Edward N. Peters | |
|---|---|
| Born | Edward Neal Peters 1957 (age 67–68) |
| Alma mater | |
| Occupation | Canonist |
| Website | canonlaw |
Edward Neal Peters (born 1957) is an AmericanCatholiccanonist and serves as areferendary of theApostolic Signatura (an advisor/consultant to theHoly See's top tribunal).[1][2] He was professor ofcanon law at theSacred Heart Major Seminary of theArchdiocese of Detroit from 2005 until 2025, when ArchbishopEdward Weisenburger dismissed him.[3][4][5][6]
Peters was born in 1957 and raised inSt. Louis,Missouri, where he attended theChaminade College Preparatory School from 1970 to 1975. He attendedSaint Louis University, majoring in political science, graduating in 1979.[7][8] He earned hisJuris Doctor degree fromUniversity of Missouri-Columbia School of Law in 1982, during the third year of which he was a teaching assistant in the Legal Research and Writing Program for Tate Hall. After graduation, Peters was admitted to the Missouri Bar Association.[7]
In 1988, Peters earned hisLicentiate of Canon Law degree from theCatholic University of AmericaSchool of Canon Law and was named Quasten Fellow for doctoral studies there, completing doctoral course work in 1990, and defending his doctoral dissertation,Penal Procedural Law in the1983 Code of Canon Law, in August 1991.
Over the next twelve years, Peters served as director of the Office for Canonical Affairs, vice-chancellor and chancellor,Defender of the Bond, and collegial judge for diocesan and appellate tribunals for the dioceses ofDuluth andSan Diego. From May 2001, Peters taught at the (Graduate) Institute for Pastoral Theology inAnn Arbor,Michigan. In 2005, he was appointed to theCardinal Szoka Chair of Canon Law atSacred Heart Major Seminary inDetroit. In 2010, he was named a referendary of theSupreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura byPope Benedict XVI,[8] a consultant, becoming the first layman appointed to that post since the re-establishment of the Signatura early in the 20th century. In 2012, the Vatican named him as an expert consultant to the Synod of Bishops on the New Evangelization.[9]
Peters is married to Angela and they have six children. They enjoy chess, astronomy and classic cinema.[9]
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
