The quotes provided in the information below are taken from older Traditionalist works, dating back over 15 years. This readily demonstrates that over time, to protect themselves and continue to retain their followers, Traditionalists, ever the perpetual shapeshifters, have attenuated and reversed their own positions without even bothering to justify it by presenting new and compelling evidence. Now they claim that neither Traditionalist pseudo-clergy or their followers could possibly have incurred censures because no official decision by a canonically elected pope that the Novus Ordo and Traditionalists sects are schismatic has ever been issued! If the Novus Ordo church’s defection from the faith at Vatican 2, and following the institution of the abominable new mass, was not justifiable, i.e., Catholics exiting what once was the Church were not convinced that this was a departure from the Catholic faith, then how could they ever be said to be justified in leaving without committing schism?!
Regarding Traditionalism, its very foundation reeks of Masonic influence and is based on heresy itself: the refusal to accept papal teaching regarding the necessity of the papacy and obedience to already existing papal decrees. These men were strictly obligated, as a whole, to publicly renounce the usurpers in Rome. This in turn, by papal decree, needed to be followed by the requisite election of a pope (in this case, by bishops validly consecrated during Pope Pius XII’s reign, as was done at the Council of Constance). By their own insistence and admission Traditional pseudo-clergy were more highly “educated” in matters regarding Canon Law and Church teaching so cannot deny they were under such obligation. Those who became members of the Church under Pope Pius XII were bound by Canon Law, and Canon Law teaches that when it is clearly seen that one has denied a truth of faith, then they are PRESUMED to be guilty of heresy, based on decisions issued by the Holy Office. Revs. Woywod-Smith write:
“…In the external forum they are not free [from the penalties of Can. 2314 for heresy apostasy and schism]. For according to Can. 2200, when there is an external violation of Church law, malice is presumed in the external forum until its absence is proved. The Holy See insists that converts from heretical or schismatic sects be not received into the Church until they have first abjured the heresy or schism and been absolved from the censure, (Instruction of the Sacred Congregation of the Propaganda, July 20, 1859).” In his The Delict of Heresy, Rev. Eric MacKenzie further notes: “The very commission of any act which signifies heresy; e.g., the statement of some doctrine contrary or contradictory to a revealed and defined dogma, gives sufficient ground for juridical presumption of heretical depravity. There may be excusing circumstances which excuse from grave responsibility in the external forum, and the burden of proof is on the person whose action has given rise to the imputation of heresy. In the absence of proof, ALL such excuses are presumed not to exist. (CUA Canon Law dissertation, 1932; p. 35.)
From St. Alphonsus de Liguori
St. Alphonsus Liguori, Doctor of the Church writes, under the heading The Duty of Accusing or Denouncing Another: “Here it is asked whether fraternal correction must precede accusation. Several distinctions must be made… (1) If the crime is public, since for this reason infamy or notoriety is already present, (e.g., before a number of people in the street), then no correction ought to precede. Thus St. Thomas, Sanchez, Sotus, Paludanus and Salmant with the common opinion. In such a case, to quote St. Thomas, ‘The remedy must not be applied only to him who has sinned that he may improve, but also to those who notice the crime has come.’ And for this reason, a public crime ought to be punished. The truth is you do not sin either against charity or against justice if you accuse without warning (1) When the crime gives injury to the common weal as in…heresy… For with these crimes, scarcely, if ever, is it to be hoped that correction will be fruitful, and delay can be exceedingly harmful,” (Theologia Moralis).
And this also from Saint Alphonsus de Liguori’s sermon for the Sunday after the Ascension:
“Such should be your answer to all those satellites of Satan: you must despise all their maxims and reproaches. And when it is necessary to reprove those who make little of God’s law, you must take courage and correct them publicly. Them that sin, reprove before all (1 Timothy 5:20). And when there is question of the divine honor, we should not be frightened by the dignity of the man who offends God; let us say to him openly: This is sinful; it cannot be done. Let us imitate the Baptist, who reproved King Herod for living with his brother’s wife, and say to him: It is not lawful for thee to have her (Matthew 14:4). Men indeed shall regard us as fools and turn us into derision; but on the day of judgment they shall acknowledge that they have been foolish, and we shall have the glory of being numbered among the saints. They shall say: These are they whom we had sometime in derision. … We fools esteemed their life madness, and there end without honor. Behold how they are numbered among the children of God, and their lot is among the saints (Wisdom 5:3).”
