Please do not try to interpret canon law at home...

... without proper training, supervision, and humility. Here is Dr. Ed Peters over at "In Light of the Law":

Even canon law is dangerous in the hands of amateurs The answer to a canonical question is seldom found in a single canon.

A simple observation, one would think, but it is routinely overlooked by canonical amateurs, often with inconsequential results of course, but sometimes with ludicrous ones. Take, for example, a recent post by one “skellmeyer” who, citing Canon 253, suggests that Dr. Janet Smith is unqualified to teach in a Catholic seminary!

Skellmeyer, apparently upset with Christopher West’s presentations of TOB, has attacked Smith, a prominent West defender, on the basis that, if she is unqualified to teach in a Catholic seminary, she's probably also unqualified to defend West. We’ll come back to what one’s teaching in a seminary doesn’t have to do with one’s defense of West/TOB below, but for now, let’s look at Skellmeyer’s questioning of Smith’s eligibility to teach in a seminary.

Canon 253 § 1, upon which Skellmeyer relies, states “The bishop or bishops [in charge of a seminary] are to appoint to the function of teacher in philosophical, theological, and juridic disciplines only those who are outstanding in virtue and have obtained a doctorate or licentiate from a university or faculty recognized by the Holy See.” Obviously this canon is relevant to assessing credentials for seminary appointments, although how exactly Skellmeyer concludes that Canon 253 is “among the most roundly ignored canons [sic] in canon law”, escapes me. I can think of several other candidates for that dubious distinction. But let that pass.

Read the entire post.

Comments

[John Herreid]

Oh, hey! I think that's the same skellmeyer (or Steve Kellmeyer) who wasted many a pixel five or so years ago attempting to prove that Ignatius Press was promoting Gnosticism.

Now I feel all nostalgic. Good to see that he's continued as a scholar of all doctrines and master of none.

[Dale Price]

That was an impressive beatdown.

[Mark Shea]

He's also been busy trying to persuade his reader(s?) that Bishop Jenky is conspiring to destroy Ken Howell, despite the fact that the diocese is trying to help Howell. A guy in his combox tries to make him see a little reason and charity, but the Judge of All Mortal Flesh will have none of it. The great and terrible Skellmeyer has weighed the bishop in the balance and found him wanting--a fairly predictable outcome whenever Steve discusses any person not blessed enough to be Steve.

[tantumblogo]

After reading your unprovoked and uncharitable comments towards Father Eutenaur, (re: Harry Potter) I find this comment just delicious.

Pot. This is kettle. Meet black.

Let the circular firing squad commence.

[Mrs.O]

Dr Peter's has a valid point - that did not help his argument.
Still waiting for answers from him (West) regarding what other critics have brought to light.