The Challenges of Canon Law in the Church of the Third Millennium: Reflections on His “Sociality” from the Italian Doctrine

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

 Research question is clear, but your conclusion can be better explained. I understand that in your opinion canon law can and must adapt to social changes while maintaining its core principles. I suggest to state this explicitly in the introduction and reiterate it throughout the essay. Pay attention to  explain better the historical connections. It seems to me that going from Gasparri to the digital age could be a good suggestion, but it is not very clear how Gasparri spirit can help to fit the Third Millennium agenda.  In other words, while the Gasparri quote is a good starting point, consider adding a more direct statement of your thesis or research question. What specific aspect of the canon law-sociality relationship are you exploring? Do you know Marco Ventura essay on canon law as a "social law"?  I think that referring to the digital challenge is important and timely: why not expand it providing more specific examples of how digital technology is impacting canon law (e.g., online sacraments). Use your references on the "weaknesses in its practical application" that were exposed during the pandemic  and better better explain this point.

Some specific points: The transition from Aldo Moro to the challenges of canon law's "openness to the new" feels a bit abrupt. Make a smoother connection.  In Section2 (The Adaptability of Canon Law), try to provide more concrete examples of how "aequitas," "gratia," and "tolerari potest" are applied in practice.  Section 3 (Canon Law and New Paradigms): when discussing the "preliminary factors" for evangelization, clearly articulate how these factors relate to the concept of "sociality."; expand on the "paradigm shifts" section, providing more specific examples of how each paradigm influenced canon law (in Regno att. you can find a debate on canon law reformability - Pree, Berlingò et aa. - that can give you some ideas.

Don't leave out at all the topic of synodality. It is very important to face it especially related to  future social changes. The Adec 2022 Conference addressed this topic, and it doesn't seem to me that you took it into account. 

Comments on the Quality of English Language

English can be improved, for example, breaking down long paragraphs into shorter ones.

Author Response

The text was modified, both in title and content, in order to respond adequately to all the suggestions made. In addition, the translation was entrusted to an interpreter and translator, in order to improve the language and its rendering. All changes are highlighted in yellow.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The paper contains many Italian neologisms that are not, in fact, words in English. While the concepts might exist, words like "flexibilization" and "flexibilizing" are not standard terms in English. 

The paper appears to be rooted in an Italian context, as the mention of the "Constituent Assembly" and the refernece to Aldo Moro in the second paragraph would indicate. However, this is never clearly stated, possibly because the original audience was intended to be Italian. However, if the paper is to be accessible to a broader audience, such references should be explained. 

Comments on the Quality of English Language

The paper is full of Italian neologisms that are not actual words in standard English. The paper bears the hallmarks of a mechanical translation, rather than one done with care to insure that the original ideas were properly communicated in a new language. 

Author Response

The text was modified, both in title and content, in order to respond adequately to all the suggestions made. In addition, the translation was entrusted to an interpreter and translator, in order to improve the language and its rendering. All changes are highlighted in yellow.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

I have no more comments.

Author Response

I thank you for the reference and send the text with the latest corrections highlighted in yellow

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The paper could be improved by developing the argument more organically throughout the paper, rather than saving all of the major points for the "conclusion" section. It would take simple modifications to integrate the theme that the digital era will require more (and possibly more frequent) updating of canon law, which appears to be one of the major points of the paper. How this relates to Aldo Moro's understanding of "sociality" could also be better stated at the beginning of the paper, so the reader can be brought more into the author's argument from the beginning, and then watch the argument develop throughout the paper. 

Comments on the Quality of English Language

There are still passages that appear to be a 'strict' or even 'mechanical' translation from Italian, rather than a fluid rendering of the Italian into English. The title of the conclusion section should be translated (it currently reads "Conclusioni"). 

Author Response

I thank you for the reference and send the text with the latest corrections highlighted in yellow

Author Response File: Author Response.docx