diploma Programme
Short courses in specific sections of Canon Law may be offered to tribunal personnel who lack adequate knowledge of Canon Law, such as notaries, assessors, auditors, and other civil lawyers and experts who collaborate in proceedings concerning marriage cases.
i) Certificate in Canon Law course is a training programme in special sections of Canon Law, such as tribunal practice, consecrated life, procedures, temporal goods and administrative law, etc. The Centre will draw up a detailed programme each year. Students who successfully complete the course will be awarded a certificate.
ii) A Diploma in Canon Law is meant for those who do not intend to follow the entire LCL syllabus but prefer to concentrate on a few courses.
A curriculum of ten courses and a seminar prescribed by the Director of the Centre of Canon Law Studies in consultation with the Council shall be the requirement for the course. The duration of each course, comprising at least 30 credits, excluding the seminars or paper presentations, will be one year (two semesters). The diploma, however, will not be equivalent to a Baccalaureate Degree.
1. Rev. Dr Merlin Rengith Ambrose
2. Rev. Dr Sunil Kumar Dsouza
1. Rev. Dr Anthonappa Shanthappa
2. Rev. Dr Anthony Joseph
3. Rev. Dr Lourdusamy Tharigopala
4. Rev. Dr Sr Mercy John, SCC
5. Rev. Dr Sahayaraj Lourdusamy
6. Rev. Dr Valerian Sequeira
1. His Eminence Oswald Cardinal Gracias
2. Most Rev. Dr Antonysamy Savarimuthu
3. Most Rev. Dr Elias Frank
4. Most Rev. Dr Arulselvam Rayappan
5. Most Rev. Dr Arokiaraj Satis Kumar
6. Rev. Dr Antony Peter
7. Rev. Dr Arockiyasamy Sebastian
8. Rev. Dr Benny Tharakunnel, CMI
9. Rev. Dr Cherian Thunduparampil, CMI
10. Rev. Dr Jerome Anthappa, MSFS
11. Rev. Dr Jesu Pudumai Doss Maria James, SDB
12. Rev. Dr Adrian Francis Charles Mascarenhas