“Christians must strive not to attribute the sin of heresy to their neighbor as long as another explanation remains possible. But charity does not require mental gymnastics in order to excuse what is manifest, [evident, obvious, not obscure]. However, the thesis here defended does not depend on identifying pertinacity as defined by the moralists, but as defined by canonists: conscious rejection of dogma on the part of a baptized person. This prescinds from the moral order, forming a judgment which need concern only the external forum, yet which has no connection with the error of those who “presume” pertinacity where some other reasonable explanation of the external data remains available, such as simple ignorance or inadvertence. “Obstinacy may be assumed when a revealed truth has been proposed with sufficient clearness and force to convince a reasonable man.” (Dom Charles Augustine: A Commentary on Canon Law, Vol. 8, pg. 335.)
But there is a parent law for nearly every canon in the 1917 Code treating of heresy, (including Can. 2314) which governs this situation, listed in the Latin version of the Code as footnotes or Fontes. This parent law is Pope Paul IV’s 1559 infallible Bull, Cum ex Apostolatus Officio. Canon 6 no. 4 governing how to proceed when a doubt arises regarding the law, which has arisen in the matter of determining whether or not a declaratory sentence is needed to presume one guilty of heresy or schism, settles the matter. When in doubt, one must revert to the old law existing prior to the Code according to Can. 6§4, and that law then applies. This bull, which is that old law cited in the Code, teaches the following:
“Further, if ever at any time it becomes CLEAR that any Bishop, even one conducting himself as an Archbishop, Patriarch, or primate; or any Cardinal of the aforesaid Roman Church, even as mentioned, a Legate; or likewise any Roman Pontiff before his promotion or elevation as a Cardinal or Roman Pontiff, has strayed from the Catholic Faith or fallen into some heresy, then his promotion or elevation shall be null, invalid and void… It shall not be considered to have given or to give any power of administration in matters spiritual or temporal, to such persons promoted as Archbishops, Patriarchs or primates or elevated as Cardinals or as Roman Pontiff. Rather, each and, every one of their statements, deeds, enactments, and administrative acts, of any kind, and any result thereof whatsoever, shall be without force and shall confer no legality or right on anyone. The persons themselves so promoted and elevated shall, ipso facto and WITHOUT NEED FOR ANY FURTHER DECLARATION, be deprived of any dignity, position, honor, title, authority, office and power.” (Cum ex Apostolatus Officio, Paul IV, 1559). When in doubt, one must follow the old law (Can. 6 no. 4).
Rev. Francis E. Hyland, in his 1928 dissertation, Excommunication notes that, “In pre-Code law ALL excommunicates were deprived of ecclesiastical jurisdiction in such a manner that they could not exercise acts thereof, at least licitly.This privation affected even the tolerati…” And this is presuming that such jurisdiction already existed, which was not the case with Traditionalists, who never received it in the first opaque and in truth could never have been validly consecrated or ordained during an interregnum.
The quotes below from the popes and councils below further demonstrate that the Church’s mind over the centuries regarding heresy has never changed.
We obey Canon Law and the Popes, NOT Traditionalists.
From the Popes and Councils
Second Council of Constantinople, 553 A.D. — Ex-Cathedra Dogma >
“The heretic, even though he has not been condemned formally by any individual, in reality brings anathema on himself, having cut himself off from the way of truth by his heresy.”
Note 1: This Source of Dogma declares that heretics bring anathema on themselves without a formal condemnation by another, they automatically cut themselves off from the way of truth, which is the Catholic Church.
Note 2: The Catholic teaching of automatic excommunication for heresy is an absolute necessity because of the physical impossibility of excommunicating all heretics by a formal process.
Note 3: Ex-Cathedra … the Pope in union with the Bishops of the world … at a worldwide General Council.
Council of Florence, Session 11, 4 February 1442 — Ex-Cathedra Dogma > “The Holy Roman Church … condemns, reproves, anathematizes and declares to be outside the body of Christ, which is the Church, whoever holds opposing or contrary views.”
Note 1: This Source of Dogma identifies as outside the body of Christ (the Catholic Church) those who are opposed to the Catholic Dogma or Sources of Dogma (they are excommunicated) … no process is required.
