This is an excellent commentary and translation of the 1983 Code of Canon Law. Prepared under the auspices of the Canon Law Society of Great Britain and Ireland, it contains all the canons of the 1983 Code in a fresh English translation (approved by eight Bishops' Conferences worldwide) and a canon-by-canon commentary with footnotes and cross-references. The translation is accurate and clear, and the commentary is good, easy to understand and practical.

This volume is not overly verbose, unlike some commentaries, yet it packs in a lot of material to help even the lay-reader understand and apply the canon in his/her life/situation. It is a highly practical and pastoral commentary, that seeks to help the reader understand the canons in the light of the tradition of the Catholic Church enunciated through the teachings of Vatican II. Strong theology and ecclesiology permeates through the entire commentary, and in my opinion, it does a far better job than other American commentaries I have read. A fresh approach of this commentary is its views of canon laws as guides on the path to salvation, rather than as the ecclesiastical counterpart to civil laws aimed at restricting freedom.

Pope John Paul II described the 1983 Code as "the final document of Vatican II." This commentary can be described as permeating with the authentic teachings and thoughts of Vatican II. You need not agree with all the commentaries of the canons, but it has done an overall excellent job with providing a scholarly and faithful interpretation of this venerable tradition of the Catholic Church called Canon Law.

This commentary of the Canon Law Society of Great Britain and Ireland reminds me of the Homeletic and Pastoral Review -- a magazine which strives to be simultaneously orthodox, pastoral and accessible to the average reader. In my opinion, this commentary is a success for these reasons.

As a canonist who does freelance writing on the side for a variety of popular Catholic publications, and who often finds himself teaching canon law to non-canonists, this is the commentary I most often cite when doing so. Again, because it is orthodox, pastoral and written at a level most Catholics can understand. Its larger print layout only facilitates the ease with which one reads it. For those seeking a commentary for reference purposes, this is the way to go. It is very much like the family Bible one keeps on one's bookshelf.

This is a Commentary on the revised Code of Canon Law, which was promulgated by the Roman Catholic Church in 1983. This particular Commentary is a joint endeavor by the Canon Law Society of Great Britain and Ireland, and the Canadian Canon Law Society. The writers are some of the finest canonists in the English speaking world. Their approach is both pastoral and scholarly. That is, every commentator makes an educated and obvious effort to provide practical answers to contemporary problems of the Christian Faithful today. This is not the first Commentary on the revised Code, but that has its advantage. It includes the benefit of twelve years of public reaction to the Code, once it was enacted to succeed the previous Code of 1917. The word "Catholic" means universal. To provide an organized and comprehensive Commentary on such a Code is a work of staggering proportion. These professional and learned Societies have completed this work and made a tremendous contribution to Catholic Church intellect.

Pastoral ministers are faced with questions and challenges every day and the answers aren't always easy to find. Canon law can provide the answers to some of the most complicated questions, but busy pastoral ministers are often too strapped for time for extensive original research. Kevin McKenna's A Concise Guide To Canon Law offers a clear, concise, easy-to-use reference guide to church law that puts the answers into a convenient, practical, "user friendly" format. This hand reference provides a compact overview of the most important canonical issues facing pastoral ministers today. Arranged by topic, it offers a thorough summary of church law and is complete with reference numbers to relevant canons in the Code of Canon Law. A Concise Guide To Canon Law is an invaluable addition to the pastoral ministry reference shelf and is wonderfully useful introductory guide for students of Canon Law.

This book is not only excellent for its purpose, but it is a wonderful example of the way in which such manuals and guides should be done. The format is clear and concise. It has a Glossary which alone is worth the price of the book! There are indexes and sections on frequently asked questions which will also be of invaluable assistance. Canon Law, like any system of law, can be daunting to anyone not formally schooled in it. Father McKenna knows Canon Law. As a canon lawyer myself, this book makes me realize how extensive his knowledge is. He combines this with his God-given ability to teach and explain, and the reader is so much better for it.

