J. Beal, et al., eds., New Commentary on the Code of Canon Law, commissioned by the Canon Law Society of America (Paulist Press: New York/Mahwah, 2000). ~ 1,950 pp. ISBN: 0-8091-0502-0. Acceptable cite form: [commentator’s name], CLSA New Comm. Method: Canons in English only, commentary in English, treatment is canon-by-canon. Multiple authors, many well-established. Notes: In many places this work has gotten down better to the direct business of discussing the law as is than did its predecessor. Although offered as an entirely new commentary, there are at least some places where the text is nearly verbatim taken from the original work. Might not achieve the same impact on canonical thought that the first CLSA commentary had due to the unevenness of the commentary and the visually taxing layout of the unwieldy book, but an obviously very important resource in American, and international, canon law.

John Paul II signs the 1983 Code of Canon Law

as Cdls. Ratzinger and Castillo-Lara look on.

G. Sheehy, et al., eds, The Canon Law: Letter & Spirit, prepared by the Canon Law Society of Great Britain and Ireland, in association with the Canadian Canon Law Society (Michael Glazier Book of Liturgical Press: Collegeville MN, 1995). ~ 1,060 pp. ISBN: 0-8146-5516-5. Acceptable cite form: [commentator’s name], GB&I Comm. Method: Canons in English only, commentary in English, treatment is canon-by-canon. Multiple well-established authors. Notes: Highly reliable and easy to use, this excellent work has a solid following among American canonists. Strives for explanation of the law as it is, referring to how things used to be or could have been only when useful to understanding the 1983 Code. Consciously seeks Legislator’s intent, and usually finds it. For Dr. Peters' review of this work, click here.

E. Caparros, et al., eds., Code of Canon Law Annotated, prepared by the University of Navarre (Spain) and Saint Paul University (Canada), (Wilson & Lafleur: Montreal, 1993). ~ 1,630 pp. ISBN: 2-89127-232-3. Acceptable cite form: [commentator’s name], Caparros, Code Ann. Method: Canons in Latin & English, commentary in English, treatment is canon-by-canon (though a few canons are not discussed at all). Multiple well-established authors. Notes: This is actually a slightly revised English translation of a slightly revised French translation of the original Spanish language Navarre commentary on the 1983 Code (see above). Very reliable, though commentary tends to consider issues from a continental perspective. That, and the relative brevity of some of the commentary itself, has tended to dampen the impact of this solid work in American canonical circles. NB: A Revised Edition (2004) is now available. My HPR review of this work is here.

A. Benlloch Poveda, Código de Derecho Canónico: Edición Bilingüe, Fuentes y comnetarios de todos los cánones (EDICEP-CB: Valencia, 1993). ~ 820 pp. ISBN: 84-7050-325-1. Acceptable cite form: [commentator’s name], B. Poveda, Codigo. Method: Canons in Latin & Spanish, commentary in Spanish, treatment is canon-by-canon. Multiple well-established authors. Notes: Consistently useful materials. Contains fontes in later editions.

E. Caparros, et al., eds., Code de Droit Canonique, prepared by the University of Navarre (Spain) and Saint Paul University (Canada), (Wilson & Lafleur: Montreal, 1990). ~ 1,500 pp. ISBN: 2-89127-153-X. Acceptable cite form: [commentator’s name], Caparros, Droit Can. Method: Canons in Latin & French, commentary in French, treatment is canon-by-canon (though a few canons are not discussed at all). Multiple well-established authors. Notes: This is a slightly revised French translation of a Spanish language commentary from Navarre on the 1983 Code. Very reliable, though commentary tends to consider issues from a continental perspective. It has been eclipsed in American canonical circles by the 1993 English translation of the same work, see below.

L. Echeverria, ed., Código de Derecho Canónico: Edición bilingüe comentada, (Biblioteca de Autores Cristianos: Madrid, 1985). ~ 940 pp. ISBN: 84-220-1175-1. Acceptable cite form: [commentator’s name], Echeverria, Codigo. Method: Canons in Latin & Spanish, commentary in Spanish, treatment is canon-by-canon. Multiple well-established authors. Commentary is reliable, but rather brief, and is obviously geared toward Spanish issues. Numerous editions available.

P. Pinto, ed., Commento al Codice di Diritto Canonico (Urbaniana University Press: Roma, 1985). ~ 1,160 pp. ISBN: na. Acceptable cite form: [commentator’s name], Pinto, Commento. Method: Canons in Latin & Italian, commentary in Italian, treatment is canon-by-canon. Multiple well-established authors. Notes: The commentary, which tends to the brief side, draws heavily on the extensive experience most of its contributors have in the Roman Curia. Available in paperback. Excessively thin paper and small print makes for text bleed-thru and consequently is tough extended reading.

J. Coriden, et al., eds., The Code of Canon Law: A Text and Commentary, commissioned by the Canon Law Society of America (Paulist Press: New York/Mahwah, 1985). ~ 1,150 pp. ISBN: 0-8091-2837-3. Acceptable cite form: [commentator’s name], CLSA Comm. Method: Canons in English only, commentary in English, treatment is canon-by-canon. Multiple well-established authors. Notes: This is still probably the most influential commentary in American canonical circles. Drafted, for the most part, during the final stages of the revision process, the commentary understandably reflects a significant amount speculation, even uncertainty, about changes brought about by the 1983 Code. Nevertheless, essential reading, both because of its many valuable insights, and because of its enormous influence. Available in paperback.

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