Contributi di Cesare Edoardo Varalda

“New wine into new wineskins”: some first notes on the current challenges for canon law 

ABSTRACT: Inspired by the Summary Document of the recent Synod of Bishops, which requests a revision of the Code of Canon Law and the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches, this study intends to reflect on the contribution that canonical doctrine can offer for this revision. Specifically, the study analyzes the current Code as a result of both the Second Vatican Council and the legal classifications specific to the positivist culture during the 19th and 20th centuries and, consequently, it observes the necessity, from a de iure condendo perspective, to approach the work articulated towards a mature acceptance of certain aspects of the Second Vatican Council not appropriately valued in the drafting of the Code, such as the pneumatological renewal of the theology and ecclesiology of communion. Given these remarks, it is possible to move in the direction indicated by the Synod, avoiding "pouring the new wine of the Synod into old wineskins" of the now outdated juridical categories. In this perspective, the study identifies four potential areas for renewal, both urgent and achievable.

SOMMARIO: 1. Premessa - 2. Una pro-vocazione alla canonistica - 3. Un complesso lavoro di ricezione - 4. Alcune questioni sulle quali riflettere - 5. Considerazioni di sintesi.

SOMMARIO: 1. Premessa - 2. Le attività degli enti ecclesiastici. - 3. Il problema dell’applicabilità delle procedure concorsuali - 4. L’evoluzione della giurisprudenza domestica - 5. Il patrimonio stabile tra dato normativo e realtà giuridica - 6. Termini e garanzie di trasparenza dell’utilizzo del concetto di “patrimonio stabile”: i controlli canonici nell’ordinamento italiano - 7. Riflessioni conclusive.

Ecclesiastical institutions in financial crisis. The role of “stable patrimony”

ABSTRACT : Within the economic framework coming from the 2008 financial downturn, many ecclesiastical institutions involved in commercial activities found themselves in severe financial crises, sometimes leading them to not be able to reimburse their debts. The enforcement of a classical bankruptcy law however does not seem to be fully tailored on these ecclesiastical institutions specificities. Indeed the current Italian bankruptcy law puts the ecclesiastical institutions assets under an indiscriminate attack that can seriously affect their survival and thus to ensure the satisfaction of the "religious" needs they exist for. In such a context, given the statement of the article 7.3, Law 121/1985 which emphasizes that the common law should be applied paying particular attention to the structure and the purpose of religious institutions, the present work attempt at developing a fist reflection on a specific canon law regulatory scheme, i.e. the "stable patrimony", which aim is to guarantee and protect a minimum assets useful to the survival of the ecclesiastical organization. After a first description and analysis of the "stable patrimony" profiles in a canon law perspective, the issue will be also addressed from the relevant point of view of the Church and State relations treaties.

SOMMARIO: 1. Premessa - 2. Le origini della funzione consultiva nella vita della Chiesa - 3. Il Concilio Vaticano II e il rinnovato vigore della funzione consultiva - 4. Concistoro cardinalizio e Sinodo dei vescovi: esempi istituzionali dell’incidenza della funzione consultiva nella vita della Chiesa - 5. La dimensione consultiva al servizio del Successore di Pietro - 6. Conclusioni: per un “ricupero” degli elementi originali della funzione consultiva nella vita della Chiesa.

ABSTRACT: The aim of this paper is to examine the role played by the consultation principle in the life of the Church. Indeed, Pope Francesco underlined the importance of this concept and – from the beginning of his pontificate – widely used this “decision-making model”. Moreover, he based the ecclesiastical reform on this principle, in particular with the creation of the new council of cardinals, with the task to assist the holy father in the government of the Universal Church and to study possible revision of the apostolic constitution “Pastor Bonus” on the Roman Curia. Through a reflection that moves from the origins of the principle and its renewed strength during the Second Vatican Council, the paper allows concluding that the consultative principle plays a central role in the life of the church, even greater than that assumed within the jurisdiction of the states. This belief opens up further studies, able to deepen the original elements of the ecclesiastical consultation practice, with the aim of developing this model of government.