Folia Theologica 1. (1990)

Recensiones

RECENSIONES

149

summarize the main characteristics of Canon law. Chapter II constitutes a synthetical exposition - in sixty pages - of the history of canon law since the beginnings of the church until the promulgation of the new Codex. The chapter ends with some pages about the preparatory works of the 1983 Codex and a general vision of its structure (pp. 104-111), which open the way to the systematic study of the Codex to be initiated in chapter III.

The General Part of Canon law is contained in chapters III-VI: they have to do mainly with the first two books of the Codex. In chapter III, special attention is paid by Prof. Juan Ignacio Arrieta to the principles of equality and variety in the church - where the basic importance of c. 208 is stressed -, as well as to the concept of potestas regiminis. Chapter VI is dedicated to the subjects of Canon law, and to basic concepts such as legal capacity and legal personality; in this context the legal implications of the principle of variety are also dealt with, what leads to a detailed study of the different legal conditions of ministers, consacrated persons, and lay persons.

Legal rules and legal acts (specially, administrative acts), are the object of chapter V; the study of administrative acts makes it necessary to consider previously the question of the executive power in the church. Finally, chapter VI exposes the hierarchical organization of the church, both in its universal and its particular dimension.

Chapters VII-XII deal with the different specific institutions of Canon law, following the order of the Codex: chapter VII studies the teaching function of the church and the catholic education (Book III of the Codex), chapter VIII deans with the regulation of liturgy and sacraments (Book IV), chapter X with Patrimonial law (Book V), chapter XI with Penal law (Crimes and Sanctions: Book VI), and chapter XII with Procedure law and the guarantee of rights in the church (Book VII). The special importance of Marriage law inside the system of Canon law is reflected in the fact that a whole and long chapter of the Handbook - chapter IX - is devoted to the study of this institution, which is thus separated from the study of the other Sacraments.

Finally, the book concludes with a chapter on the relations between the church and the political community, with a historical and a systemati-