Folia Canonica 2. (1999)
NEWS IN BRIEF - Varghese Koluthara: Institute of Oriental Canon Law at Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram, Bangalore, India
INSTITUTE OF ORIENTAL CANON LAW 279 Oriental Canon Law, Bangalore. He said that the collaboration is normally to last for a period of five years. After this experimental period, if the Congregation for Catholic Education is satisfied with its performance, the Institute can be raised to a full Faculty empowered to confer on its own all the degrees including the doctorate. When that happens Dharmaram will be eligible to become an ecclesiastical university. He concluded his speech in the following words, “In today’s inauguration we may well see, beyond the humble beginnings of a small institute of canon law, the distant announcement and implicit intimations of the birth of an Ecclesiastical University of the Catholic Church in India”. On 15 July the classes of Licentiate Course began with a full day lectio comm. Archbishop Vithayathil, a renowned canonist of the Syro Malabar Church, Dr. George Nedungatt, Delegate of POI, Dr. Varghese Koluthara, Director of the Institute, Dr. George Thanchan CMI, Dr. (Sr.) Sibi CMC, Dr. Francis Thazhatel led the lectio coram. There are at present 4 residential professors and 20 visiting staff for the institute. This year there are six students (four priests and two Sisters) for the Licentiate programme. SCOPE AND OBJECTIVES OF THE INSTITUTE The Institute is meant for the study and research in Oriental Canon Law, cultivating and promoting the juridical disciplines in the light of the gospel and of deeply instmcting the students in these so as to form researchers, teachers and others who will be trained to hold special ecclesiastical offices. Accordingly the study programme of the Institute aims at preparing conscientious and competent personnel to work in the eparchial curias and ecclesiastical tribunals of India and other Asian countries; training teachers in Canon Law and equipping personnel of Religious Institutes to help in the formulation and renewal of their constitutions, in their work of formation as well as administration. Finally, it is part of the objectives of the Institute to inculcate in every student a sense of responsibility towards the Church and respect for its institutions besides developing in them highest standards of professional behaviour and personal integrity. STUDY PROGRAMME The Institute offers the following Courses: 1. Fundamental Canon Law Course 2. Master’s Degree Course in Oriental Canon Law 3. Diploma Course in Oriental Canon Law 4. Certificate Course in Oriental Canon Law
