Temporal Goods of the Church

A Canonical Examination of Administrative Acts Concerning Their Ownership and Management

Comments about the book
Anthony Ekpo has provided a tremendously clear, concise, and comprehensive contribution to the proper care of ecclesiastical goods. With scholarly competence and vast experience as an official of the Secretariat of State, he provides practical wisdom in relating “administrative acts” (Book I of the Code of Canon Law) to the administration or management of ecclesiastical goods involving their acquisition, retention, administration, and alienation (Book V of the Code). He keenly relates “canonical theory” with “canonical application.” I am confident that Temporal Goods of the Church: A Canonical Examination of Administrative Acts Concerning Their Ownership and Management will soon become a definitive resource for all who have responsibility to care for Church property throughout the world, especially: bishops, religious superiors, administrators of health care and educational institutions, curial officials, canonists, civil attorneys and financial consultants.

— Monsignor John A. Renken, P.H.M.A. (Civil Law), S.T.D., J.C.D. Dean,
Faculty of Canon Law Saint Paul University, Ottawa

While Fr. Ekpo’s book deals primarily with the provisions concerning the temporal goods of the Church, his study is at the same time a valuable tool for a better understanding of the General Norms of Canon Law on administrative acts.

— Professor Ulrich Rhode, S.J. Dean,
Faculty of Canon Law Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome

This book is unique and original in its approach to the treatment of Book V of the present Code. It offers valuable insight on the Church’s temporal goods, their ownership and management. Enriched by contributions of canonical work written in different languages, this book presents an excellent illustration of the intrinsic connection between the canons of Book I and those of Book V.

— Professor Yuji Sugawara, S.J. Full Professor and former Dean,
Faculty of Canon Law Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome

Anthony Ekpo has written an absolutely remarkable book, canonically and theologically creative and solid. He presents a masterful and realistic panorama of administrative acts with regard to temporal goods of the Church together with the dramatis personae involved in their ownership and management. As all studies in canon law should be, the book is extremely pleasant to read, and I recommend it to anyone who is interested in canon law.

— Professor Rik Torfs Honorary Rector Dean,
Faculty of Canon Law, KU Leuven