|
Updated
12 Jan 2009
Rotal cases are now published approximately five years after
being issued. See Tribunal Apostolicum Sacrae Romanae Rotae,
Decisiones seu Sententiae
The Roman Rota
currently operates in accord with the Code of Canon Law in
general (esp. 1983 CIC 1442-1444) and with special norms in
particular. For English, see Canon Law Digest 10:
219-243.
Important
studies of Rotal activities include:
Carolus
Holböck, Tractatus de
Jurisprudentia Sacrae Romanae Rotae, 1909-1946 (Verlag
Styria, 1957);
Augustine
Mendonça, Rotal Anthology:
an annotated Index of Rotal Decisions from 1971-1988 (CLSA, 1992);
and
John Noonan, Jr., Power
to Dissolve: Lawyers and Marriages in the courts of the Roman
Curia (Belknap/Harvard,1972).
For a brief history of the famous
Spanish Rota at Madrid and the norms by which it was
reconstituted in 1947, see Anon, "The Establishment of the
Spanish Rota" The Jurist 7 (1947) 427-436; for brief
comments on the Spanish and "Polish Rota", see E. Egan, “Appeal
in marriage nullity cases: two centuries of experiment and
reform”, Canon Law Society of America Proceedings 43
(1981) 132-144.
Msgr.
Cormac Burke's personal webpage
1657 Title Page for
Otthobono's Rotal Cases
"If one takes a given
volume of the Rota decisions and reads consecutively all of the
decisions on a given caput, it does not take long to
discover that the Rota frequently reverses itself. These
reversals are generally due to different interpretations of the
facts. At times, however, the reversals are due to different
interpretations of the law. The conclusion is that the law, as
expounded by the Rota in a given decision, especially on an
abstruse point, is not necessarily above all controversy."
J. Chatham, "Sources and their use in the preparation of briefs
and sentences" The Jurist 20 (1960) 84-98, at 89.
Read a Rota Sentence |
|
Canon Law
Canonistics
Rota Background
|
1.
Rotal Auditors under the 1983 Code
Source: Cittá del Vaticano,
Annuario Pontificio
"Tribunale della Rota Romamano"
(various years)
Usually there are 20 Auditors (or judges) serving on the Roman Rota
Here, the name of the Dean is placed in bold.
Italian Auditors listed
in Red. Native English
speakers,
USA:
Ireland:
 Scotland:
Age at time of appointment in
parentheses.
Reading Notes on papal
addresses to the Rota, 1939-2006
|
Pope John Paul II addresses
the
Rota in 2002
|
(AP)
|
|
1983 |
1984 |
1985 |
1986 |
1987 |
|
De Jorio (48) |
De Jorio |
De Jorio |
Fiore
|
Fiore |
|
Fiore (42) |
Fiore |
Fiore |
Pinto |
Pinto |
|
Ferraro (54) |
Ferraro |
Ferraro |
Masala |
Masala |
|
Parisella (54) |
Parisella |
Pinto |
Di Felice |
Pompedda |
|
Pinto (55) |
Pinto |
Masala |
Pompedda |
Serrano |
|
Masala (53) |
Masala |
Di Felice |
Serrano |
Bruno |
|
Di Felice (56) |
Di Felice |
Pompedda |
Augustino |
Davino |
|
Pompedda (40) |
Pompedda |
Serrano |
Bruno |
Huot |
|
Serrano (38) |
Serrano |
Augustino |
Davino |
Stankiewicz |
|
Augustino (47) |
Augustino |
Bruno |
Huot |
Giannecchini |
|
Bruno (49) |
Bruno |
Davino |
Stankiewicz |
