Code_of_Canon_Law

Can. 285 §1 Clerics are to shun completely everything that is unbecoming to their state, in
accordance with the provisions of particular law.
§2 Clerics are to avoid whatever is foreign to their state, even when it is not unseemly.
§3 Clerics are forbidden to assume public office whenever it means sharing in the exercise of
civil power.
§4 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 §1 Clerics are always to do their utmost to foster among people peace and harmony
based on justice.
§2 They are not to play an active role in political parties or in directing trade unions unless, in
the judgement of the competent ecclesiastical authority, this is required for the defence of the
rights of the Church or to promote the common good.
Can. 288 Permanent deacons are not bound by the provisions of cann. 284, 285 §§3 and 4, 286,
287 §2, unless particular law states otherwise.
Can. 289 §1 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.
§2 Clerics are to take advantage of exemptions from exercising functions and public civil offices
foreign to the clerical state, which are granted in their favour by law, agreements or customs,
unless their proper Ordinary has in particular cases decreed otherwise.
CHAPTER IV : LOSS OF THE CLERICAL STATE
Can. 290 Sacred ordination once validly received never becomes invalid. A cleric, however,
loses the clerical state:
1° by a judgement of a court or an administrative decree, declaring the ordination invalid;
2° by the penalty of dismissal lawfully imposed;
3° by a rescript of the Apostolic See; this rescript, however, is granted to deacons only for grave
reasons and to priests only for the gravest of reasons.