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13 – Who are the authors of these published critiques of the Conciliar Church? Of the many names, let a few be noted as articulate, sober evaluators of the Council: Atila Sinka Guimaeres (In the Murky Waters of Vatican II),

<> Who signed the infamous "We resist you to the face" schism sheet and specialises in attacking the Pope in the execreable "The Remnant."<>

Romano Amerio (Iota Unum: A Study of the Changes in the Catholic Church in the 20th Century),<> Read it. Big deal. Personal opinions of a peritus whose agenda wasn't put into action<>

<> Michael Davies (various books and booklets, TAN Books),

<> English school teach whose books are suffused with errors<>

and Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre,

<>excommunicated<>

one the Council Fathers, who worked on the preparatory schemas for discussions, and has written many readable essays on Council and Mass (cf Angelus Press).

14 – Among traditional Catholics, the late Archbishop Lefebvre stands out because he founded the Society of St Pius X (SSPX), a strong society of priests (including six seminaries to date) for the celebration of the traditional Catholic liturgy. Many Catholics who are aware of this may share the opinion that he was excommunicated

<> The Pope who excommunicated him is presumably one of those Catholics<>

and that his followers are in schism. There are however solid authorities (including Cardinal Ratzinger, the top theologian in the Vatican) who hold that this is not so. declares itself fully Roman Catholic, recognizing Pope John Paul II while respectfully maintaining certain serious reservations.

<> Is this Thanksgiving or April Fool's Day?<>

The SSPX is not in schism. Nor are its followers. Nor was Archbishop Lefebvre. Your saying so over and over doesn't make it so.

Cardinal Castillo Lara, President of the Pontifical Commission for the Authentic Interpretation of Canon Law: "The act of consecrating a bishop [without the Pope's permission] is not in itself a schismatic act."

Count Neri Capponi, Doctor of Canon Law, renouned for his arguments before Rome's highest juridical body, the Apostolic Signatura: "The fact is that Msgr. Lefebvre simply said: 'I am creating bishops in order that my priestly order can continue. They do not take the place of other bishops. I am not creating a parallel church.' Therefore this act is not, per se, schismatic."

Fr. Patrick Valdini, Dean of the Faculty of Canon Law at the University of Paris: "It is not the consecration of a bishop that creates the schism. What makes the schism is to give the bishop an apostolic mission"--something the Archbishop never did.

Fr. Gerald E. Murray, Licentiate in Canon Law, Gregorian University: "I come to the conclusion that he's [Lefebvre's] not guilty of a schismatic act punishable by canon law. He's guilty of an act of disobedience to the Pope, but he did it in such a way that he would prevail himself of a provision of the law that would prevent him from being automatically excommunicated."

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, in responding to the decree issued by Bishop Ferrario of Honolulu excommunicating Catholics for attending Mass at an SSPX chapel: "From the examination of the case, conducted on the basis of the Law of the Church, it did not result that the facts referred to in the above-mentioned Decree, are formal schismatic acts in the strict sense, as they do not constitute the offense of schism; and therefore the Congregation holds that the Decree of May 1, 1991, lacks foundation and hence validity."

Professor Geringer, Canon Lawyer at the University of Munich: "With the episcopal consecrations, Archbishop Lefebvre was by no means creating a schism."

Cardinal Edward Cassidy, President of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity: "I would point out at once that the Directory on Ecumenism is not concerned with the Society of Saint Pius X. The situation of the members of this Society is AN INTERNAL MATTER OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. The Society is not another Church or Ecclesial Community in the meaning used in the Directory. Of course the Mass and the Sacraments administered by the priests of the Society are valid."

For a moment leaving aside the rhetorical heat--Somerville's abdication/apology (assuming it is genuine) is quite an event--not quite as significant as Newman's 'Romanization,' but on the same order.

And Somerville is correct about the Orations. Even without a great knowledge of Latin, one can discern the NO's Latin texts are significantly different than the 'translations' provided by ICEL.

Likely Somerville has read the handwriting on the wall: 'you are weighed in the balance, and found wanting' about ICEL and will get out before the whole thing collapses.

It also places him nicely should he want an assignment with the repair crew which will soon be appointed.