Canon Law Has To Respond To the Needs of the Country: Cardinal Gracias

(February 02, 2012) Hailing the contribution in the understanding and application of the Canon Law in India, Cardinal Oswald Gracias said that the Law has to look into the accountability, transparency and for good governance in the Church. He was addressing on Tuesday hundreds of Church personnel, including bishops, priests, sisters and brothers present at the Centre of Canon Law Studies at St. Peter’s Pontifical Institute of Theology, Bangalore Karnataka, on the occasion of the silver jubilee of the Institute. The Cardinal said that the persons in charge were apprehensive in the early stage about the number of students who may join the institute, and about qualified professors who will teach Canon Law. But beyond doubt the institution has grown in stature and in its contribution. He urged canonists to respond to the current issues facing the Church. “Priorities then and today are not the same. The Canon Law faculty has to respond to the needs of the country,” he added. The Prelate asked them to be conscious to the demands and challenges of the issues. Archbishop Bernard Moras of Bangalore, speaking about the importance of the law, said, “Laws of God are for human coexistence; the laws of the country are for common welfare and public morality. A State that does not give justice cannot be called an orderly State. Law in the Church is to establish the Kingdom Of God so that the faithful may grow in knowledge, wisdom and love of God.” Archbishop Anthony Anandarayar of Pondicherry said: “It is time to rejoice, renew, rededicate and recollect what God has done. A book on ‘In accordance with the Law’ was released on the occasion.