Note 2: God knows our very thoughts, if we hold to heresy such as the heresy that you can get to Heaven outside of the Catholic Church (you can’t), the human soul is automatically removed from the Catholic Church without a formal process. You cannot be in the Church if you don’t believe the teaching of the Church.
Note 3: Ex-Cathedra … the Pope in union with the Bishops of the world … at a worldwide General Council.
Catholic writing in Wisdom 1:3 > “For perverse thoughts separate from God: and His power, when it is tried, reproveth the unwise.” (Note: heresy is perverse thought)
Pope Pius IX, Ineffabilis Deus, 8 December 1854 — Ex-Cathedra Dogma > “Hence, if anyone shall dare – which God forbid! – to think otherwise than as has been defined by us, let him know and understand that he is condemned by his own judgment; that he has suffered shipwreck in the faith; that he has separated from the unity of the Church …”
Note 1: Source of Dogma that those who oppose the Catholic Faith are separated from the Church (excommunicated) … no process is required.
Note 2: Ex-Cathedra … the Pope in union with the Bishops of the world … at a worldwide General Council.
Second Council of Constantinople, 553 A.D. — Ex-Cathedra Dogma > “What reply can such people make to the Apostle when he writes: As for someone who is factious, after admonishing him once or twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is perverted and sinful; he is self-condemned.”
Note 1: This Source of Dogma states that the heretic is self-condemned for heresy (excommunicated) … without a process taking place.
Note 2: Ex-Cathedra … the Pope in union with the Bishops of the world … at a worldwide General Council.
Vatican Council of 1870, Session 3, Chapter 3 On Faith, Paragraphs 8-9 — Ex-Cathedra Dogma > “Wherefore, by Divine and Catholic Faith all those things are to be believed which are contained in the word of God as found in scripture and tradition, and which are proposed by the Church as matters to be believed as Divinely revealed (…) Since, then, without Faith it is impossible to please God and reach the fellowship of his sons and daughters, it follows that no one can ever achieve justification without it, neither can anyone attain eternal life unless he or she perseveres in it to the end.”
Note 1: There is no justification of the soul without believing all those things which are to be believed. Not being in a justified state means that you are outside of the Catholic Church (excommunicated) … no formal process required.
Note 2: Ex-Cathedra … the Pope in union with the Bishops of the world … at a worldwide General Council.
Pope Leo X, Fifth Lateran Council, Session 8, 1513 A.D. — Ex-Cathedra Dogma > “And since truth cannot contradict truth, we define that every statement contrary to the enlightened truth of the faith is totally false and we strictly forbid teaching otherwise to be permitted. We decree that all those who cling to erroneous statements of this kind, thus sowing heresies which are wholly condemned, should be avoided in every way and punished as detestable and odious heretics and infidels who are undermining the Catholic faith.”
Note 1: Those who cling to erroneous statements against the Dogma are classed as heretics … heretics by definition are outside of the Catholic Church (excommunicated) … no formal process required.
Note 2: Ex-Cathedra … the Pope in union with the Bishops of the world … at a worldwide General Council.
Pope Pius VI, Errors of the Synod of Pistoia, 1794 A.D. >“Likewise, the proposition which teaches that it is necessary, according to the natural and divine laws, for either excommunication or for suspension, that a personal examination should precede, and that, therefore, sentences called ‘ipso facto’ have no other force than that of a serious threat without any actual effect, – false, rash, pernicious, injurious to the power of the Church.”
Note: Ipso facto means: “by the very fact itself”. By the very fact that the heretic is a heretic means he is … without a personal examination excommunicated … without a formal process.
Fourth Council of Constantinople, Canon 4, 870 A.D. — Ex-Cathedra Dogma > “We condemn, with a just decree, him who boldly, cunningly and unlawfully, like a dangerous wolf, leapt into the sheepfold of Christ; we are speaking about Photius, who has filled the whole world with a thousand upheavals and disturbances. We declare that he never was nor is now a bishop, nor must those, who were consecrated or given advancement by him to any grade of the priesthood, remain in that state.”
Note 1: This Canon 4 shows that there was an automatic excommunication of heretic Photius at some point before … what looked like his consecration as a Catholic Bishop … this is the very reason why he was never a bishop.
