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Overcomplicating Simple Things and Oversimplifying Complicated Things

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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

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  1. UnknownAugust 20, 2019 at 6:07 PM

    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

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