Very Rev. Prof. Ian Waters is a Senior Fellow of Catholic Theological College, and a member of the Department of Moral Theology and Canon Law. He lectures in Canon Law. He is a former Director of Calvary Ministries, and a former Director of St John of God Australia Limited.

Ian Waters holds the degrees of Master of Church Administration from the Catholic University of America, Licentiate in Canon Law from St Paul University, Ottawa, Master of Canon Law from St Paul University, Ottawa, Doctor of Canon Law from St Paul University, Ottawa, Doctor of Philosophy: Canon Law from the University of Ottawa.

He is the Emeritus Judicial Vicar (Presiding Judge) of the Catholic Tribunal for Victoria and Tasmania; and a former President of the Canon Law Society of Australia & New Zealand. He chaired the Melbourne Diocesan Historical Commission for twenty-five years; and is a Diocesan Censor of the Archdiocese of Melbourne.

His academic interests lie in research associated with the following bodies: the Canon Law Societies of Australia and New Zealand, of Great Britain and Ireland, and of America; Brisbane Catholic Historical Society, Australian Catholic Historical Society. His current academic interests are Church Governance, and the Administration of the Sacraments.

His recent publications include: “The Law of Secrecy in the Latin Church” in The Canonist (2016); “Eastern Catholic Churches in Australia: Canonical Issues for Catholic Clergy and Pastoral Workers” in Australasian Catholic Record (2016); “The Seal of Confession” in Australasian Catholic Record (2017); and “The Plenary Council and Canon Law” in Australasian Catholic Record (2018).

University Appointments

External Affiliations

• Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne (Diocesan Censor)