Colagiovanni |
|
Davino (42) |
Davino |
Huot |
Giannecchini |
Ragni |
|
Huot (58) |
Huot |
Egan
|
Colagiovanni |
DE LaNversin |
|
Egan (40)
|
Egan
|
Stankiewicz |
Ragni |
Jarawan |
|
Stankiewicz (42) |
Stankiewicz |
Giannecchini |
DE LaNversin |
Funghini |
|
Giannecchini (53) |
Giannecchini |
Colagiovanni |
Jarawan |
Palestro |
|
Colagiovanni (59) |
Colagiovanni |
Ragni |
FUNGHINI |
Van Bilsen |
|
Ragni (56) |
Ragni |
DE LaNversin |
PALESTRO (56) |
Corso |
|
DE LaNversin (56) |
DE LaNversin |
Jarawan |
Van Bilsen (72) |
Burke (59)
|
|
Jarawan (59) |
Jarawan |
FUNGHINI (55) |
Corso (57) |
Doran (49)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Boccafola (47)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Neuhaus (47) |
|
|
|
|
|
Faltin (59) |
|
1988 |
1989 |
1990 |
1991 |
1992 |
|
Fiore |
Fiore |
Fiore |
Fiore |
Fiore |
|
Masala |
Masala |
Pompedda |
Pompedda |
Pompedda |
|
Pompedda |
Pompedda |
Serrano |
Serrano |
Serrano |
|
Serrano |
Serrano |
Bruno |
Bruno |
Bruno |
|
Bruno |
Bruno |
Davino |
Davino |
Davino |
|
Davino |
Davino |
Stankiewicz |
Stankiewicz |
Stankiewicz |
|
Stankiewicz |
Stankiewicz |
Giannecchini |
Giannecchini |
Giannecchini |
|
Giannecchini |
Giannecchini |
Colagiovanni |
Colagiovanni |
Colagiovanni |
|
Colagiovanni |
Colagiovanni |
Ragni |
Ragni |
Ragni |
|
Ragni |
Ragni |
DE LaNversin |
DE LaNversin |
DE LaNversin |
|
DE LaNversin |
DE LaNversin |
Jarawan |
Jarawan |
Jarawan |
|
Jarawan |
Jarawan |
Funghini |
Funghini |
Funghini |
|
Funghini |
Funghini |
Palestro |
Palestro |
Palestro |
|
Palestro |
Palestro |
Corso |
Burke |
Burke |
|
Corso |
Corso |
Burke
|
Doran
|
Doran
|
|
Burke |
Burke
|
Doran
|
Boccafola
|
Boccafola
|
|
Doran
|
Doran
|
Boccafola
|
Neuhaus |
Faltin |
|
Boccafola
|
Boccafola
|
Neuhaus |
Faltin |
Civili |
|
Neuhaus |
Neuhaus |
Faltin |
Civili |
|
|
Faltin |
Faltin |
Civili |
|
|
|
|
CIVILI (62) |
|
|
|
|
1993 |
1994 |
1995 |
1996 |
1997 |
|
Fiore |
Pompedda |
Pompedda |
Pompedda |
Pompedda |
|
Pompedda |
Serrano |
Serrano |
Serrano |
Serrano |
|
Serrano |
Bruno |
Bruno |
Bruno |
Stankiewicz |
|
Bruno |
Stankiewicz |
Stankiewicz |
Stankiewicz |
Giannecchini |
|
Davino |
Giannecchini |
Giannecchini |
Giannecchini |
DE LaNversin |
|
Stankiewicz |
Colagiovanni |
Ragni |
Ragni |
Funghini |
|
Giannecchini |
Ragni |
DE LaNversin |
DE LaNversin |
Burke
|
|
Colagiovanni |
DE LaNversin |
Jarawan |
Jarawan |
Boccafola
|
|
Ragni |
Jarawan |
Funghini |
Funghini |
Faltin |
|
DE LaNversin |
Funghini |
Burke
|
Burke |
Civili |
|
Jarawan |
Burke |
Boccafola
|
Boccafola
|
huber |
|
Funghini |
Doran
|
Faltin |
Faltin |
López-illana |
|
Palestro |
Boccafola
|
Civili |
Civili |
Defilippi |
|
Burke
|
Faltin |
HUBER |
huber |
sable
|
|
Doran
|
Civili |
López ILLANA |
López-illana |
Turnaturi |
|
Boccafola
|
HUBER |
DEFILIPPI |
Defilippi |
Monier |
|
Faltin |
López ILLANA (64) |
SABLE (46)
|
sable
|
pinto |
|
Civili |
DEFILIPPI (53) |
TURNATURI (58) |
Turnaturi |
ALWAN (41) |
|
HUBER (57) |
|
MONIER (42) |
Monier |
CABERLETTI (48) |
