A world-first partnership between The Broken Bay Institute (BBI) and Saint Paul University (SPU) in Ottawa, Canada, will enable SPU to deliver the first pontifically recognised degree in Canon Law in Australia.
Through its partnership with BBI, SPU will deliver intensive on-campus courses for the Licentiate in Canon Law (JCL). The remainder of the program will be delivered online by SPU, removing the need for BBI students to relocate overseas to study Canon Law. The residential component will be taught by SPU at the BBI campus in Sydney. In consultation with the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, BBI received a nihil obstat from the Bishops for the establishment of this prestigious program in Australia.
The JCL program of study is relevant to those who hold pastoral and leadership positions within various Catholic organisations (religious and lay) and who need to understand, or have an interest in understanding, how best to apply canon law.
Bishop Brian Finnigan, Auxiliary Bishop of Brisbane, said, “As current Chair of the Bishops’ Commission for Canon Law and the Australian Catholic Council for Canon Law, I heartily endorse this new venture. We live in a changing world and church, so the need for educated and well-formed canonists is clear.”
The Rector of Saint Paul University, Dr Chantal Beauvais, is absolutely thrilled with this new collaboration: “This partnership highlights how solid and effective Distance Learning is at SPU.” The Dean of Canon Law, Dr Anne Asselin, is equally excited about the opportunities this partnership will create for future students: “This opens up an appealing option for many Australian and New Zealander students who were formerly unable to pursue an ecclesiastical diploma for geographical reasons.”
Sister Maria Casey, RSJ, President of the Canon Law Society of Australia and New Zealand, said, “The partnership between BBI and SPU is the first international one of its kind. It allows Australians and New Zealanders to obtain a dual degree in Canon Law—a pontifical degree from SPU and a civil one from the University of Ottawa—without the need to travel and live overseas.”
Dr Gerard Goldman, CEO of BBI, said, “I’m delighted to launch this new initiative and hope we can encourage the continuous improvement of organisations and further professional development of church personnel in Australia and New Zealand. BBI is proud to establish this partnership with Saint Paul University.”
