Section — Bucceroni, Institutions of Moral Theology
On Cooperation
To number 446, at the end. ON COOPERATION
"Some Ordinaries of Italy having asked whether priests can undertake the office of councillor in administrative matters either of municipalities or of civil provinces, and to this end accept being proposed as candidates in elections, the S. C. Consist., ... judged that it should be answered that it is not lawful, unless by the previous consent both of the proper Ordinary of each priest and of the Ordinary of the place in which the administrative mandate is to be exercised; notwithstanding anything to the contrary." S. C. Consist., 8 June 1914. The same response was given for France by the S. Congr. NN. EE. EE., 2 Apr. 1906, S. C. Consistor., 19 May 1913. "From several dioceses of Italy, especially northern Italy, serious complaints have reached the Apostolic See concerning the harms which that institution or association, which is called syndicalism, inflicts even upon the class itself of workers and farmers, since, among other things, in act and in reality it defects into social conflict. Wherefore, to forestall, as far as is lawful, so great an evil, our Most Holy Lord, Pope Pius X, commanded this sacred Congregation to make known to the aforesaid Ordinaries of Italy his mind and firm judgment, that priests, with every exception of persons and places removed, cannot give their name to these syndicalist associations, or once given keep it in them, exercise any office in them, and give speeches or exhortations in their aid: from all of which all priests are to be prohibited, lest they themselves seem to be participants in the evils which often flow from that institution. "That I may carry out the commands of the Most Holy Lord, I communicate these things with the Ordinaries whom it concerns, that they may provide opportunely according to the variety of cases. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary. "Given at Rome, from the Secretariat of the sacred Consistorial Congregation, on the day 20 June 1914. -
C. Card. De Lai, Bishop of Sabina, Secretary.
I. Bapt. Rosa, Substitute."