A document goes into legal force when it is promulgated (officially published). In the past, there have been cases of a document not going into force in a certain country because it wasn't officially published there. For example, it is said that the papal decree which suppressed the Jesuit order in 1773 did not take effect in Russia at the time because the Empress Catherine prevented the papal representative in that country from publishing it.

The current GIRM, of course, is contained in every altar copy of the Roman Missal, so it has been published in the United States. I think someone's being facetious if he wants to contend that it needs to be promulgated specifically in each diocese; or if he suggests that an individual diocesan bishop (rather than the nuncio or the bishops' conference) would be the relevant authority to promulgate a document of the Holy See. But that's just my opinion.

I believe the most credentialed and knowledgeable expert on canon law who participates in the forum regularly is Fr. Krisman. Perhaps he could comment on the seminarian's suggestion.

I think many work harder at getting around the rules than they would by simply following them.

"I think many work harder at getting around the rules than they would by simply following them."

This. One cannot *credibly* complain about rubricism when one spends much effort in devising ways to get around rubrics. Another example of the very human tendency to replicate (in mirror image) what we complain about.

This is my extremely recent response to "what ARE they teaching in seminaries?"
We're staffed by two classmates ordained two years ago whose major seminary liturgics courses are taught by a much respected professor who occasionally posts here.
One is a younger, barely GenX, mannerly gentleman, the other a late vocation Boomer that I suspect is very close to my age (63.)
One of these two, both recently assigned, is a very attentive celebrant/homilist who, as a pastoral associate, makes a clear effort to listen deeply, speak softly but in a wisdom that's self-evident, and communicates honestly and directly.
The other gentleman, more recently assigned, has inserted his presence and immense personality into every ministerial pie in the parish, projected that there are myriad deficiences in others (such as "restoring" the Eucharistic Prayer for Masses with Children for school Masses!) and does so with a bluster and fire in every situation requiring collaboration and consensus.
Long story shortened, it may not always be about what is happening and being inculcated at seminary, it may be about discerning what sorts of personalities and psychologies are receiving this input, and the discernment of all superior offices as how to advance and deal with each ordinand's proclivities.
BTW, Hi Paul.

Paul, I prescind as well. And who's Charles?
As for Melofluent, I quoth the famed "Sgt. Schulz," "I know nuhs-zeeng."
The observation by Melofluent is non-specific, meant not to ascribe "fault" to seminaries, bishops, whomever. Peter wasn't Andrew, Matthew wasn't Judas Iscariot, BVM was not Magdalen, in other words, we come in all sorts of flavors.
The really amazing thing about our hierarchical infrastructure at all levels is that the re-assignment of one flavor can effect the local institution across the gamut of magnitude, from zip to Vesuvius. C'est ecclesia, que sera....
Oh, I forgot...apparently because there is still extant a licit version of the EP for Masses with Children, rife with those little accreted embolisms during the Preface and onward, that must mean "Why aren't we doing that?" Uh....

melofluent: inserted his presence and immense personality into every ministerial pie

Must be a clone of a guest who provided
a two year long liturgical mauling, ending last July.

collaboration and consensus

Sigh. Yeah. Lots of those
(but you must make a triple alliteration by prepending another c-word, contrived).
A month into the tenure I was muttering
"Ignorance and enthusiasm is a dangerous cocktail"
and imagining
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/50.41

CDub, you have no idea!
And there was great rejoicing!
I need some fava beans and a nice Kee-an-tee.