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Kevin E. MCKENNA, Notre Dame (IN), Ave Maria Press, 2000, 127 p. -- ISBN 0-87793-934-9 -- 10.95 US$.
The title of this book is well chosen. It is both a concise guide to the 1983 Code of Canon Law through the pertinent canons and a practical handbook for non-canonists who serve in pastoral ministry. While the A. offers very little, if any, commentary concerning the specific canons, he groups them together so that the reader is presented with what canon law states concerning the various topics. The entries are appropriately organized, the first giving an historic foundation for and a general orientation to canon law to help the pastoral minister realize that it is founded upon theological and historical sources. He proceeds with general canonical principles concerning the sacraments before presenting each one specifically. Parishes, the diocesan church, declarations of invalidity (annulments), temporal goods and rights in the Church then follow. Each section is briefly introduced by paraphrasing the canons which introduce these topics in...