21 September 2014

Did the Pope snub the Greg?

As I understand it, the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome is supposed to have the flagship of canonical faculties throughout the world. For this reason, as I read - with some surprise - that the Holy Father Pope Francis established yesterday a Special Commission, as Vatican Radio reports, "to prepare a proposal of reform of the matrimonial process, with the objective of simplifying its procedure, making it more streamlined, and safeguarding the principle of the indissolubility of matrimony"

It was not the establishment of the Special Commission that surprised so much as the make-up of its members. For example, His Holiness appointed the Dean of the Faculty of Canon Law of the Pontifical University Antoniamum (which, as I understand it, is not especially known for its canonical faculty) and a former professor of Canon Law at the University of Pisa, but no one from the canonical faculty of the Pontifical Gregorian University. When I noticed this, I couldn't help but wonder, did the Pope snub the Greg? Whether he did or not, I do not know; I simply ask the question.

The task now entrusted to the Special Commission, according to media reports, was to be the principle work of the upcoming Third Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops to be held from October 5-19. It could be, I suppose, that the Special Commission will present a few recommendations to the Extraordinary General Assembly, but how this could be done in such a short time I do not know. What will come of either the Special Commission or the Extraordinary General Assembly, no one really knows.

UPDATE:

Cardinal Coccopalmerio holds a doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical Gregorian University.

Archbishop Luis Francisco Ladaria Ferrer studied [dogmatic?] theology at has taught at the
Pontifical Gregorian University.

Bishop Dimitri Salachas has taught at the
Pontifical Gregorian University. 

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