Decree of Excommunication of SSPX Bishops Lifted
It is hoped that this step be followed by the prompt accomplishment of full communion with the Church of the entire Fraternity of Saint Pius X.
Decree of the Congregation for Bishops
By way of a letter of December 15, 2008 addressed to His Eminence Cardinal Dario Castrillón Hoyos, President of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei, Mons. Bernard Fellay, also in the name of the other three Bishops consecrated on June 30, 1988, requested anew the removal of the latae sententiae excommunication formally declared with the Decree of the Prefect of this Congregation on July 1, 1988. In the aforementioned letter, Mons. Fellay affirms, among other things: "We are always firmly determined in our will to remain Catholic and to place all our efforts at the service of the Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ, which is the Roman Catholic Church. We accept its teachings with filial disposition. We believe firmly in the Primacy of Peter and in its prerogatives, and for this the current situation makes us suffer so much."
His Holiness Benedict XVI - paternally sensitive to the spiritual unease manifested by the interested party due to the sanction of excommunication and trusting in the effort expressed by them in the aforementioned letter of not sparing any effort to deepen the necessary discussions with the Authority of the Holy See in the still open matters, so as to achieve shortly a full and satisfactory solution of the problem posed in the origin - decided to reconsider the canonical situation of Bishops Bernard Fellay, Bernard Tissier de Mallerais, Richard Williamson, and Alfonso de Galarreta, arisen with their episcopal consecration.
With this act, it is desired to consolidate the reciprocal relations of confidence and to intensify and grant stability to the relationship of the Fraternity of Saint Pius X with this Apostolic See. This gift of peace, at the end of the Christmas celebrations, is also intended to be a sign to promote unity in the charity of the universal Church and to try to vanquish the scandal of division.
It is hoped that this step be followed by the prompt accomplishment of full communion with the Church of the entire Fraternity of Saint Pius X, thus testifying true fidelity and true recognition of the Magisterium and of the authority of the Pope with the proof of visible unity.
Based in the faculty expressly granted to me by the Holy Father Benedict XVI, in virtue of the present Decree, I remit of Bishops Bernard Fellay, Bernard Tissier de Mallerais, Richard Williamson, and Alfonso de Galarreta the censure of latae sententiae excommunication declared by this Congregation on July 1, 1988, while I declare deprived of any juridical effect, from the present date, the Decree emanated at that time.
Rome, from the Congregation for Bishops, January 21, 2009.
Card. Giovanni Battista Re, Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops
- - -
Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.
Keywords:
NEWSLETTERS »
Rate This Article
1 - 10 of 20 Comments
Leave a Comment
More Europe News
- Priest Tells of Being Whipped by the Devil in the Land of Missions
- Pope Francis Calls Italian Bishops to a Renewed Pastoral Vision
- Evil Face of Jihad in London Suburb: Muslim Attackers Hack a Young Soldier to Death and Behead Him
- British soldier hacked to death in brazen attack by Islamic terrorists, stopped by prayerful, courageous women
- Pope Francis: To Evangelize, We Must Be Open to the Action of the Spirit of God
- Pentecostal Pope Calls Ecclesial Movements and the Whole Church to Newness, Unity and Mission
- Historic Meeting between Pope Francis and Coptic Patriarch, Tawadros II, Fosters Christian Unity
- Pope Francis Shakes up the Ambassadors Meeting and Addresses Economic Issues
- AU CONTRAIRE! Economic crisis has been 'pulling European public opinion apart'
Featured News
- Fr. Paul Schenck: Finding Living Faith on Catechetical Sunday
- The Movie Yellow: Incest as 'Normal' and Cassavates's Slides Into the World of Woes
- The Chicago School Teachers Strike Reveals the Need For School Choice
- The Sexual Barbarians and the Dissolution of Culture
- The Happy Priest Challenges Us to Ask: Who is Jesus to Me?
- Michael Coren on Canadian Public Schools: Teachers, leave those kids alone
- We Cannot Ignore Our Consciences: Cardinal Dolan On Religious Liberty
- In the Face of Danger, Successor of Peter Travels to Lebanon as a Messenger of Peace
- Reflections on the Dignity and Vocation of Women: Who or What?
