Os Presbíteros Diocesanos o seu Envolvimento na Política: Proibiçāo e Exepção by Domingos Sequeira (review)

274 THE JURIST OS PRESBITEROS DIOCESANOS E O SEU ENVOLVIMENTO NA POLITICA: PROIBKj’AO E EXEPCAO. Estudo historico-canonicoteologico , by Domingos Sequeira. Rome: Pontificia Universita Gregoriana (Tesi Gregoriana—Serie Diritto Canonico 63), 2004. Pp. 384. Sequeira, a professor of canon law at the major seminary of Sts. Peter and Paul in Dili, Timor East, defended this doctoral dissertation at the Gregorian University. The subject develops within the tripartite historical-theological-canonical perspective. Beginning with an analysis of ancient legislative sources, the author identifies canonical norms reg­ ulating the behavior of clergy in the political sphere. Prohibitive norms, in the strict meaning of the term, were formulated only by the end of the fourth century. The Council of Chalcedon (451) established the double norm of “forbidden” and “exception.” However, the author addresses the essential elements for the legislator’s “forbidding” clergy to participate in in politics in the present Code of Canon Law. The sources identified in the work are fairly comprehensive in scope, ranging from primary sources such as ancient sources of discipline, papal motu proprios, and conciliar and post conciliar documents. Sec­ ondary sources include documents on the formulation of the 1917 code, as well as commentaries on the councils, synods, and postconciliar documents. The bibliography contains roughly three hundred twenty entries perti­ nent to the various stages of the development of the work. The entries are listed alphabetically and sequentially in divisions of primary and sec­ ondary sources. The author employed a double methodology: the induc­ tive and the analytic-synthetic. This methodology facilitates the work in reaching its objective: to evidence the theological-juridical sources of the question under discussion. As an aid to readers, it might have been important in the general introduction to clarify the “clergy” addressed in the text (permanent deacons excepted). Chapter four describes this limi­ tation of the term (247-250). The author develops the work in four chapters. In chapter one, “From the beginning of the Christian age to the 1917 Code,” he examines the norms forbidding priests to be active in politics. The research covers three periods: “From the Origins of the Christian Age to the Decree of Gratian (1140)”; “From the Decree of Gratian to the Council of Trent (1140-1563)”; and “From the Council of Trent to the Codification of the 1917 Code”. Chapter two entitled, “From the 1917 Code to Vatican Council II,” ad­ dresses canon 139 of the 1917 code. Provisions forbidding or making ex­ BOOK REVIEWS 275 ceptions permitting priests in politics had not been enunciated explicitly by the legislator at the time of the codification. Already the supplemen­ tary legislation to 1917 code not only forbid political activity on the part of clerics, but also established maximum penalties for transgressors. The prohibitions are based on theological reasons. In chapter three “From the Vatican Council to the 1983 Code” the au­ thor studies the provisions for the involvement of the priests in politics from conciliar documents. According to these texts, the involvement of priests in politics must be cogruent with the mission of the Church, as expressed in Gaudium et spes 42b. This mission entrusted by Christ to his Church is not of a political, economical, or social order, but a reli­ gious order. The fourth and final chapter “The Legislation of the 1983 Code” ana­ lyzes canons 285 §3 and 287 §2, forbidding clergy not only active in­ volvement in politics, but also access to public offices. Sequeira recog­ nizes the need for sound theological consideration and a careful analysis of the semantics of the norms. He employs an exegetical study of the canons with a rather lengthy conclusion. The text contains fine insights into this complex topic and fulfills the goal intended. It is recommended for canonists, particularly teachers and students; for bishops and diocesan officials; for religious superiors of clerical institutes; and especially for diocesan priests. Luis G. S. P e p e u , OFMCap. Diocese ofAfogados da Ingazeira Pernambuco, Brazil EPISCOPAL ORDINATION AND ECCLESIAL CONSENSUS by Sharon L. McMillan. A Pueblo Book. Collegeville, Minnesota: Litur­ gical Press, 2005. Pp. xv+311. $39.95. The author explains her purpose and procedure at the beginning of this book by referring to the intent...