Bp Williamson Declaration Of Apology

[SJRod55]

I think they have been elected but they have to 'stand down' from their priestly duties. That was my understanding. The Vatican strongly discouraged their participation in the election but IF they went ahead they had to stop their priestly duties.

[MithLuin]

Holding political office is not something priests can do (according to Canon Law):
[quote]Can. 285 ß1 Clerics are to shun completely everything that is unbecoming to their state, in accordance with the provisions of particular law.


ß2 Clerics are to avoid whatever is foreign to their state, even when it is not unseemly.


[b]ß3 Clerics are forbidden to assume public office whenever it means sharing in the exercise of civil power. [/b]


ß4 Without the permission of their Ordinary, they may not undertake the administration of goods belonging to lay people, or secular offices which involve the obligation to render an account. They are forbidden to act as surety, even concerning their own goods, without consulting their proper Ordinary. They are not to sign promissory notes which involve the payment of money but do not state the reasons for the payment.


Can. 286 Clerics are forbidden to practise commerce or trade, either personally or through another, for their own or another's benefit, except with the permission of the lawful ecclesiastical authority.


Can. 287 ß1 Clerics are always to do their utmost to foster among people peace and harmony based on justice.


ß2 They are not to play an active role in political parties or in directing trade unions unless, in the judgment of the competent ecclesiastical authority, this is required for the defense of the rights of the Church or to promote the common good.


Can. 288 Permanent deacons are not bound by the provisions of canon 284, 285 ßß3 and 4, 286, 287 ß2, unless particular law states otherwise.


Can. 289 ß1 As military service ill befits the clerical state, clerics and candidates for sacred orders are not to volunteer for the armed services without the permission of their Ordinary.[/quote]

Doesn't mean it hasn't happened, of course. In the past (Medieval Church), bishops held political power, raised armies, etc. That is no longer considered appropriate to their station. The pope now says, choose - priest or politician? You can only be one.... So even though it is true that much of the headache with this has been over liberation theology, the practice of running for office is forbidden to priests regardless of their theology or politics.

[url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Drinan"]Rober Drinan, SJ[/url] was the pro-abortion US Congressman. He eventually did not seek re-election because of the pope's gauntlet.

[url="http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E03EED7103AF93BA1575AC0A962958260"]Fr. Jean-Bertrand Aristide[/url] was elected president of Haiti when he challenged the military regime. He was most certainly a proponent of liberation theology.

[url="http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=9702"]Father Fernando Vega[/url] of Ecuador was suspended from his priestly duties by his bishop when he decided to run for elected office. His politics were on the left; I would assume he was involved in liberation theology as well, though I don't know that.

[url="http://www.catholic.org/international/international_story.php?id=21809"]Father Raymond Gravel[/url], on the other hand, had the support of his bishop in Quebec for his political ambitions. [url="http://catholicinsight.com/online/controversy/article_689.shtml"]The Vatican[/url], however, was not impressed. Clearly, the man has caused much scandal with his public views.

[url="http://www.speroforum.com/a/18025/Philippines-Catholic-priests-political-ambitions"]Fr. Eddie Panlilio[/url] currently holds the office of governor in the Philippines, and may run for national office next year. Some news stories refer to him as a 'former' priest, but in the article I linked he seems to think that if he leaves politics he will go back to parish work. I did not find a Vatican comment on that, but I didn't look very hard, either.

[url="http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/06/04/world/main4155669.shtml"]Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann[/url], the current president of the United Nations General Assembly, is indeed a Maryknoll priest. He was one of the priests who was chastized by JPII for his involvement with the Sandinistas, and he was president of Nicaragua himself a few years ago.

[SJRod55]

This is great information. Thank you. It clarifies a lot.

[Nihil Obstat]

Thanks for that info.

[MithLuin]

You're welcome. I really enjoy hunting things down with google.....