Is +Vigano Schismatic?
No doubt, tomorrow all the media around the world will report that +Vigano was excommunicated for the crime of schism, for questioning the legitimacy of Francis.
But does questioning the legitimacy of the Roman Pontiff (or papal claimant) always present a clear cut case of schism?
Not according to some of the more reknowned theologians and canonists.
Here’s what a few of them had to say on the subject:
1. “Finally, those who refuse to obey the Roman Pontiff because they consider his person worthy of suspicion or doubtfully elected cannot be counted among the schismatics…” (Wernz-Vidal: Ius Canonicum , vol. vii, n. 398)
2. “There is no schism if one…refuses obedience to the extent that one…suspects the person of the pope or the validity of his election…” (Szal, Abbot Ignatius: Communication of Catholics with Schismatics , CUA, 1948, p.2)
3. “…is not a schismatic who refuses submission to the pontiff for having probable doubts concerning the legitimacy of his election or his power…” (de Lugo: Disp ., De Virt. Div ., disp. xxv, sect. iii, nn.
These approved writers except from the charge of schism those who refuse submission to the pontiff because of doubts or suspicions regarding his election, and this is precisely the root of Viganò’s rejection (ie., that The St. Gallen Mafia forces BXVI out, and put their candidate on the throne, thereby violating the norms governing papal elections and invalidating it).
My only point is that when tomorrow the world reports the new “schism” of Vigano for refusal to acknowledge the legitimacy of Francis, he would appear to have some firepower in his corner to exonerate him from the charge.
But does questioning the legitimacy of the Roman Pontiff (or papal claimant) always present a clear cut case of schism?
Not according to some of the more reknowned theologians and canonists.
Here’s what a few of them had to say on the subject:
1. “Finally, those who refuse to obey the Roman Pontiff because they consider his person worthy of suspicion or doubtfully elected cannot be counted among the schismatics…” (Wernz-Vidal: Ius Canonicum , vol. vii, n. 398)
2. “There is no schism if one…refuses obedience to the extent that one…suspects the person of the pope or the validity of his election…” (Szal, Abbot Ignatius: Communication of Catholics with Schismatics , CUA, 1948, p.2)
3. “…is not a schismatic who refuses submission to the pontiff for having probable doubts concerning the legitimacy of his election or his power…” (de Lugo: Disp ., De Virt. Div ., disp. xxv, sect. iii, nn.
These approved writers except from the charge of schism those who refuse submission to the pontiff because of doubts or suspicions regarding his election, and this is precisely the root of Viganò’s rejection (ie., that The St. Gallen Mafia forces BXVI out, and put their candidate on the throne, thereby violating the norms governing papal elections and invalidating it).
My only point is that when tomorrow the world reports the new “schism” of Vigano for refusal to acknowledge the legitimacy of Francis, he would appear to have some firepower in his corner to exonerate him from the charge.