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Ecclesia Dei Member Considers Lifting of Excommunication

BORDEUX, France, 27 JAN.2009 (Zenit.org).- The lifting of excommunication for four bishops of the Society of St. Pius X is just the beginning of a process of dialogue with the traditionalist group, says a member of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei. On 24 January 09, the Pope revoked the excommunication of the four bishops illegitimately ordained by Marcel Lefebvre in 1988: they had incurred the excommunication "latae sententiae," meaning that it was activated automatically by what they did. However, the four bishops are still suspended "a divinis," which means that they may not exercise their ministry in the Catholic Church, and their community remains in a state of schism.

Cardinal Jean-Pierre Ricard, archbishop of Bordeux, is part of the pontifical commission established by Pope John Paul II in 1988 to facilitate the full ecclesial communion of people linked with the Society of St. Pius X but who desire to remain united to the Pope in the Church.

The commission was established in response to the initial excommunication of the four bishops freed of that sanction on Wednesday. They were excommunicated because the founder of the Society, Marcel Lefebvre, ordained them bishops without papal approval.

But the decree lifting the excommunication is not the end of the road leading to the group's full communion with the Church, clarified Cardinal Ricard in a statement made public by the French bishops' conference on Saturday.

Long road

In fact, he explained, there are two fundamental issues still to be resolved before the schism can be considered healed: "the integration of the juridical structure of the Fraternity of St. Pius X in the Church" and "agreement in dogmatic and ecclesiological questions."

Among these issues to consider, Cardinal Ricard noted the issue of the Second Vatican Council and its acceptance as a "magisterial text of primary importance. This is fundamental."

The prelate also referred to cultural and political difficulties, including "unacceptable declarations from Bishop Williamson negating the drama of the extermination of the Jews."

The cardinal was referring to uproar caused by Bishop Richard Williamson, one of the bishops whose excommunication was lifted, in an interview in which the bishop claimed that historical evidence denies the gassing of Jews in Nazi concentration camps.

Cardinal Ricard affirmed that with issues such as these, "the road will undoubtedly be long, and will demand better understating and mutual esteem. But the lifting of the excommunication will permit walking it together."

Papal generosity

The step of lifting the excommunication came after various requests from Bishop Bernard Fellay, superior-general of the Society of St. Pius X. In particular, that bishop wrote a letter Dec. 15 to Cardinal Dario Castrillón Hoyos, president of Ecclesia Dei. The letter, cited by the Congregation for Bishops decree lifting the excommunication, assures of the society bishops' adherence to the Pope and the Church.

Benedict XVI, Cardinal Ricard said, "has wanted to go as far as possible with his hand extended, as an invitation to reconciliation." This, he added, is part of his mission to "do everything possible to re-weave the torn threads of ecclesial unity."

"The Pope, theologian and historian of theology, knows the drama that schism represents in the Church," the prelate said. "He understands the question that often arises in the history of schism: Were all of the means to avoid it truly employed?"

Cardinal Ricard further noted: "The Pope knows well this case, since John Paul II charged him with getting in contact with Bishop Lefebvre to try to stop him from committing the irremediable act of the episcopal consecrations.

"The then Cardinal Ratzinger was marked by the failure of that mission."

Cardinal Ricard expressed his confidence that "the dynamic stirred up by the lifting of the excommunication helps the starting-up of the dialogue desired by the Pope" and he asked the faithful to "pray for Christian unity."

"Let us not forget," the prelate said, "that the surest road to advance in the unity of the disciples of Christ continues being prayer."

"hope that this act will consolidate reciprocal relations of trust and to intensify and stabilize the relations" between the society and the Holy See."

Q: Why were the Society of St. Pius X bishops excommunicated?

A: Canon 1013 of the 1983 Code of Canon Law provides that no bishop may consecrate anyone as bishop unless it is first established that a pontifical mandate has been issued. Canon 1382 goes on to provide that where a bishop consecrates a bishop without a pontifical mandate both the consecrating bishop and the bishop who receives consecration incur a "latae sententiae" excommunication. A "latae sententiae" penalty is one that is incurred automatically as soon as one commits an offence, without the need for any process to impose it. As there is no need for a process, an ecclesiastical authority will sometimes declare the penalty, which means that a formal declaration is issued stating that this penalty has taken effect.

When Archbishop Lefebvre consecrated these four as bishops on June 30, 1988, he did so without a pontifical mandate. Therefore, by the very act of carrying out this consecration, both Archbishop Lefebvre and the four bishops being consecrated incurred an automatic excommunication. On July 1, 1988, the prefect of the Congregation for Bishops declared the penalty to have taken effect.

Q: What was their status when they were excommunicated?

A: The fact that this consecration was prohibited by the law of the Church and that the penalty of excommunication applied does not affect the sacramental validity of the consecration. Therefore, they were and are validly ordained bishops. Excommunication is a censure which, it is hoped, leads to the rehabilitation of the offender. The effects of it, according to Canon 1331 are to forbid a person to have any ministerial part in the Eucharist or other ceremonies of public worship, to celebrate the sacraments or sacramentals or to receive the sacraments or to exercise any ecclesiastical offices, ministries, functions or acts of governance.

Q: What does the lifting of the excommunication mean?

