Jean Kinzler -  2008-11-03 23:01:01

Decree for Lifting of Excommunications of SSPX Bishops Ready?

A Spanish Catholic blog is reporting that a decree rescinding the excommunication of the bishops who lead the traditionalist Society of St. Pius X is now on the Pope's desk. The rumor, brought to our attention by the New Liturgical Movement blog, suggests that the Pope could sign the decree if the SSPX leaders made an appropriate humble petition. Again, this is a rumor; that's why this is not a headline story. But it's a plausible rumor from a respectable source. --------------------------------------------------------------- Decree for Lifting of Excommunications of SSPX Bishops Ready? by Gregor Kollmorgen Francisco José Fernández de la Cigoña, author of the most widely read Spanish Catholic blog "La Cigüeña de la Torre" claims that on the desk of the Pope there is a decree revoking the excommunications of the four bishops consecrated by Archbishop Lefebvre in 1988, based on lacking/reduced culpability pursuant to can. 1323, para. 4 and 7, and can. 1324, para 1, 3 and 8 of the Code of Canon Law. The only thing that would be necessary according to Mr Fernández de la Cigoña would be a humble petition by the bishops concerned alleging that they in good faith presumed a state of necessity, an argument which the Society of St. Pius X has advanced for a long time. While this clearly is but a rumour, and should be taken as such, and as surprising as it may seem, I will note that Mr Fernández de la Cigoña has remarkably often been correct when making such statements.NLM