Note 2: Ex-Cathedra … the Pope in union with the Bishops of the world … at a worldwide General Council.
Vatican Council of 1870, Pope Pius IX, Session 2, Profession of Faith — Ex-Cathedra Dogma > “This true Catholic Faith, outside of which none can be saved, which I now freely profess and truly hold, is what I shall steadfastly maintain and confess, by the help of God, in all its completeness and purity until my dying breath, and I shall do my best to ensure that all others do the same. This is what I, the same Pius, promise, vow and swear.”
Note 1: Regarding the text: “outside of which none can be saved” … those who fall into heresy by not keeping the Catholic Faith in its completeness and purity … are identified as being outside the way of salvation (excommunicated) … no process is required.
Note 2: Ex-Cathedra … the Pope in union with the Bishops of the world … at a worldwide General Council.
Second Council of Constantinople, 553 A.D. — Ex-Cathedra Dogma > “It is clear to all believers that when a problem about the faith comes up it is not only the heretical person who is condemned but also the person who is in a position to correct the heresy of others and fails to do so.”
Note 1: The heretical person being identified as condemned (and the person who doesn’t correct the heretic) … without a formal process.
Note 2: Ex-Cathedra … the Pope in union with the Bishops of the world … at a worldwide General Council.
Council of Florence, Session 11, Pope Eugene IV, 1442 A.D. — Ex-Cathedra Dogma > “It (the Catholic Church) firmly believes, professes and preaches that all those who are outside the Catholic Church, not only pagans but also jews or heretics and schismatics, cannot share in eternal life and will go into the everlasting fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels, unless they are joined to the Catholic Church before the end of their lives.”
Note 1: Source of Dogma which identifies as outside the Catholic Church … the groups mentioned … without a formal process.
Note 2: Ex-Cathedra … the Pope in union with the Bishops of the world … at a worldwide General Council.
First Council of Constantinople, Canon 7, 381 A.D. — Ex-Cathedra Dogma > “Those who embrace orthodoxy and join the number of those who are being saved from the heretics … these we receive when they hand in statements and anathematise every heresy which is not of the same mind as the Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church of God.”
Note 1: Source of Dogma which states that those who are with the heretics are outside the Church … until they hand in statements rejecting their heresy … no formal process of excommunication is required.
Note 2: Ex-Cathedra … the Pope in union with the Bishops of the world … at a worldwide General Council.
Council of Florence, Pope Eugene IV, Session 8, 22 Nov 1439 — Ex-Cathedra Dogma > “Whoever wills to be saved, before all things it is necessary that he holds the Catholic faith. Unless a person keeps this faith whole and undefiled, without doubt he shall perish eternally.”
Note 1: Whoever does not preserve the Catholic Faith whole and inviolate are defined as headed for Hell … outside of the Catholic Church … without a formal process taking place.
Note 2: Ex-Cathedra … the Pope in union with the Bishops of the world … at a worldwide General Council.
Council of Vienne, Pope Clement V, Decree 30, 1311-1312 A.D. — Ex-Cathedra Dogma > “Since however there is for both regulars and seculars, for superiors and subjects, for exempt and non-exempt, one universal Church, outside of which there is no salvation, for all of whom there is one Lord, one faith, and one baptism.”
Note 1: Those who are in the Church all have “one faith” … those without this one faith are outside … there is no formal process required.
Note 2: Ex-Cathedra … the Pope in union with the Bishops of the world … at a worldwide General Council.
Pope Alexander III, Lateran Council III, A.D. 1179, Canon 27 — Ex-Cathedra Dogma > “We likewise decree (…) that they should be subject in every way to the same sentence and penalty as the above-mentioned heretics and that they should not be received into the communion of the Church, unless they abjure their pernicious society and heresy.”
Note 1: Clearly presumes automatic excommunication without a process taking place … until the heretic makes an abjuration of his heresy.
Note 2: Ex-Cathedra … the Pope in union with the Bishops of the world … at a worldwide General Council.
Pope Leo X, Fifth Lateran Council, Session 11, 19 Dec 1516 — Ex-Cathedra Dogma > “For, regulars and seculars, prelates and subjects, exempt and non-exempt, belong to the one universal Church, outside of which no one at all is saved, and they all have one Lord and one faith.”
