Apparently there is a number of these priests associated with the traditionalist Catholic movement who rejected the authority of their bishops in order to celebrate the OF Mass. Understanding the status of these priests is useful for those who prefer the OF Mass. How can this be fixed?
In Canon Law these priests are called “acephalous” which means headless and it is forbidden. The term I have most often heard for these priests is “independent priests”. This subject has come up already in another thread and raised a couple of questions for me. Brother JR objected to the term “independent” on the grounds that this term implies a legitimacy that they do not have. I see “independent” as a neutral term, so I don’t understand where this implication is coming from. Brother, can you explain how “independent” implies legitimate?
Let me try it this way. In our culture to be independent is regarded as a good thing or at best a neutral situation. When we say that a person is independent, it’s usually a compliment. When we say that a politician is an independent, it’s neutral. When we say that a country or a group is independent, we mean that it has sovereignty over itself.
None of these would apply to these priests.
- What they have done is immoral and illegal.
- No priest has sovereignty over himself. He has a bishop or a superior to whom he responds. He is part of a diocese or a community of some kind.
Are sedevacantists priests included in this number?
Most Sede priests function under a sede bishop or are part of a sede community.
I guess I’m having a hard time understanding if there are still such priests who are independent by virtue of the fact that they only want to celebrate the EF.
There could be in the sense that because they separated themselves from their diocese or their community illegally, the diocese or the community does not have an obligation to reintegrate them just because they want to come back now that they can celebrate the EF. The issue is not their reason for breaking the law, but the fact that they broke the law. Canon Law does not look at why you broke the law, but at the fact that you did break the law. They would be in the same boat as has been the SSPX. They asked to come back. The excommunication of the four bishops was lifted, but the suspensions were not. They had to meet certain requirements for that to happen.
Bishops and superiors have the authority to do the same thing. Basically, you have to rehabilitate before you are fully reintegrated. Such a priest would not be sent away. The Church does not want wandering priests or to lose souls. But they have to submit to discipline. You can’t just wander off and then come back when everything meets your satisfaction. We wouldn’t allow our spouses or our children to do such a thing.
Also, if a priest has become “acephalous” is it possible for him to ask to be attached to a traditional society like the FSSP?
It is, but it’s very difficult. First of all, let’s begin with the fact that the FSSP is a society of apostolic life with pontifical right. It is not a dumping ground for renegade priests. It’s a legitimate community of secular priests. Therefore, they have admission criteria and an admission policy like any community, secular or consecrated.
Secondly, a deacon, priest, bishop, sister, nun or brother cannot move from his community to another because the other community grants him admission. One must ask to be released from one’s community or from one’s diocese, whichever applies.
One must apply to and be admitted by a receiving community or diocese.
In some cases, the Vatican must approve the transfer.
**TRANSFER TO ANOTHER INSTITUTE
Can. 684 §1. A member in perpetual vows cannot transfer from one religious institute to another except by a grant of the supreme moderator of each institute and with the consent of their respective councils.
If you’re a religious, you can’t transfer to another religious community just because your superior and the council say so.
§2. After completing a probation which is to last at least three years, the member can be admitted to perpetual profession in the new institute. If the member refuses to make this profession or is not admitted to make it by competent superiors, however, the member is to return to the original institute unless an indult of secularization has been obtained.
If the two superiors agree to the transfer, you must still go through a probation period.
§5. For a transfer to be made to a secular institute or a society of apostolic life or from them to a religious institute, permission of the Holy See is required, whose mandates must be observed.
If you’re a religious going to the FSSP, the Holy See must give the permission. The reason being is that you’re going from the consecrated life to the secular life. This means that your vows must be dispensed and only the Holy See can dispense vows.**
The complication comes from the fact that even though you walked, you’re still part of your diocese or your community unless you have been dismissed from the clerical state and from religious life (if applicable).
If you have been away for a very long time, there is a possibility that you may have been dismissed. This means that you may never return to active ministry of any kind, not even as an altar boy. It’s like a dishonorable discharge.
Fraternally,
Br.JR, FSSV
