Theology and law

The certificate program “Theology and Law” is primarily aimed at students enrolled in law at the University of Trier. Within the theological curriculum, canon law is a separate discipline. The Codex Iuris Canonici (CIC) regulates church life and the internal affairs of the religious community and provides for separate jurisdiction in many areas (such as for officials, communities, orders, and marriage, but also for dioceses and parishes). At the same time, state church law regulates the relationship between church and state. For law students, the certificate provides a fundamental insight into the history, structure, and objectives of canon law and focuses on the legally regulated relationship between church and state. In addition, socio-ethical and moral-theological issues are examined in order to understand the respective norms of canon law against a theological and ethical background.

The certificate does not replace a degree in theology. With a view to the future professional and operational fields of lawyers, the certificate aims to impart basic theological knowledge and—in the knowledge of the contents and statements of the Codex Iuris Canonici—an additional qualification. The certificate can be particularly useful for work in various advisory activities, for example, in business or on ethics committees, and in the legal departments of dioceses and officialates.