Doesn't that put them in de-facto schism? Seriously, if they're outlaws they're rebels, what makes them more legit than (for instance) SSPX bishops? It is all a legal fiction where we pretend to ignore the heretical elephant in the room? I know, I know, the elephant is actually schismatic but I think he's an heretic too.
We talk about automatic-excommunication for pro abort pols that isn't enforced, is there a situation of automatic-excommunication for bishops who are no longer (in any reasonable use of the term) in communion with the bishop of Rome?
I realize this basically plunges us into a state of anarchy in the Church but isn't that really what's going on anyhow?
We talk about automatic-excommunication for pro abort pols that isn't enforced, is there a situation of automatic-excommunication for bishops who are no longer (in any reasonable use of the term) in communion with the bishop of Rome? I realize this basically plunges us into a state of anarchy in the Church but isn't that really what's going on anyhow?
I don't see any way around it. What percentage of the Catholic Church is actually in schism?
I mean it is wrong, sinful, scandalous, damaging, demoralizing, shameful, for bishops to basically blow off canon law (and they've been doing it for decades), but I don't know if it is precisely schismatic.
The split between doctrine and "pastoral practice" is always corrupt. To say that they may be split is heresy in itself.
Cardinal Kasper recently said that no matter what the upcoming 2015 Synod says about divorce/remarriage, and no matter how the Pope rules, the German Hierarchy will do what they think is best, regardless.
In a perverse way, that is encouraging, because it means Kasper realizes the Synod is not going to endorse his most mushiful ideas. But if he can get away with saying, "Germany will go her own way" and not get much response (so far) other than raised eyebrows, we're in a bad, bad way.
Watch and pray. I mean pray.