He is the author of numerous articles and the following books:

• A Concise Guide to Your Rights in the Catholic Church (paperback)
• You Did It For Me (paperback)
• A Concise Guide to Canon Law (paperback),
• A Concise Guide to Catholic Social Teaching (paperback),
• The Ministry of Law in the Church Today (paperback),
• The Ministry of Law in the Church Today (hardcover),
• Church Finance Handbook  (hardcover).

Also see

by Kevin E. McKenna
Paperback  /  July 2006

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This book is a handy reference guide for anyone who wishes to learn more about their rights and obligations in the Catholic Church. In it, Fr. McKenna lays out contemporary issues and then situates them within the framework of Catholic teaching. Some of the questions that the book answers:

• Can parents be denied the sacrament of baptism for their children?
• Can co-habitating Catholics be denied the sacrament of matrimony?
• Can Catholics be denied the Church's funeral rites?
• Can Catholics who serve in public office be denied Communion for expressing opinions contrary to the Church's teaching?
• May Catholics form or join labor unions?
• May parishioners overrule the decision of a bishop to close a parish?

Other books in the series are A Concise Guide to Canon Law and A Concise Guide to Catholic Social Teaching.

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by Kevin E. McKenna
Paperback  /  April 2005 

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One of the great secrets of the Catholic Church has been its Catholic social teaching. The teachings about social justice are not as well known or understood as the doctrinal beliefs and confessional faith of the Catholic Church.

Catholic social teaching is strongly rooted in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ who proclaimed a gospel of love, justice, and a special concern for the poor, the hungry stranger and the outcast. The social teachings of the Church give clear guidance and practical ways to live "the Message." For example, many of the social justice encyclicals contain scriptural warrants given by Christ ("as often as you did it for the least of my brethren, you did for me"), combined with an analysis of a particular contemporary problem, concluding with concrete applications.

You Did It for: Care of Your Neighbor as a Spiritual Practice evolves from the seven specific themes of social teaching and provides in each chapter an "extended meditation" on one of the themes.

Editorial Review

Carol Blank (Columbia, MD, USA)
Catholic Social Teaching: What, Why, and How, April 3, 2005
Fr. McKenna, who holds a doctorate in canon law, brings to life the practical elements of Catholic social teaching as addressed in Church documents and pronounced throughout sacred scripture. Separate chapters are devoted to each of the social teaching themes defined by the U.S. Catholic bishops: respect for the life and dignity of each person; call to family, community, and participation; rights and responsibilities of the human person; option for and with the poor and vulnerable; dignity of work and the rights of workers; solidarity; and care of God's creation.

Throughout, Fr. McKenna remains focused on integration of prayer and action in Christian life. "Doing works of justice should not be separated from a vital and personal relationship with Jesus Christ," he writes. "But neither should a life of prayer be immune or separated from concrete, practical efforts at living the teachings that Jesus proclaimed." This integration of prayer and action is exemplified in the personal stories that open each chapter. In addition to these stories and examination of church documents and scripture, each chapter contains reflections and questions for discussion.

Susan Mooney Hickey (St. Salome Church, Irondequoit, NY, USA)
Taking Back The Social Gospel, ISM CharISM, September 2006
How often have you seen a homeless man on Main Street, pushing a shopping cart loaded with his precious possessions? Maybe while driving through downtown, you've found yourself surprised and disturbed at the number of places that advertise "payday loans" and "check cashing" at high rates. You may sympathize with the poor, but what can you do to really improve their lives? And what can you do about other important social issues?

You Did It For Me by Father Kevin McKenna, describes how we can care for each other in practical everyday ways and also affect long term social change. Pope John Paul II and many other church leaders have made the case that social justice is an important message from the gospels, completely compatible with our spiritual lives. Father McKenna illustrates this as he tells the real-life stories of seven average Catholics in our diocese who decided to be movers and shakers for Christ.

We read about Bob who retired from a career in business and now helps out at a men's homeless shelter. Father Jim works with Project Rachel, assisting women who request counseling after having had an abortion. We are also introduced to Sister Beth, a former teacher who decided to establish a neighborhood credit union in the city for low income residents.

In these and other accounts of good stewardship and generosity, readers can imagine using their own talents to improve the quality of life for everyone. Prayer is wonderful, and a deep spiritual life is surely every Christian's goal, but in this book we are reminded that Jesus also called us to help our neighbor.

