Msgr. Fred Easton Role of Law Award Response from 2003

<p>CITATION</p> <p>                    ROLE OF LAW AWARD</p> <p>                     Rev. Lawrence J. O’Keefe</p> <p> As a tantalizing clue to the identity of tonight’s Role of Law Honoree (for those who have not already discovered it), I will tell you at the outset that our recipient is a ham . . . . radio operator and an accomplished musician. We had considered asking him to give us a concert in lieu of an acceptance speech, but this would be too radical a departure from our tradition. Why should we, in contrast to our forebears, be entertained with fine music when we should be listening to a fine talk?</p> <p>Our Society’s Code of Professional Responsibility delineates in rather eloquent terms the qualities to which the canonist  should aspire. He or she is portrayed as, “a person firmly committed to Christ and the Church ... marked by zeal for justice in the Church, aware that while each individual must sacrifice for the common good, true communion is advanced only when the dignity and fundamental rights of each person are held inviolable.” The Professional Responsibility Code further stipulates: “Since the laws of the Church are to be interpreted and administered in the spirit of justice and equity, issuing in charity, the canonist strives to be a person of compassion, emotional balance and sound judgment, committed to the pastoral care of the people of God.”</p> <p>The person whom we honor tonight with the Role of Law Award exemplifies these qualities to a remarkable degree. Having first entered the seminary in 1954, he was ordained a priest in 1966. In 1969 he was awarded a Licentiate in Canon Law from the Lateran University in Rome, and since that time has served as an official of his Archdiocesan Tribunal in one capacity or another. In 1980 he was named as Officialis or Judicial Vicar for his Tribunal, and has filled that post ever since. In August, 1997 he was appointed a Prelate of Honor by Pope John Paul II.</p> <p>Our Honoree has been generous in his service to the Society: He has presented pap