Most Popular
Pope Francis says atheists can do good and go to heaven too! Read More
There's the problem! Americans are out of touch with scientific consensus on climate change Read More
Culture of Corruption: Why Obama's misuse of Marines is wrong Read More
Bill Donohue, Catholic League, Disclose Fight with the IRS, Demonstrate Courage Read More
Receiving the Eucharist: I Have Decided to Kneel For Jesus Read More
Daily Readings
Reading 1, Sirach 6:5-17
A kindly turn of speech attracts new friends, a courteous ... Read More
Psalm, Psalms 119:12, 16, 18, 27, 34, 35
Blessed are you, Yahweh, teach me your will! Read More
Gospel, Mark 10:1-12
After leaving there, he came into the territory of Judaea and ... Read More
Saint of the Day
St. David I of Scotland
May 24: David, the youngest son of Scotland’s virtuous queen, (Saint) ... Read More
Latest Videos
Rottweiler Puppies in a Easter Basket View Video
Pope Francis to Italian bishops: Bring hope! View Video
Italy, Vatican, Basilica of Saint Peter View Video
Pope calls on Italian bishops to reduce the high number of dioceses in the country View Video
May 24 - Homily: Care For The Soul First, Then The Body View Video
Marketplace
The Dialogues of Saint Gregory the Great
Having witnessed the string of disasters that shattered his beloved ... Read More
St Christopher. Engraved Necklace. Catholic Jewelry. Your Name Handstamped. Read More
I am shocked that this "bishop" Richardson should have his ex-communication reversed from Pope John Paul II's wise decision to excommunicate him in 1988. I am a Catholic engaged to a Jewish man and I am disgusted by the fact that a Catholic priest--- and no less a Bishop ---would not be repremanded for his denial about the Holocaust! If he taught artificial birth control was good ( a lie) , then he would be excommunicated. But because he teaches his belief that the Shoah did not happen, it is okay???!? He is clearly on record for these statements!! I am sickened by this!
Dear brothers and sister in Christ. I love how some of you are using this form to show your hatred toward these few bishops that have a different belief about the holocaust. The SSPX has thousand of members that believe in the holocaust and don't doubt the validity of what took place in history. The Pope is not going to stop with the process of reconsolidation of thousands because of the opinion of a few. Please get your facts straight before you start posting material that is not relevant or truthful.
Mr. Bass, my friend, you are in error.
The reason for the excommunication is set forth in Pope John Paul II's motu proprio "Ecclesia Dei" (July 2, 1988). You may read it on the Vatican Web site.
In essence, the excommunication was incurred by Archbishop Lefebvre and the four others because, despite a warning from Rome not to do so, Lefebvre consecrated the four men bishops.
The document (correctly) indicates that this act of disobedience to the Holy See constituted an act of schism.
Pope Benedict XVI is attempting to end the schism. Period.
These men were excommunicated because they openly denied that victims of holocaust were murdered by gas chambers, a fact that backed up the most respected historians. They also believe that only 300,000 actually died, compared to the factual 6 million. This was a terrible move on the Pope's part and will likely cause a deeper rift between Catholics and those of the Jewish faith.
Gloria in excelsis Deo! May our brothers from the SSPX return to that filial love and obedience that so characterized the true traditional Catholic. For obedience is the beginning of all virtue!
Abortion is Murder
God Bless H.H. Pope Benedictus XVI, he has revitalised Holy Mother Church, has revived the Tridentine form of the Mass. This act shows his greatness and is already a Saint in my book!
I don't know why Benedict insists on provoking the anger of the Jewish community by embracing an anti-Semite "bishop" and trying to canonize a pope who said nothing as the Holocaust consumed millions.
So called Bishop Richardson has undone any progess made with the Jewish Co0mmunity in 50 years with his stupid comments concerning the holocoust.
Deo Gratias! Thank God for Benedict XVI! We finally have a pope who is helping to correct all the errors brought about by Vatican II. False ecumenism and relativism. St. Pius X, Pray for us!