Joseph B. Johnson (“Lay Preaching at Eucharistic Liturgies: The Law and Its Critiques”) discusses the law presently in force on lay preaching at Eucharistic liturgies. First, he examines the 1917 Code of Canon Law and other pertinent legislations, including the teachings of the Second Vatican Council and post-conciliar documents on liturgical reform. He then investigates the 1983 Code of Canon Law provisions together with dicasterial documents and particular legislations enacted by the national conferences of bishops in the Philippines and the United States. After expounding on the prevailing law, Johnson presents the “nominal” and “functional” objections raised by some canonists. These objections are found deficient on theological grounds—since the Eucharistic liturgy is an official act of worship by the Church, “it is carried out … by persons legitimately designated and through acts approved by the authority of the Church” (canon 834, §2). This means the homily at Mass can only be given by a person capacitated by sacred ordination to preach in the name of the Church. Such theological rationale, however, raises questions regarding the principle of equality articulated in canon 208: “… there exists among all the Christian faithful a true equality regarding dignity and action by which they all cooperate in the building up of the Body of Christ according to each one’s own condition and function.” When status rather than competence determines who can give the homily, how does that serve the purpose of building up the Church? – from the Editor’s Preface