Note 1: Those who are in the Church all have “one faith” … those without this one faith are outside … there is no formal excommunication process required.
Note 2: Ex-Cathedra … the Pope in union with the Bishops of the world … at a worldwide General Council.
Pope Pius IV, Council of Trent, “Iniunctum nobis”, 13 Nov 1565 — Ex-Cathedra Dogma > “This true Catholic faith, outside of which no one can be saved … I now profess and truly hold …”
Note 1: Source of Dogma from the Council of Trent defining the necessity of keeping the Catholic Faith to get to Heaven … those not keeping the Faith are excluded from salvation since they are outside of the Catholic Church … no formal excommunication process is required.
Note 2: Ex-Cathedra … the Pope in union with the Bishops of the world … at a worldwide General Council.
Pope Leo XIII, Satis Cognitum, 29 June 1896, Para 9 > “The practice of the Church has always been the same, as is shown by the unanimous teaching of the Fathers, who were wont to hold as outside Catholic communion, and alien to the Church, whoever would recede in the least degree from any point of doctrine proposed by her authoritative Magisterium.”
Note: Those who recede from doctrine are outside of Catholic communion … without a formal process taking place.
Pope Leo XIII, Satis Cognitum, 29 June 1896, Para 9 > “No one who merely disbelieves in all (these heresies) can for that reason regard himself as a Catholic or call himself one. FOR THERE MAY BE OR ARISE SOME OTHER HERESIES, WHICH ARE NOT SET OUT IN THIS WORK OF OURS, AND, IF ANY ONE HOLDS TO ONE SINGLE HERESY HE IS NOT A CATHOLIC.
Note: Anyone who holds to a single heresy are identified as not being Catholic … no formal process required.
Lateran Council, Pope Saint Martin I, Canon 18, 649 A.D. > “If anyone according to the holy Fathers, harmoniously with us and likewise with the Faith, does not with mind and lips reject and anathematize all the most abominable heretics together with their impious writings even to one least portion, whom the Holy Catholic and apostolic Church of God … rejects and anathematizes … let such a person be condemned.”
Note: The Catholic Church anathematizes and rejects the heretics … no formal excommunication process is required.
Vatican Council of 1870, Session 2, Profession of Faith, Article 14 — Ex-Cathedra Dogma > “Likewise all other things which have been transmitted, defined and declared by the sacred canons and the ecumenical councils, especially the sacred Trent, I accept unhesitatingly and profess; in the same way whatever is to the contrary, and whatever heresies have been condemned, rejected and anathematized by the Church, I too condemn, reject and anathematize.”
Note 1: Those participating in the heresies mentioned in this citation are rejected and anathematized by the Church and outside the Church, automatically excommunicated … without a formal process taking place.
Note 2: Ex-Cathedra … the Pope in union with the Bishops of the world … at a worldwide General Council.
Council of Ephesus, 431 A.D. — Ex-Cathedra Dogma > “All heretics corrupt the true expressions of the Holy Spirit with their own evil minds and they draw down on their own heads an inextinguishable flame.”
Note: The Council of Ephesus regarding automatic excommunication … heretics draw down fire on their own heads … excommunication without a formal process taking place.
Saint Thomas Aquinas, Doctor of the Church, died 1274 A.D. > “All those who deny one article of faith, regardless of their reason, are by that very fact excommunicated.”
Note: Doctor of the Church, Saint Thomas, restating and defending the Catholic Dogma regarding automatic excommunication … excommunication without a formal process taking place.
Pope Pelagius I, died 561 A.D. > “So that they may burn without end, the Lord by a very just judgment will give over to the punishment of eternal and inextinguishable fire the wicked who either did not know the way of the Lord or, knowing it, left it.”
Note: Pope Pelagius identifying that sins against the faith causes the loss of the soul since the person falls outside of the Catholic Church … without a formal process of excommunication.
Pope Pius X, Acerbo Nimis, 15 April 1905, Paragraphs 2, 26 > “And so Our Predecessor, Benedict XIV, had just cause to write: ‘We declare that a great number of those who are condemned to eternal punishment suffer that everlasting calamity because of ignorance of those mysteries of faith which must be known and believed in order to be numbered among the elect.’ (…) These truths, indeed, far surpass the natural understanding of the people, yet must be known by all – the uneducated and the cultured – in order that they may arrive at eternal happiness.”
