Below is an excerpt from Archbishop Lefebvre's conference to the American seminarians in 1983. It clearly applies to this matter of Church discipline and answers objections made by some on this thread. The conference was given by the Archbishop in English:
What is the first principle to know what we must do in this
circuмstance, in this crisis in the Church? What is my principle?
The principle of the Church is the principle of St.1 Thomas Aquinas.
It is not my choice ; its not my favor ; its not my personal desire . .
I am nothing... I merely follow the doctrine of the Church. . .and this
doctrine is expounded by St. Thomas Aquinas... So what does St. Thomas
Aquinas say about the authority in the Church? When can we refuse
something from the authority of the Church? PRINCIPLE - Only when
the Faith is in question. Only in this easel Not in other cases. .
Only when the Faith is in question. . .and that is found in the Summa
Theological II II Q.33 a.4, ad 2m:
St. Thomas' answer is that we cannot resist to the
authority; we must obey; "Sciendum tamen est quod ubi
immineret periculum fidei." Periculum fidei . i.e., the
danger to our faith. .. "etiam publice essent praelate a
subditis arguendi", i.e., the subject can be opposed to
the authority if the Faith is in question ("periculum fidei" )»
"Unde et Paulus, qui erat subditus Petro, propter imminens
periculum scandali circa fidem, Petrum publice arguit," i.e.
St. Paul opposed St. Peter because it was a danger for
the Faith (cf. Galatians 2ill)."
That is the principle (of St. Thomas), and I cannot harbor
another motive to resist the Pope.. .it is very serious to be opposed
to the Pope, and to the Church. It is very serious , and if we think
that we must do that, we must do it (resist the Holy Father) only
to preserve our Faith, and not for any other motive.