Msg Base:  AREA 5  - ASK FATHER            CIN ECHO   AMDG
  Msg No: 143.  Wed  9-18-91  5:50
    From: Father Mateo
      To: Larry Burns
 Subject: Archbishop Lefebvre

³ I have a friend who started attending a church in our area that I
³ understand to be a schism church started by LaFever (I'm not sure of the
³ spelling).  He was very active in our parish, and attends there because of
³ the Latin Mass. e has been confronted by our pastor, and chose to continue,
³  in spite of this.
³ I would like to understand the issues here.
³ What do they profess that is not consistent with the teachings of the
³ Roman Catholic Church?
³ What is the difference between their beleifs and ours?
³ What is the position of the Church on this schism church?
³ ANY INFO OR RESOURCES TO CLARIFY THIS WOULD BE APPRECIATED.
 
Dear Larry,
 
Father Bede Lackner wrote in 1985 about Archbishop Lefebvre (America,
July 13, 1985, pp. 5-7):
 
"Archbishop Lefebvre (at the Second Vatican Council) refused to sign
the 'Dogmatic Constitution on the Church', the 'Pastoral Constitution
on the Church in the Modern World', and the 'Declaration on Religious
Liberty'.  He also opposed ecumenism, episcopal collegiality, the
reform of the liturgy, the definition on the ministry and life of
priests, and other conciliar decisions."
 
"Thus not surprisingly, the priests (ordained by) Lefebvre repudiate
the findings of recent biblical scholarship, the advances made in the
field of religious liberty, ecumenical toleration and the granting of
any responsibility to the Catholic laity."
 
"Lefebvre told his seminarians that he would not accept the Roman
Order of Mass" (mandated by the Council and implemented by Pope Paul
VI).
 
"He was suspended from his episcopal and priestly functions" (and
received solemn warning by the Pope) (1976).
 
"He continued his defiance and proclaimed (1976):  'Not we are in
schism, the conciliar church is!'"
 
(Lefebvre's accusations against the Church are:)  "1) a false
conception of the unity of the Church; 2) democratization and
collegiality in the government of the Church; 3) a false conception
of natural rights; 4) errors about the power of the Pope; 5)
protestant conceptions of the sacrifice of the Mass and of the
sacraments; 6) free play of heresy through suppression of the Holy
Office."
 
He also censures the new Code of Canon Law.
 
When Lefebvre proceeded not only to ordain priests but also to
consecrate bishops, he and his followers were excommunicated.  As far
as I know, he died in excommunication.
 
Persons who knowingly embrace Lefebvre's schism, become members of
his parishes or communities, and receive sacraments therein are in
the state of schism and are no longer Roman Catholics.
 
It must be noted that nowadays the Tridentine Latin Mass may be
permitted by local Catholic bishops for legitimate reasons.
 
                                   Sincerely in Christ,
                                   Father Mateo