This is an excellent pre-natal book, filled with frank, easy-to-understand information that is really useful to pregnant women. It is an excellent companion book to one of the textbook-style pre-natal books, such as Planning Your Pregnancy and Birth from ACOG (American College of Ob/Gyn). Dr. Smith uses excellent examples, stories, and analogies to explore some of the "mysteries" of childbirth and allow the reader to make sensible decisions regarding her pregnancy. As a practicing Ob/Gyn, I highly recommend this work for anyone who is pregnant and wants to use a practical, medically-sound approach to her situation.

This collection is the epitome of Roman (Civil) Law. The basic principles, institutions, proceedings and controversies of the Civil Law Tradition are contained in this marvelous creation by Justinian. A must-have for any serious lawyer.

This book is only an index, and one must have the British (not the American) translation of the 1983 Code of Canon Law in order to use it properly. That said, this small book is probably the best index of canonical topics available in English. It's quite easy to use. Note: those who get the major British commentary, "The Canon Law: Letter & Spirit" (avail. 1996), will no longer need this separate index volume.

I've read other knowledge management books and they were hard to understand. Knowledge Nirvana, however, is easy to understand. Mr. Kelley uses terrific examples and the book is so well organized, even with a fantastic glossary, which I use often. Thanks so much for writing a knowledge management book that talks about real-life experiences and not just a bunch of theory! I highly recommend! A++!

This book is about the early years of Latvia's independence from the communist domination from Moscow. Latvia is a small country, one of the three Baltic republics that were independent in the inter-war period but where taken over by Soviet forces in June of 1940, after Hitler and Stalin secretly devided Eastern Europe between themselves. Baltic nationalism was probably the strongest of all nationalism within the Soviet Union.

The book opens with a brief historical overview of the Latvian situation, and then proceeds to the nation rebirth. Then the author tackles the problem of establishing democracy in a country with only modest democratic heritage. He round off the book by discussing the economic situation, and the problem of demographics and ethnic relations. The empirical part of the book is a little dated, which is not the author's fault--events change very quickly in that part of the world. But all the same problems remain relevant. In particular, the status of Russians in Latvia and relations with Moscow continue to be the most contentious issues in Latvian politics.

Latvia in Transition, by Juris Dreifelds, is an even-handed and readable treatment of the post-Soviet period in Latvia. Dreifelds asserts that in spite of its stumbling blocks and outright failures on the road to democracy, Latvia-along with Estonia and Lithuania-is a model of successful economic, political, and social transition for its fellow states that once submitted to the aegis of Soviet communism. According to Dreifelds, this transition was made easier by several commonalities shared by the three Baltic nations, but not by other former Soviet republics: 1) they each had the advantage of historical precedent, having experienced two decades of independence between the first and second World Wars; 2) their integration into the USSR was never diplomatically recognized by most Western countries, and therefore their break for independence under the auspices of perestroika was more readily supported by the West and tolerated by the Gorbachev administration; and finally, 3) the ties to Baltic expatriates and their active involvement in the independence movements strengthened the new nations. On the other hand, the so-called "Pribaltika" also faced significant impediments, many of which boiled down to ethnic and ideological rifts which were rooted in the period of Soviet hegemony, and thus it was necessary to evolve rather than merely trying to return to the pre-Soviet status quo. Dreifelds posits that "It is clear that post-communist Latvia is not the country of 1939 altered merely by the normal processes of modernization . . . The obstacles in the way of reforms are formidable. The decades-long discontinuity in the sovereignty of Latvia and its incorporation into the USSR precipitated momentous changes and altered the demographic, economic, political and psychological characteristics of the country." (Dreifelds p. 7)

The tight organization proceeds in a logical manner, starting with a historical overview that is at first brief, for the period from pre-history up to initial independence. Dreifelds then begins to narrow his focus during the independence period, the first Soviet occupation, German occupation, and then incorporation into the USSR. In particular, he devotes much discussion to ethnic issues, and how the various regimes differed in their treatment of different racial minorities. He also underscores how the aftermath of Soviet deportation and the holocaust, along with the importation of Russians laborers to work in Latvian industry, was manifest in the decimation of the ethnic Latvian inhabitants, and how they never regained their majority in the overall populace. All of this background is necessary in order to fully appreciate the events surrounding the reassertion of independence and the impacts to the populace of Latvia, both anticipated and unforseen.

