Skip to main content

Overcomplicating Simple Things and Oversimplifying Complicated Things

+
JMJ


It occurred to me that sometimes people go and make things really complicated - that should be kept simple.

For example: Dogma.

You can't be Catholic if you deny Catholic Dogma.

It is that simple.

Next example: Doctrine

If you deviate from Catholic Doctrine, then you are almost certainly on the wrong path.

Also simple.

Next example: Is the SSPX is in schism?

Well technically the opinion is that they are "not in full communion"  This however is not a simple situation as you have to look at a number of elements ... such as:


  1. What does 'not in full communion' mean.  Since V2 the Church has used this term to describe the protestants and I believe even the orthodox ... and now the SSPX.
  2. However when asked specifically if they were in a formal state of schism we get "not in full communion".  Meaning that there is a sliding scale of membership in the Catholic Church ... which is as wrong as the thought that there is a grey area between venial and mortal sin.
  3. What constitutes a schismatic act?
  4. What about canon law?
The list goes on ...


So this isn't as simple as in order to answer the question ... you have to determine the answer to a bunch of other questions:
  1. Was the SSPX warned that the canonical consequence of the episcopal consecration would be schism? Answer: Nope
  2. Does an episcopal consecration without papal authority consitute a schismatic act? Answer: Nope
  3. Did Archbishop Lefebvre intend to create a parallel church? Answer: Nope
  4. Did the Pope have a trial and declare that a schism had occurred? Answer: Nope. He said that Archbishop Lefebvre had excommunicated himself via the law.
  5. Are the Bishops of the SSPX excommunicated? Answer:  If they ever were they definitely aren't now . Of course the case can be made that Bishop Williamson is under excommunication etc.
  6. Can priests in schism offer the sacraments licitly?  Well, I don't think so ... but the SSX priests can licitly confess and marry people ...

So where possible, keep things simple if there is a central principle. Otherwise make certain that there aren't more questions that can be investigated.

P^3

Comments

  1. Hi P^3
    Help me straighten out a friend, can you please get me the Vatican documentation saying that the Bishops were not guilty of excommunication, my friend thinks the Vatican still considered all guilty but removed the excommunication of the 4 Bishops as a sign of good will. Thanks
    A.S.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Morning and Evening and other sundry Prayers

+ JMJ Along the theme of P^3 (Prayer, Penance, Patience), and for my own reference ... here is a collection of Morning and Evening prayers from the Ideal Daily Missal along with some additional prayers. In this crisis of the Church, I do not think it is possible to do too much prayer, penance and have patience. P^3

Is it sinful to attend the Novus Ordo (New Mass) - Is it Sinful to Not Attend the Novus Ordo on Sunday?

+ JMJ A non-SSPX Catholic is upset over the SSPX statements on not attending the Novus Ordo Missae. Ladies and gentlemen, what the SSPX, or at least its website editor, is advocating is a mortal sin against the Third Commandment.  Unless the priest deviates from the language of the Sacramentary, the consecration, and thus the rest of Mass is to be considered valid.  No one may elect not to attend Mass simply because abuses are occurring therein.  Might I suggest that such absenteeism is its own abuse?  The Third Commandment binds under mortal sin.  Father So-And-So from the SSPX has no authority whatsoever to excuse attendance at Mass, be that Mass ever so unpalatable. Source:Restore DC Catholicism Well, this is interesting. First why does the SSPX issue this statement? Because it is sinful to put your faith in danger by attending a protestant service.  It is likewise dangerous to put your faith in danger by attending a protestantized mass (ie the Novus Ordo Missae

Remember this day March 25, 1991 - The Death of Archbishop Lefebvre

+ JMJ This is the day, 25 years ago, that Archbishop Lefebvre passed on to his eternal reward. I know that he has as many (perhaps even more) critics than admirers.  For example I still remember Fr. Paul Nicholson's screed in which he shouted from the top of his webpage: "To die excommunicated - how horrible". I'll leave aside Fr. Nicholson's ignorance on the matter as in the grand scheme of things, his impact on the life of the Mystical Body of Christ, which IS the Roman Catholic Church is no greater than that of Michael Voris etc. Archbishop Lefebvre and the work he founded (ie Fraternal Society of St. Pius X ) have had a significant impact. Let us list of few from greatest to smallest: Consistent and constant Catholic perspective on the crisis of the Church from the halls of the Second Vatican Council to the Synod on the Family (and beyond!) Summorum Pontificum and Universae Ecclesiae : By which the restoration of the sacramental life of the

Can I attend SSPX Mass? Is it sinful to go to SSPX for Mass? Does it fulfill my Sunday obligation?

 + JMJ   As the 'roll out' of Traditiones Custodes continues, I think more Catholics will be asking this question. Here are some answers. P^3 Attached below is the more recent of the two statements, see link for the earlier contradicting one :-) Letter by Msgr. Camille Perl Regarding Society of St. Pius X Masses Una Voce America has received a communication from the Pontifical Ecclesia Dei Commission, concerning an article which appeared in The Remnant newspaper and various websites. At the request of the Commission, we are publishing it below. Pontificia Commissio "Ecclesia Dei" January 18, 2003 Greetings in the Hearts of Jesus & Mary! There have been several inquiries about our letter of 27 September 2002. In order to clarify things, Msgr. Perl has made the following response. Oremus pro invicem. In cordibus Jesu et Mariæ, Msgr. Arthur B. Calkins Msgr. Camille Perl’s response: Unfortunately, as you will understand, we have no way of controlling what