Doctor of Canon Law (Latin: Juris Canonici Doctor; J.C.D.) is the doctoral-level terminal degree in the studies of canon law of the Roman Catholic Church. Only pontifical universities and ecclesiastical faculties of canon law may grant the doctorate in canon law.

It may also be abbreviated I.C.D. (Iuris Canonici Doctor), D.C.L., D.Cnl., D.D.C., or D.Can.L. (Doctor of Canon Law). Doctor of both laws (i.e. canon and civil) are J.U.D. (Juris Utriusque Doctor), or U.J.D. (Utriusque Juris Doctor).

A doctorate in canon law normally requires at least two years of additional study and the development and defense of an original dissertation that contributes to the development of canon law after having earned the degree licentiate of canon law.

The licenciate of canon law is a three-year degree, the prerequisite for the study of which is normally the graduate level bachelor of sacred theology (S.T.B.), a master of divinity (M.Div.), a master of arts in Catholic theology (M.A.), or a doctor of civil law degree (J.D.) and a bachelor's degree in canon law (J.C.B.) or its relative equivalent.

While not a civil law degree, the doctor of canon law is in some ways comparable to the doctor of juridical science (J.S.D.) in terms of academic level of study.

Members of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, Auditors of the Tribunal of the Roman Rota, judicial vicars, ecclesiastical judges, defenders of the bond, and promoters of justice, must possess either a doctorate or license in canon law. Either of the degrees is recommended for those who serve as vicar general or episcopal vicar in a diocese. Candidates for bishop must either possess the doctorate in canon law or the doctorate in sacred theology or be truly expert in one of those fields.

The Catholic Church has the oldest continuously used homogenous legal system in the world. Many of the medieval universities of Europe had faculties of canon law (e.g., Cambridge and Oxford). Since the Protestant Reformation, however, they became limited to those universities which retained Catholic faculties (e.g., Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum), Gregorian University, Catholic University of Louvain). Other Catholic universities with ecclesiastical faculties in canon law were subsequently given the ability to grant the degree (e.g., The Catholic University of America, University of Saint Paul). The University of Santo Tomas in Manila, Philippines, has been awarding the degree since 1734.

Noted Doctors of Canon Law

• Antonetti, Lorenzo, President emeritus of Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See

• Arregui Yarza, Antonio, Metropolitan Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Guayaquil (Ecuador): awarded a Doctorate in Canon Law by the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum)^[1]

• Azpiroz Costa, Carlos Alfonso O.P., Master of the Order of Preachers: awarded a Doctorate in Canon Law by the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum)^[2]

• Benedict XV, Pope

• Bertone, Tarcisio, Cardinal, Secretary of State and Camerlengo

• Bevilacqua, Anthony, Cardinal, Archbishop emeritus of Philadelphia (USA)

• Bovone, Alberto, late Cardinal, Prefect emeritus of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints: awarded a Doctorate in Canon Law by the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum)

• Brady, Seán, Cardinal Archbishop of Armagh (Ireland)

• Burke, Raymond Leo, Archbishop of Saint Louis

• Cafardi, Nicholas P., Dean emeritus and Professor of Law of the Duquesne University School of Law (USA): awarded a Doctorate in Canon Law by the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum)^[3]

• Caffarra, Carlo, Cardinal, Archbishop of Bologna (Italy)

• Castrillón Hoyos, Darío, Cardinal, President of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei

• Monsignor Joseph Devlin, Assistant Professor of Religion, La Salle University

• Dunn, Kevin John, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle (England): awarded a Doctorate in Canon Law by the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum)^[4]

• Egan, Edward, Cardinal, Archbishop of New York (USA)

• Felici, Angelo, President Emeritus of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei

• Gänswein, Georg, private secretary to Pope Benedict XVI

• Heim, Bruno Bernard, late Titular Archbishop of Xanthus, Apostolic Nuncio emeritus to Great Britain, prominent armorists of twentieth century ecclesiastical heraldry

• Herranz, Julián, Cardinal, President emeritus of the Pontifical Council for the Interpretation of Legislative Texts: awarded a Doctorate in Canon Law by the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum)^[5]

• Keeler, William, Archbishop emeritus of Baltimore (USA)

• Kelly, Thomas Cajetan O.P., Archbishop emeritus of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Louisville (USA): awarded a Doctorate in Canon Law by the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum)^[6]

• Lazzarotto, Giuseppe, Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland

• Listecki, Jerome Edward, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of La Crosse, Wisconsin (USA): awarded a Doctorate in Canon Law by the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum)^[7]

• Lyndwood, William

• McCarthy, Edward A., late Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Miami, Florida, and namesake of Archbishop Edward A. McCarthy High School in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

• Migliore, Celestino Archbishop, Apostolic Nuncio and Permanent Observer, Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations

• Moverley, Gerald, late Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Hallam (England): awarded a Doctorate in Canon Law by the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum)^[8]

• Oddi, Silvio, Cardinal, Prefect emeritus of the Congregation for the Clergy: awarded a Doctorate in Canon Law by the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum)^[9]

• Smith, Peter, Metropolitan Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cardiff (Wales): awarded a Doctorate in Canon Law by the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum)^[10]

• Polti Santillán, Francisco, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Santiago del Estero (Argentina)

• Re, Giovanni Battista, Cardinal, Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops

• Rossi, Bernard P.H., Priest of Saint Michael's Parish in Burnaby, British Columbia (Archdiocese of Vancouver)^[11]

• Sodano, Angelo, Cardinal Secretary emeritus of State

• Tauran, Jean-Louis, Cardinal, President of Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue

• Vithayathil, Varkey C.Ss.R., Cardinal, Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly (India): awarded a Doctorate in Canon Law by the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum)^[12]

Footnotes

See also

• Doctor of Canon and Civil Law

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