Dear Desdemona,
Here is the link to Ecclesia Dei, explaining the excommunication of Marcel Lefebvre and his fellow schismatics:
APOSTOLIC LETTER "ECCLESIA DEI" OF THE SUPREME PONTIFF
JOHN PAUL II GIVEN MOTU PROPRIO
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/motu_proprio/documents/hf_jp-ii_motu-proprio_02071988_ecclesia-dei_en.html
The proximate cause of the schism was Archbishop's consecration of several bishops against the explicit expressed wishes of the Supreme Pontiff.
Readers may find this paragraph enlightening:
"3. In itself, this act was one of disobedience to the Roman Pontiff in a very grave matter and of supreme importance for the unity of the church, such as is the ordination of bishops whereby the apostolic succession is sacramentally perpetuated. Hence such disobedience - which implies in practice the rejection of the Roman primacy - constitutes a schismatic act.(3) In performing such an act, notwithstanding the formal canonical warning sent to them by the Cardinal Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops on 17 June last, Mons. Lefebvre and the priests Bernard Fellay, Bernard Tissier de Mallerais, Richard Williamson and Alfonso de Galarreta, have incurred the grave penalty of excommunication envisaged by ecclesiastical law.(4)"
Marcel & Company ordained bishops against the will of the Supreme Pontiff. This is a schismatic act. They are excommunicated. So says the Supreme Pontiff of the Holy Catholic Church.
Here is another interesting piece:
"c) In the present circumstances I wish especially to make an appeal both solemn and heartfelt, paternal and fraternal, to all those who until now have been linked in various ways to the movement of Archbishop Lefebvre, that they may fulfil the grave duty of remaining united to the Vicar of Christ in the unity of the Catholic Church, and of ceasing their support in any way for that movement. Everyone should be aware that formal adherence to the schism is a grave offence against God and carries the penalty of excommunication decreed by the Church's law.(8)"
The faithful, to fulfill their grave duty of REMAINING UNITED TO THE VICAR OF CHRIST, in the unity of the Catholic Church, must cease support for the schism of Marcel & Company. So says the Supreme Pontiff of the Holy Catholic Church.
sitetest