Note: Pius X formally stating that the loss of souls … for ignorance of the Faith which must be known to arrive at eternal happiness … it clearly presumes automatic excommunication without a process taking place.
Pope Pius IX, Qui Pluribus, On Faith and Religion, 9 Nov 1846, Paragraph 19 >
“You must also care for and defend the Catholic faith with episcopal strength and see that the flock entrusted to you stands to the end firm and unmoved in the faith. For unless one preserves the faith entire and uninjured, he will without doubt perish forever.”
Note: Pius IX instructing on keeping the entire faith or perishing … clearly presumes automatic excommunication without a formal process taking place.
Pope Pius IX, Quanto Conficiamur Moerore, On … False Doctrines, 10 Aug 1863, Paragraph 13 > “Admonish and exhort them to be strong in our sacred faith, without which it is impossible to please God. Urge them to persevere firmly established in our divine religion, which alone is true and eternal and prepares for salvation.”
Note: Pius IX instructing on keeping the entire Catholic faith … which alone prepares for salvation … presumes automatic excommunication without a formal process.
Pope Pius IX, Nostis et Nobiscum, 8 Dec 1849, Paragraph 10 > “In particular, ensure that the faithful are deeply and thoroughly convinced of the truth of the doctrine that the Catholic faith is necessary for attaining salvation.”
Note: Pius IX instructing that keeping the Catholic Faith as necessary for attaining salvation … presumes automatic excommunication without a formal process.
Pope Pius IX, Qui Pluribus, On Faith and Religion, 9 Nov 1846, Paragraph 20 > “Never cease to instruct all men in it … never tolerating and letting pass anything which could in the slightest degree defile the purity of this faith. With the same great strength of mind, foster in all men their unity with the Catholic Church, outside of which there is no salvation.”
Note: Pius IX citing again the necessity of keeping the purity of the Faith … required to be in the unity of the Church … presumes that one automatically removes himself without a process taking place.
Pope Pius IX, Qui Pluribus, On Faith and Religion, 9 Nov 1846, Paragraph 31 > “In your compassionate mercy you seek out and overtake with your love the straying and perishing sheep … You place them paternally on your shoulders and lead them back to the fold … from the rage, assault and snares of ravening wolves. You keep them away from poisonous pastureland and drive them on to safe ground, and in all possible ways you lead them by deed, word and example to the harbor of eternal salvation.”
Note: Pius IX identifies those who are not keeping the Catholic Faith as straying and perishing sheep … outside of the Catholic Church … without a formal process of excommunication taking place.
Pope Pius IX, Quanta Cura, Condemning Current Errors, 8 Dec 1864, Paragraph 6 > “Amidst, therefore, such great perversity of depraved opinions, we, well remembering our Apostolic Office, and very greatly solicitous for our most holy Religion, for sound doctrine and the salvation of souls which is intrusted to us by God, and (solicitous also) for the welfare of human society itself, have thought it right again to raise up our Apostolic voice. Therefore, by our Apostolic authority, we reprobate, proscribe, and condemn all the singular and evil opinions and doctrines severally mentioned in this letter, and will and command that they be thoroughly held by all children of the Catholic Church as reprobated, proscribed and condemned.”
Note: Pius IX identifying that the salvation of souls is intrusted to the Catholic Church … presuming excommunication without a formal process … identifies other opinions as depraved (corrupt, evil, debased) and condemned.
Pope Leo XIII, Satis Cognitum, Paragraph 9, 29 June 1896 > “The practice of the Church has always been the same, as is shown by the unanimous teaching of the Fathers, who were wont to hold as outside Catholic communion, and alien to the Church, whoever would recede in the least degree from any point of doctrine proposed by her authoritative Magisterium.”
Pope Leo XIII, Satis Cognitum, Paragraph 9, 29 June 1896 > “No one who merely disbelieves in all (these heresies) can for that reason regard himself as a Catholic or call himself one. For there may be or arise some other heresies, which are not set out in this work of ours, and, if anyone holds to a single one of these, he is not a Catholic.”
Pope Leo XIII, Satis Cognitum, Paragraph 15, 29 June 1896 > “No one, therefore, unless in communion with Peter can share in his authority, since it is absurd to imagine that he who is outside can command in the Church.”