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A Concise Guide To Canon Law
A Practical Handbook For Pastoral Ministries

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Pastoral ministers are faced with new questions and challenges every day, and answers aren't always easy to find. Canon law can provide the answers to some of the most complicated questions, but busy pastoral ministers don't always know where or how to find those answers. What's needed is a clear, concise, easy-to-use reference guide to church law, one that puts the answers right at your fingertips.

A Concise Guide to Canon Law will do just that. This handy reference provides a compact overview of the most important canonical issues facing pastoral ministers today. Arranged by topic, it offers a thorough summary of church law -including such topics as the sacraments and church organization - and is complete with reference numbers to relevant canons in the Code of Canon Law. Helpful sections of "frequently asked questions and answers" at the end of the chapters make finding answers to the most often-asked questions even easier.

With more and more lay people becoming involved with church administration, and with members of parishes and faith communities raising more complex and complicated questions, Understanding church law is vital and A Concise Guide to Canon Law makes it easy.

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A Concise Guide to Catholic Social Teaching

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A Timely Resource for Understanding, Teaching, and Implementing Catholic Social Teaching

As parishes and schools intensify efforts to promote Catholic social teaching, here is a welcome distillations of social principles presented in both papal encyclicals and pastoral letters developed by American bishops.

Following the structure of the U.S. bishops document Sharing Catholic Social Teaching, the book speaks to seven significant themes:

• Life and the Dignity of the Human Person
• Call to Family, Community, and Participation
• Rights and Responsibilities
• Option for the Poor and Vulnerable
• The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers
• Solidarity
• Care for God's Creation

Each chapter includes reflection questions ideal for individual or group usage, and an appendix offers biographical information about popes who have issued social encyclicals, suggested homily themes and a Reconciliation Service for Justice and Peace.

Sure to become an invaluable resource for all pastoral ministers, A Concise Guide to Catholic Social Teaching is also suitable for parish adult study groups, and high school and college classes on Catholic social teaching.

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This book is a beautifully written treatise on man-legislated law in the Roman Catholic Church today. It includes an invaluable historical perspective that could be complete all on its own. Father McKenna uses the ever controversial issues of confidentiality, marriage annulment and human rights, to explore the concepts of law underlying the complex workings of this universal church. Catholic Canon Law, set out in the Code of Canon Law, is probably the only universal system of law in the world. Despite the global nature and dimensions of our world today, that is a complicated concept. This dissertation sets out the map for the basic concepts and leaves the reader hoping Father McKenna explores more such issues in the future.

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Order this book from

about this title
This book is a beautifully written treatise on man-legislated law in the Roman Catholic Church today. It includes an invaluable historical perspective that could be complete all on its own. Father McKenna uses the ever controversial issues of confidentiality, marriage annulment and human rights, to explore the concepts of law underlying the complex workings of this universal church. Catholic Canon Law, set out in the Code of Canon Law, is probably the only universal system of law in the world. Despite the global nature and dimensions of our world today, that is a complicated concept. This dissertation sets out the map for the basic concepts and leaves the reader hoping Father McKenna explores more such issues in the future.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
Chancellor of the Diocese of Rochester, NY, and professor of pastoral studies at St. Bernard's Institute, McKenna offers a positive examination of modern Church law and canonical tradition, treating the law as a needed ministry of service and communion and emphasizing the rights of all members. Historical perspective informs his review of post-Vatican II developments on practical issues such as human rights, confidentiality of church records, annulments, collaborative pastoral planning through diocesan synods, and reconciliation via alternative dispute resolution. The gospel injunction to use a variety of gifts in the same spirit underlies the law. A synodal survey from the Diocese of Rochester is included, along with practical suggestions. Recommended for Catholic collections serving pastoral needs and for laity seeking current information on the reasoning behind Church law today.
Anna M. Donnelly, St. John's Univ. Lib., Jamaica, NY
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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The Dallas Charter and Due Process
Kevin E McKenna; America; Sep 16, 2002; Vol. 187, Iss. 7; pg. 7, 5

Confessions of a canonist
Kevin E McKenna; America; Feb 28, 1998; Vol. 178, Iss. 6; pg. 5, 3

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