It is truly a pleasure to know that Dr. Peters has been tapped by Pope Benedict XVI to serve as a "Referendarius" (Referendary) of the Apostolic Signatura (think "Supreme Court" of the Catholic Church). In his blogpost on this, Dr. Peters writes (my comment in brackets):
As one of some dozen international consultants to the Church's highest administrative tribunal, it will be my privilege and responsibility to advise*, on an as-needed basis, the officials of that dicastery regarding matters impacting the administration of law and justice within the Church. [see his blogpost for the footnote related to the asterisk].
A number of persons have graciously conveyed their congratulations to me on this honor, and I am truly grateful for their kind words. But I want to underscore that I see this appointment not so much as an honor, but rather, as an invitation to serve more effectively the mission of the Church as the Speculum Iustitiae.
Even as I prepare, however, to place my training in canon and common law more readily at the service of the Church, I recall what Canon 1752 stresses, namely, that "the salvation of souls [is] the supreme law in the Church." Salvation is not, in the end, a work of law, but one of love. As such, it is a work toward which we all can, and must, contribute.
Ergo, oremus pro invicem! + + +
Here is the English version of the announcement from Vatican Information Service email (not yet on the web) of what appeared in the Bollettino for May 23, 2010:
- Appointed as relators of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura: Fr. Eduardo Baura de la Pena, professor at the faculty of canon law of the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross; Fr. Paolo Giuseppe Bianchi, judicial vicar of the Ecclesiastical Regional Tribunal of Lombardy, Italy; Fr. Bruno Esposito O.P., professor at the faculty of canon law of the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas; Fr. Luigi Sabbarese C.S., dean of the faculty of canon law of the Pontifical Urban University, and Edward N. Peters, professor of canon law at the Sacred Heart Major Seminary of the archdiocese of Detroit U.S.A.
American, Archbishop Raymond L. Burke is the prefect of the Apostolic Signatura, which is much like a chief justice.
We certainly offer Dr. Peters our congratulations. However, I believe he would appreciate our prayers even more. May the Holy Spirit guide him with wisdom and prudence in this important work.
Links:
- My father appointed “Referendarius” to the Apostolic Signatura by Pope Benedict (AmP)
- In Light of the Law (blog of Dr. Peters)
- Canon Law Info (homepage of Dr. Peters)
The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church; it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!