A: Censures can be remitted as their purpose is to bring about contrition. In fact, according to Canon 1358, when the contempt has been purged, remission of the censure cannot be refused. The Holy Father has taken the view that Bishop Fellay's letter of Dec. 15, 2008, to Cardinal Castrillón Hoyos shows a suitable commitment to reach a resolution of the original problem. He also considered that this would improve relations with the Society of St. Pius X and consolidate reciprocal trust. The lifting of the excommunications has not restored full communion with the Society of St. Pius X, but it is a first step that it is hoped will lead to a restoration of full communion by the whole Society of St. Pius X.

Q: Does this lift the suspension on them practicing as bishops or priests in full communion?

A: As full communion has not yet been restored, it follows that members of the Society of St. Pius X who are priests or bishops cannot exercise their ministry as priests or bishops in full communion. Part of the dialogue between the Holy See and the Society of St. Pius X will include looking at how its bishops and priests could exercise their ministry in the Catholic Church were that hope to be realized.

Q: Has the Pope's action changed the relationship between the Catholic Church and the Society of St. Pius X?

A: From the point of view of full communion, the relationship has not changed. Furthermore, the Catholic Church has as a very important goal the restoration of full communion with all Christians and this has not changed either. The lifting of the excommunications is an important step of furthering that goal with regard to the Society of St. Pius X.

Q: What are the next steps in the process?

A: The decree from the Congregation for Bishops lifting the excommunications refers to the Holy Father's trust in the commitment of the Society of St. Pius X to spare no efforts in examining the outstanding questions in its discussions with the Holy See. The next step is continuing dialogue with a view to deepening the relations between the Catholic Church and the Society of St. Pius X, in the hope that there can be a return to full communion. How that dialogue unfolds is a matter for the Holy See and the authorities of the Society of St. Pius X.

The complete text of the decree (21 Jan. 2009) is given below:

"In a letter of Dec. 15, 2008, addressed to Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos, president of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei, Bishop Bernard Fellay once again requested -- also in the name of the other three bishops consecrated on 30 June 1988 -- the removal of the excommunication 'latae sententiae' formally pronounced by a decree of the prefect of this Congregation for Bishops on July 1, 1988. In that letter Bishop Fellay affirmed, among other things, that 'we continue firmly resolute in our desire to remain Catholics and to put all our strength at the service of the Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ, which is the Roman Catholic Church. We accept her teachings in a filial spirit. We firmly believe in the Primacy of Peter and in its prerogatives, and for this reason the current situation causes us much suffering.'

"His Holiness Benedict XVI -- in his paternal compassion for the spiritual discomfort expressed by the parties concerned, because of the excommunication, and trusting in the commitment they expressed in the aforesaid letter to spare no efforts in examining outstanding questions through the requisite discussions with the authorities of the Holy See in order to reach a prompt, full and satisfactory solution to the original problem -- has decided to reconsider the canonical position of Bishops Bernard Fellay, Bernard Tissier de Mallerais, Richard Williamson and Alfonso de Galarreta, which arose following their episcopal consecration.

"With this act it is hoped to consolidate reciprocal relations of trust, and to intensify and stabilize the relations of the Fraternity of St. Pius X with this Holy See. This gift of peace, coming at the end of the Christmas celebrations, also wishes to be a sign to promote the universal Church's unity in charity, and to remove the scandal of division.

"It is hoped that this step will be followed by the prompt attainment of full communion with the Church by the entire Fraternity of St. Pius X, thus demonstrating true faithfulness and true recognition of the magisterium and authority of Pope with the sign of visible unity.

"On the basis of the powers expressly granted to me by the Holy Father Benedict XVI, and by virtue of this decree, I remit the sentence of excommunication 'latae sententiae' declared by this congregation on July 1, 1988, against Bishops Bernard Fellay, Bernard Tissier de Mallerais, Richard Williamson and Alfonso de Galarreta. At the same time I declare that, as of today's date, the decree then issued is devoid of juridical effect."

At the conclusion of this morning's General Audience, Our Holy Father said:
On the lifting of the excommunication of the Lefebvrist bishops:

"In the homily that I gave on the occasion of the solemn inauguration of my pontificate, I said that the 'call to unity' is an 'explicit' duty of the Pastor, and commenting on the words in the Gospel about the miraculous catch of fish, I said: 'although there were so many, the net was not torn', and after these words of the Gospel I continued: 'Alas, beloved Lord, with sorrow we must now acknowledge that it has been torn!' And I continued: 'But no - we must not be sad! Let us rejoice because of your promise, which does not disappoint, and let us do all we can to pursue the path towards the unity you have promised . . . Do not allow your net to be torn, help us to be servants of unity!'

"Precisely in order to fulfill the service of unity, which distinguishes in a special way my ministry as Successor of Peter, I decided a number of days ago to grant the remission of the excommunication that four bishops had incurred when they were ordained by Archbishop Lefebvre in 1988 without a pontifical mandate. I carried out this action of paternal tenderness because these bishops had repeatedly expressed to me their acute suffering over the situation in which they had found themselves. I hope that this gesture of mine will be followed by concerted effort on their part to take the further steps necessary to realize full communion with the Church, testifying in this way to their true fidelity and true recognition of the magisterium and authority of the Pope and of Vatican Council II."