Cardinal Garrone : There is absolutely no relationship between the observations you are making, observations which might be justified, and the crass statements contained in your docuмent [the 1974 declaration].
Archbishop Lefebvre : I recognise that my “declaration” is an exaggeration...
(Transcript of an examination by the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, March 3, 1975)
"Convinced that this visit was but the first step on the road to our suppression, for so long desired by all the progressivists, and observing that the visitors had come with the desire to bring us into line with the changes effected in the Church since the Council, I decided to explain my thinking to the seminary. That is the origin of my declaration [of November 21, 1974], written, it is true, under a feeling of indignation and no doubt excessive."
(Account dated May 30, 1975 and sent to Msgr. Benelli and Cardinal Villot, quoted in Un évêque parle, vol II, published by Dominique Martin Morin, 1976, p.26)