|
|
|
|
pinto (53) |
|
|
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
|
Pompedda |
Pompedda |
Funghini
|
Funghini
|
Funghini
|
|
Serrano |
Serrano |
Serrano |
Serrano |
Serrano |
|
Stankiewicz |
Stankiewicz |
Stankiewicz |
Stankiewicz |
Stankiewicz |
|
Giannecchini |
Funghini |
Boccafola
|
Boccafola
|
Boccafola
|
|
Funghini |
Burke
|
Faltin |
Faltin |
huber |
|
Burke
|
Boccafola
|
Civili |
huber |
López-illana |
|
Boccafola
|
Faltin |
huber |
López-illana |
Defilippi |
|
Faltin |
Civili |
López-illana |
Defilippi |
sable
|
|
Civili |
huber |
Defilippi |
sable
|
Turnaturi |
|
huber |
López-illana |
sable
|
Turnaturi |
Monier |
|
López-illana |
Defilippi |
Turnaturi |
Monier |
pinto |
|
Defilippi |
sable
|
Monier |
pinto |
ALWAN |
|
sable
|
Turnaturi |
pinto |
ALWAN |
CABERLETTI |
|
Turnaturi |
Monier |
ALWAN |
CABERLETTI |
BOTTONE |
|
Monier |
pinto |
CABERLETTI |
BOTTONE |
ERLEBACH |
|
pinto |
ALWAN |
BOTTONE |
ERLEBACH |
Ciani |
|
ALWAN |
CABERLETTI |
ERLEBACH |
Ciani |
Ferreira |
|
CABERLETTI |
BOTTONE |
Ciani
(63) |
Ferreira |
Sciacca |
|
BOTTONE (55) |
ERLEBACH |
Ferreira (42) |
Sciacca |
VERGINELLI |
|
ERLEBACH (42) |
|
Sciacca (44) |
VERGINELLI
(63) |
DE ANGELIS
(57) |
|
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
Funghini
|
Funghini
|
Stankiewicz
|
Stankiewicz
|
Boccafola
|
|
Serrano |
Serrano |
Serrano |
Serrano |
huber |
|
Stankiewicz |
Stankiewicz |
Boccafola
|
Boccafola
|
Defilippi |
|
Boccafola
|
Boccafola
|
huber |
huber |
sable
|
|
huber |
huber |
Defilippi |
Defilippi |
Turnaturi |
|
López-illana |
López-illana |
sable
|
sable
|
Monier |
|
Defilippi |
Defilippi |
Turnaturi |
Turnaturi |
pinto |
|
sable
|
sable
|
Monier |
Monier |
ALWAN |
|
Turnaturi |
Turnaturi |
pinto |
pinto |
CABERLETTI |
|
Monier |
Monier |
ALWAN |
ALWAN |
BOTTONE |
|
pinto |
pinto |
CABERLETTI |
CABERLETTI |
ERLEBACH |
|
ALWAN |
ALWAN |
BOTTONE |
BOTTONE |
Ciani |
|
CABERLETTI |
CABERLETTI |
ERLEBACH |
ERLEBACH |
Ferreira |
|
BOTTONE |
BOTTONE |
Ciani |
Ciani |
Sciacca |
|
ERLEBACH |
ERLEBACH |
Ferreira |
Ferreira |
VERGINELLI |
|
Ciani |
Ciani |
Sciacca |
Sciacca |
DE ANGELIS |
|
Ferreira |
Ferreira |
VERGINELLI |
VERGINELLI |
MCKAY
|
|
Sciacca |
Sciacca |
DE ANGELIS |
DE ANGELIS |
YAACOUB |
|
VERGINELLI |
VERGINELLI |
MCKAY (54)
|
MCKAY
|
|
|
DE ANGELIS |
DE ANGELIS |
YAACOUB (56) |
YAACOUB |
|
|
2008 |
2009 |
|
|
|
|
Boccafola
|
|
|
|
|
|
huber |
|
|
|
|
|
Defilippi |
|
|
|
|
|
sable
|
|
|
|
|
|
Turnaturi |
|
|
|
|
|
Monier |
|
|
|
|
|
pinto |
|
|
|
|
|
ALWAN |
|
|
|
|
|
CABERLETTI |
|
|
|
|
|
BOTTONE |
|
|
|
|
|
ERLEBACH |
|
|
|
|
|
Ciani |
|
|
|
|
|
Ferreira |
|
|
|
|
|
Sciacca |
|
|
|
|
|
VERGINELLI |
|
|
|
|
|
DE ANGELIS |
|
|
|
|
|
MCKAY
|
|
|
|
|
|
YAACOUB |
|
|
|
|
|
AROKIARAJ (48) |
|
|
|
|
|
ARELLANO (44) |
|
|
|
|
2. Historical Notes on the Tribunal of
the Roman Rota
"Note
Storiche: Tribunale della Rota
Romano"
Source:
Cittá del Vaticano, Annuario Pontificio,
(any recent year)
Peters trans., adding citations and rearranging
some sentences.