The next couple of chapters delve into the "Latvian national rebirth" in the last half of the 1980s and the subsequent reestablishment of independent sovereignty in the early 1990s. In particular, Dreifelds talks about the role of folk-culture and environmental concerns in the "awakening" that nurtured the latent Latvian nationalism until it reached its full flower in the election of the Latvian Supreme Council in May of 1990, and then the election of the Fifth Saeima in 1993. Of particular note is his attention to the ramifications that this nationalism had on the non-Latvians living in Latvia and the resulting ethnic tensions that rose and fell and then rose again during the first few years of independence. These tensions permeated both the Saeima and the general public.

In fact, the theme of ethnic dichotomy between Latvians and Russians is the underlying current throughout the book, and it drives the coverage in the final chapters of the topics of economic reform, demographics and the establishment of a Latvian national identity. Going back to Dreifelds' initial statement that Latvia's incorporation into the USSR "precipitated changes that profoundly affected the characteristics of the country"-the transformation of the populace from an overwhelming majority of Latvians, to almost equal parts Latvian and Russian, with smaller groups of other ethnic minorities, continues to dramatically affect the way that democracy has unfolded in Latvia. The evidence he presents is compelling and convincing. The examples range from the political arena and the power struggles between Latvian nationalist fractions against Russian fractions and their uneasy coalitions, to the economic issues of privatization and employment and entrepreneurship, to the cultural concerns of determining a national language and the ensuing friction between Latvians and Russians because of the Russians' unwillingness to embrace their official tongue. One of his main contentions about racial dynamics is that all ethnic groups in Latvia perceive themselves as minorities.

Finally, the book concluded with a brief examination of some of the problems that Latvia will continue to face as it wrestles to establish a workable government, constitution and economy, and thus gain international respect. Of greatest concern, according to Dreifelds, is the need for Latvia to be constantly vigilant against its large neighbor to the east, and to develop a strong support network in the West of economic, and if necessary, military backing should Russia become aggressive and once again seek to encompass its former Baltic holdings.

This was an enjoyable and informative read. I discerned only a few deficiencies worthy of comment. On a minor note, a glossary of terms, a map of the Baltic region, and a more extensive index would have added greatly to the usability of the book, especially for readers uninitiated in Baltic geography, culture, history and politics. I couldn't help wishing that this book had been written even five years later, and been able to span through the end of the 1990s, discussing more about economic development and cultural issues after the honeymoon glow of independence had completely worn off. Just the same, this book is excellent for students and other readers wishing to gain a focused understanding of Latvian independence and its political, economic and social implications during the brief period from the late 1980s through the mid 1990s, and it provides as well a thoughtful discussion of the lasting effects of Stalinism and communism on modern Latvia.

Between 1990 and present, there has been a tremendous surge in collecting Russian and Sovjet timepieces, especially in Europe. Still, complete and comprehensive documentation is elusive. So far, two authors have attempted to categorize and document the subject in books.

The book by mr. Levenberg covers mostly the era from 1970 through present. Thereby, the highly interesting timeframe between the 30's and the 70's is overlooked, limiting the usefulness of the book to collectors of fairly recent pieces. If this is your area of interest, I would recommend you to purchase this book. First it is translated from German to English. Furthermore, the quality of the information is of acceptable level, but sometimes lacking interesting details. The horological information (mostly brands and calibers) covers the timeframe nicely. Additional information, e.g. Cyrillic translations are interesting extras for collectors. I have found the price guide to be unrealistically high when used at auctions or watch fairs, so use it with caution.

If you are interested in a broader view on Russian and Sovjet Era (pre 1991) watches, I would recommend to also consider the 2 books in German language by mr. Ceyp. These hardcover, full color books document a wider scope. Volume 1 'Faszination Russische Uhren' covers about the same era as the book by mr. Levenberg but shows more detail, while volume 2 'Faszination Sovjetische Uhren' covers the less recent history in abundance. I would rate these books with 4*. Still, I have not found the the ultimate, definitive book on the subject Russian and Sovjet timepieces.

