Why Canon Law?

The purpose of this Blog is to talk about law, canon law, and Catholic things from my perspective of law and canon law. If you are a canon lawyer, you probably will not like it.  I am gearing this to the folks in the pews and maybe a few who are interested in getting into one in a Catholic Church.  I have never held any job or office or position in the Catholic Church that actually pays. I found the best part of that is that the Church could never fire me and so never had a financial leverage over me. That was always important to me. I have done a lot of work on cases for different bishops, religious orders, dioceses and individuals, but never drew down a salary in any diocese.  I hung up my shingle the day I passed the PA Bar exam, on the first try! So, in my civil practice, where I have also never worked for anyone but my clients, I have found that professional non-affiliation works just fine for me.  I hope it does for you too.

Canon Law 101 Blog

Cardinal Burke’s Conference
CL News and Events Patricia M. Dugan CL News and Events Patricia M. Dugan

Cardinal Burke’s Conference

This is another postponement of an excellent conference, formally known as the Speculum Iustitiae (Mirror of Justice). Every year for the past ten years, Raymond Cardinal Leo Burke, sponsors a conference for civil and canon lawyers at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in LaCrosse, Wisconsin.

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Patricia M. Dugan Patricia M. Dugan

Liability Waivers in Catholic Schools

It use to be that social norms kept us from discussing politics and religion as topics of conversation with just about anyone. School is the new taboo topic.

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Day One: St. Alphonsus Liguori, Blew it Big
Patricia M. Dugan Patricia M. Dugan

Day One: St. Alphonsus Liguori, Blew it Big

I can’t think of a better feast day to start a blog on law than this feast of St. Alphonsus Liguori. He had earned doctorates in both civil law and canon law by the time he was sixteen. It was considered impossible to do that before the age of twenty.

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Just What is Canon Law?
CL 101 Lessons Patricia M. Dugan CL 101 Lessons Patricia M. Dugan

Just What is Canon Law?

I get asked this question often, mostly because I show my credentials as a Canon Lawyer on all my stationery, business cards, web site, you get the picture. So here is about as formal as I will get on this blog.

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