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03/20/2015
The Fraternity of St. Pius X “excommunicates” Williamson

The Lefebvrians are distancing themselves from the British prelate who was already dismissed once before in 2012 and consecrated a new bishop yesterday
andrea tornielli
rome

Yesterday, Mgr. Richard Williamson – one of the four bishops consecrated without a papal mandate by Mgr. Lefebvre in 1988 and renowned for his denial of the h0Ɩ0cαųst was dismissed from the Fraternity of St. Pius X in 2012 and yesterday ordained Fr. Jean-Michel Faure a bishop, at the Benedictine monastery of Santa Cruz in Nova Friburgo, Brazil.

According to a statement issued by the Lefebvrians, “Bishop Williamson and Fr. Faure have not been members of the Society of St. Pius X since 2012 and 2014, respectively, because of their violent criticisms of any relations with the Roman authorities. According to them, such contacts were incompatible with the apostolic work of Archbishop Lefebvre.”

“The Society of St. Pius X regrets sincerely that this spirit of opposition has led to an episcopal consecration. In 1988 Archbishop Lefebvre had clearly indicated his intention to consecrate auxiliary bishops who would have no jurisdiction, because of the state of necessity in which the Society of St. Pius X and faithful Catholics found themselves at that time. His sole goal was to make available to the faithful the sacraments which priests ordained by the bishops would offer. After having done everything conceivable to gain permission from the Holy See, Archbishop Lefebvre proceeded with the solemn consecrations on June 30, 1988 before several thousand priests and faithful and hundreds of journalists from around the world. It was abundantly clear from all the circuмstances that, despite the lack of authorization from Rome, this action done in the most public manner was for the good of the Church and of souls.”

“The Society of St. Pius X denounces this episcopal consecration of Father Faure, which, despite the assertions of both clerics concerned, is not at all comparable to the consecrations of 1988. All the declarations of Bishop Williamson and Fr. Faure prove abundantly that they no longer recognize the Roman authorities, except in a purely rhetorical manner.”

The Lefebvrian statement concludes by saying: “The Society of St. Pius X still maintains that the present state of necessity renders legitimate its action throughout the world, without denying the legitimate authority of those for whom it continues to pray at every Mass. The Society intends to continue its work of priestly formation according to its statutes. It has every intention to keep the deposit of the Faith and the purity of the Church’s moral teaching, in opposition to errors, from wherever they may come, in order to pass on such Faith and morals in the traditional liturgy and by preaching, in accordance with the missionary spirit of its founder: Credidimus caritati [1 John 4:16].”

The statement clearly expresses the Fraternity’s intention to dissociate itself from Williamson’s gesture, underlining that the circuмstances of the two consecrations – the one carried out by Lefebvre in 1988 (claiming that the traditionalist archbishop had “done everything conceivable” to gain permission from the Holy See. This statement is debatable to say the least bearing in mind that Joseph Ratzinger who was cardinal at the time had agreed to the consecration of one successor to Lefebvre) and the one celebrated yesterday by the British prelate are different.

Williamson on his part accused the Fraternity of being too compliant with the Pope and the Holy See in the talks that took place towards the end of Benedict XVI’s pontificate. Benedict XVI did his utmost to mend the schism, which formed in 1988, first of all liberalising the ancient Tridentine missal (2007), then revoking the excommunications of the four Lefebvrian bishops (2009) and encouraging dialogue on certain doctrinal questions relating to the interpretation of the Second Vatican Council which the Fraternity of St. Pius X considers to be problematic. The final agreement proposal involved turning the Lefebvrians into a personal prelature with the possibility of continuing the use of the ancient rite. The proposal was not accepted however, partly because of the situation inside the traditionalist group.

 

The Holy See has not yet issued a formal statement. In the meantime, both the consecrating party, Williamson and the person consecrated, Faure, automatically receive a latae sententiae excommunication, as foreseen by the Code of Canon Law in cases when bishops celebrate episcopal consecrations without a papal mandate.

(Emphasis mine)

The statement clearly expresses the Fraternity’s intention to dissociate itself from Williamson’s gesture, underlining that the circuмstances of the two consecrations – the one carried out by Lefebvre in 1988 (claiming that the traditionalist archbishop had “done everything conceivable” to gain permission from the Holy See. This statement is debatable to say the least bearing in mind that Joseph Ratzinger who was cardinal at the time had agreed to the consecration of one successor to Lefebvre) and the one celebrated yesterday by the British prelate are different.

Here's one thing we can agree with Vatican Insider on -- the two consecrations are fundamentally the same.

Quote from: Vatican Insider

The statement clearly expresses the Fraternity’s intention to dissociate itself from Williamson’s gesture, underlining that the circuмstances of the two consecrations – the one carried out by Lefebvre in 1988 (claiming that the traditionalist archbishop had “done everything conceivable” to gain permission from the Holy See. This statement is debatable to say the least bearing in mind that Joseph Ratzinger who was cardinal at the time had agreed to the consecration of one successor to Lefebvre) and the one celebrated yesterday by the British prelate are different.

Here's one thing we can agree with Vatican Insider on -- the two consecrations are fundamentally the same.

Yes, that precisely the SSPX (out of everyone else) dares to condemn Bishop Williamson's actions is truly ironic and a real joke. It is basically the same procedure taken back in 1988. Attacking bishops Williamson in an attack upon themselves.