From
the earliest days of the Apostolic Chancery there were chancellors (later
vice-chancellors) known as l’auditores contradictorum and
cappellani. To these were assigned, at first case-by-case but then on a
stable basis, investigations of cases (auditores causarum curiae domini papae)
although Pope Innocent III withheld from them the power of pronouncing final
sentence. Under Pope Innocent IV and the First Council of Lyon (1245) these
chaplains developed into a stable tribunal; John XXII assigned to this group a
particular center and, in 1331 with the constitution Ratio iuris, he
organized it according to a special rule. The name “Rota” probably derives from
the round room in which the Auditors met to hear cases. Pope Sixtus IV (1472)
originally set the number of Chaplain Auditors at twelve. Pope Benedict XIV
definitively set out the competence of the tribunal in his constitution
Iustitiae et pacis in 1747. Beginning with Pope Gregory XVI (1834) the Rota
served as an appellate tribunal for the Papal States, while cases pertaining to
the ecclesiastical forum typically went before Congregations.
In 1870
the activity of the Roman Rota essentially ceased [in the turmoil following the
Italian Revolution], but with his constitution Sapienti consilio (29 June
1908) Pope St. Pius X reconstituted it (ASS 41 [1908] 425-440, at 435). This
document was accompanied by the Lex propria S. R. Rotae et Signaturae
Apostolicae (ASS 41 [1908] 440-461) and both were soon (4 August 1910)
supplemented by the Regulae servandae apud S. R. Rotae Tribunal (AAS 2
[1910] 783-850). Pope Pius XI amended these norms on 29 July 1934 (AAS 26 [1934]
449-491). Further amended norms were approved on 16 January 1982 (AAS 74 [1982]
490-517, Eng. CLD 10:
219-248). The current norms were approved by Pope John Paul II on 18 April 1994
and went into effect October 1 of that year (AAS 86 [1994] 508-540).
The
appointment of auditors has always been reserved to the pope, but certain
nations have the right to nominate auditors; thus Spain may propose two
auditors, and Germany and France one each. [The Italian sees of] Bologna, Milan,
Venice, Ferrara, and Perugia each also have the privilege of nominating
auditors. All must nominees must be doctores iuris famosi and be
distinguished for prudence and integrity of life.
The
Rota adjudicates cases in a turnus (panel) of three Auditors or the
ones who see everything [submitted in a case]. Essentially the Rota is today
an appellate Tribunal (1983 CIC 1444) and adjudicates: a) in second instance,
cases decided by ordinary tribunals at the trial level that are sent to the Holy
See by legitimate appeal; b) in third and further instances, cases
already treated, [and arising] by appeal within the Rota or coming from other
another ecclesiastical appellate tribunal. Furthermore, it can adjudicate in
first instance cases expressly reserved to it according to the tenor of 1983 CIC
1405 § 3 and those which, upon being called by the Roman Pontiff to himself
(either on his own or at the request of a party), are sent to it by the Supreme
Pontiff. The Rota is also the Tribunal of appeal for the Ecclesiastical Tribunal
of the Vatican City State (John Paul II, m.p. Quo civium, 21 Nov. 1987,
art. 7). +++
Another historical overview:
New Advent
(The original Catholic Encyclopedia).
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