I really like Dr. Taylor Marshall’s two analogies.
The first is two brothers at a barbecue and one brother says to the other. I don’t like how Dad is doing such-and-such and I think you should support my decision to disobey him. But, this brother wants to remain obedient to his Father.
The second analogy is that both of these brothers have a third brother who is doing all kinds of weird stuff and Dad turns a blind eye to it, while reprimanding the other brother for what he’s doing, which is what traditionally had been done long before this third brother came along.
So, we have Bishops and Priests celebrating PRIDE Masses and crickets from the Holy Father. But, the SSPX wants to ordain new Bishops, because the others are growing old, and they want to celebrate the Sacred Liturgy how it has been done for centuries and that is now seen as a no-no.
Dr. Marshall goes on to explain how what happens is that the brother who is disproportionately disciplined will become rebellious. He will make his Father’s life hell.
And the brother doing all the weird stuff and receives little-to-no discipline will become entitled, spoiled, and rotten. And when the Father eventually tries to discipline this child, he too will make his Father’s life hell.
“The kids lose and the Father loses. It is bad for everyone.”
Rebellious clergy, priests and Bishops, excommunicate themselves. They need not the help of the Church for an official Declaration of Excommunication. They know precisely what they’re doing, and have been adequately warned. Our Holy Father, in his Papacy Seat of St. Peter, has provided them with sufficient warning, and invitation to return back to the Church.
They refuse. Thus, their excommunication is of their own doing, not that of the Church.
So the SSPX has been excommunicated for praying the Mass that led countless saints to heaven. Has he also excommunicated these saints? I don’t believe it’s possible to excommunicated those already in heaven. So the mass isn’t the issue. I have been told that obedience is the issue. A Catholic should be obedient to our Holy Father the Pope, no matter what. But a Pope is not infallible. In certain matters he is, but in others he isn’t. So if the Pope tells us to do a great wrong - like kill all the baby boys 2 and under (to use a biblical example), and said if we didn’t do this then we would be excommunicated, would it be a sin not to kill all the baby boys? Would we be morally obliged to kill them because the Pope told us to and we must obey the Pope, or morally obliged not to kill them because the 10 commandments, goven by God to Moses, tells us “thou shalt not kill”?
I cannot obey the Pope if what he is saying is manifestly wrong. I don’t even go to the SSPX, but what he has done is hugely tragic. For me excommunicating the Mass of Ages, the Mass of the Saints, is pretty close to killing all the baby boys.
I thought the excommunication was for ordaining bishops without authority. Also, I don’t agree with restricting the Latin Mass, but in no way would I equate that with slaughtering innocents.
I share your frustration with both Pope Leo and his predecessor, Pope Francis.
This being said, the SSPX have excommunicated themselves (rightly or wrongly).
I agree with you that this is different when that rogue Bishop tried to ordain women on a boat years ago. They were trying to subvert/pervert the historic teachings of the Church. Whereas the SSPX are simply trying to preserve the historical teachings and practices from being perverted. Which is why I still believe good can come from this.
But, of those not in schism with the Church continues to pervert the teachings of the Church, then there may come a time when millions of the faithful do something massive to correct this.
I know that some believe these men (referring to the Pope, Cardinal Fernandez (whom I think should be replaced), and others are incapable of making mistakes, but they can and do make mistakes when they are not taking their role of preserving the Apostolic Faith which they have been untrusted serious!
And I also have a problem with how someone can be for the so-called “synodal way” and ecumenicalism with non-faithful individuals, but then not have genuine conversations with those who are concerned with protecting the Faith. It is frustrating and mind boggling.
I will keep Praying that God’s will be done and not the will of perverted men (and I mean this in the true sense of the word, not in a derogatory way).