A wonderful book showing the wide range of timepieces that the Russians produce, and which are now becoming available on the open market. Profusely illustrated and well documented. Includes a short, but very complete, table of cyrillic to english for the various markings one comes across. The only downside - buy two copies. The binding on mine fell apart from so much use. TAF

Great analysis of the evolution of Civil Law. Gives the reader an understanding of the sociological and political context in which institutions arose. To learn more on the topic, consider José de Jesus Ledesma's books in Spanish and Italian. They are great.

While the overall scholarship of the new commentary is impressive, there are some serious, significant and grave errors which compel me not to recommend this book. Instead of relying on sound jurisprudence, this edition degenerates with theological dissent, speculation and confusion. Book Three (the Teaching Office of the Church) is where it begins. The footnote on page 913 in reference to canon 749 on Infallibility attacks ORDINATIO SACERDOTALIS when it says: "the statement by the CDF [Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith] of October 28, 1995, that the teaching to the effect that the Church has no authority to confer priestly ordination on women requires the definitive assent of the faithful since 'it has been set forth infallibly by the ordinary and universal Magisterium' is an exaggeration" Classifying the authortative interpretation of the CDF on Ordinatio Sacerdotalis as being an 'exaggertion' is going well beyond the bounds of judicial commentary and now enters the realm of theological dissent. Cardinal Ratzinger's Responsum ad Dubium (10-28-95) made it clear that while Ordination Sacerdotalis itself was not an EX CATHEDRA statement (like the papal document MUNIFICENTISSIMUS DEUS of Pius XII defining the dogma of the Assumption of Mary in 1950), nevertheless the TEACHING (doctrine) that only baptized males can be ordained (deacons, priests and bishops) IS infallible as it has been a consistent element of the ORDINARY MAGISTERIUM. "All members of the faithful are required to give their assent to the teaching stated therein." The Commentary continues in the footnote to attack the infallibility of the teaching when this is not a canonical issue, rather it is obviously doctrinal and the proper authority (CDF) has made a definitive ruling, not the CLSA.

Canon 752, according to the new Commentary "leaves room for dissent." This is based on the mistranslation of OBSEQUIUM by the Commentary. Ironically, the translated text in the same book reads "religious SUBMISSION of intellect and will" must be given to the authentic Magisterium (as opposed to an ASSENT of faith required of infallible teachings) whereas the commentary below the translated text keeps translating OBSEQUIUM not as SUBMISSION but as "RESPECT" or "DEFERENCE". Austin Flannery, OP, had no problem using SUBMISSION for OBSEQUIUM when he translated LUMEN GENTIUM #25 upon which canon 752 is based.

Another of many examples of an underlying agenda is shown in Book Four as well as Book Three. Canon 914 explicitly and unequivocally mandates First Penance BEFORE First Communion, yet the Commentary (p. 1110) suggests ""if the parents, who have the primary responsibility for the child's catechesis, should determine that their child is not yet ready for first penance but is ready for first communion, the child should not be denied the right to the sacrament." If that is not encouraging the faithful to oppose the law, what is it? Certainly not orthodox teaching or canonically licit behavior.

All in all, it is sad that the good scholarship has to be eclipsed by the creeping heterodoxy and subtle dissent in major portions of the book.

It took me a while to figure out what this Commentary is all about. For one, I am not a catholic and secondly, I did not even know there is such thing as canon law. My curiosity compelled me to research and read more about the topic. In my profession as a foreign medical doctor, I have been trained to search for the "why's" and "how's" of every given thing. The commentary gave me not only a path to follow but ways to understand this so-called canon law, the absolute purpose of which according to its last law is "the salvation of souls". The commentary is very well written in a style and manner that reflects the author(s) intimate knowledge of the complexities of human life and the god that wants to save it. It is not always easy to find books (or commentaries for that matter) that can help one to understand issues, topics and events that are alien in one's mind and faith. The authors have successfully presented opinions and interpretations based on their obvious love and respect for the church they belong and the god they believe. If all laws are approached that way, perhaps not only souls but also lives will be saved as well. My compliments to the writers.

This text is a clear and concise explanation of Canon Law as found in the Code of Canon Law 1983. This text can be used by both the professional Canon Lawyer as well as the pastoral minister in a parish in order to understand what the law means. This text provides the best explanation of the law, which is meant to be used in real situations in the Catholic Church.