I would rather not post here, although I have in the past, but since I may be able to get some direction I feel it is worth this post.

At Fr. Mike's suggestion I made an inquiry with the Canon Law Society of America about getting some English translations made from my Latin Rotal decisions, the final one having just recently been sent to me from Rome. I was even very hesitant to contact the CLSA but I thought it was worth a try. But, since I have heard nothing in response from the e-mail I sent quite a few days ago I will presume I will likely get no reply.

For personal reasons I will not contact either of the American Tribunals involved in our case. I have attempted to contact some people at Fordham University but as yet have been unsuccessful. I am awaiting a price quote from a translation service but if it is in the ballpark of the posted prices I have seen for Latin translations on the internet it will be way, way beyond my means. I would be happy to pay for the translations but at the prices I have seen published I would need to take out a loan or get another job to pay for it, which I cannot do in my present circumstances.

Does anyone who follows these threads know of anyone competent in the Translation of Latin to English? Perhaps there is a retired priest who might feel up to the challenge somewhere that one of you know of.

I do not have a computer at home and thus cannot use the Latin translation program, at "Quicklatin", that I have seen on the web.

By the way, the decisions are double-spaced and total about 40 pages for both the first and second instance cases. There is some Italian in the third instance decision, which I would need translated as well. I tried to use the "google" translation program but it did not seem to have a sufficient lexicon for the vocabulary it was faced with translating.

If you can be of any help, please reply. Thank you.

Karl

-- Karl (Parkerkajwen@hotmail.com), January 15, 2004

Answers

Of course, after having posted this I checked my e-mails again to find that I had received, actually while I was in the process of posting my question, a reply from the CLSA. They have put me on to a priest who may be willing to give this a shot and who is fluent in the required languages. Please still reply to my query as I do not know if this lead will pan at but I just wanted to set the record straight so I would not leave the incorrect impression of the CLSA in this instance. Thank you. Thank you Fr. Mike. Karl

-- Karl (Parkerkajwen@hotmail.com), January 15, 2004.

Karl,

Is this your personal case? What was the result?

Pat

-- Pat Delaney (pat@patdelaney.net), January 15, 2004.

In case any of you ever know of someone who wants a Latin translation done, I was able to contact a priest, in South Dakota, who has expressed an interest in giving the translation a try. He has never seen a Rotal decision but has translated numerous other official Church documents from Latin.

Hopefully, having the two decisions I sent to him will give him sufficient practice to become proficient with these and will allow him, if he can spare the time, to help others with similar requests.

Karl

-- Karl (Parkerkajwen@hotmail.com), January 16, 2004.

Karl,

I'm working on having Rotal decision translating done on a grand scale in the coming year. I'm not sure yet if I should be paying a service, or perhaps hiring students. It will depend on the feedback I get from the potential publishers.

God bless you for your perseverance toward justice. Seeking the truth will always be pleasing to God.

God bless,

-- Pat Delaney (pat@patdelaney.net), January 16, 2004.

I'm not sure yet if I should be paying a service, or perhaps hiring students.

They don't teach Latin in law school? They used to teach it in nursing & pharmacy. I don't know why it was stopped. It would be incredibly handy & practical for all three professions.

P.S.: What's the difference between a dead snake on the road and a dead lawyer on the road?

There are skid marks in front of the snake.

(ba-DUM-bum)

Thank you, you're marvelous. Please tip your waitress.

-- jake (j@k.e), January 16, 2004.

Jake, any Latin taught in law or medical schools today is likely to be very specific to the profession--not a language course per se. I would think that maybe one could try some Catholic high schools and colleges to find a real Latin professor.

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), January 16, 2004.

The prep school students at my alma mater regularly win at the national level in Latin scholarship contests. I myself had three years of Latin in high school and a year in college, but have not stayed with it though.

-- Pat Delaney (pat@patdelaney.net), January 17, 2004.