Appendix 1 Miscellaneous Letters and Documents LETTER FROM CARDINAL VILLOT TO THE PRESIDENTS OF THE EPISCOPAL CONFERENCES Rome, October 27th 1975 Office of the Secretary of State N. 290 499/94 To the Presidents of the Episcopal Conferences Eminence, Excellency, On May 6th of last year, Mgr Pierre Mamie, Bishop of Lausanne, Geneva and Fribourg, acting on the full approval of the Holy See, removed canonical approval form the Priestly Brotherhood ‘Pius X’ under the direction of Mgr Marcel Lefebvre, former Archbishop-Bishop of Tulle. The foundations of this Brotherhood and particularly the seminary at Ecône, lost their right to exist at the same time. Thus an affair which was particularly complex and unhappy appeared to have been resolved, at least from a judicial point of view. Where are we six months later? Mgr Lefebvre has not yet accepted, in reality, the decision of the competent authority. His activities continue, his plans are being extended to several countries, his writings and his ideas continue to corrupt a certain number of the faithful who are disorientated. It is supposed, here and there, that the Holy Father got carried away, or that the course of the procedure has been tainted by legal irregularities. Fidelity to the Church of the past has been invoked to differentiate it from the church of today, as though the Church of Our Lord was able to change its nature or its form. Considering the damage caused to Christian people by the prolongation of such a situation, and only after having used all the charitable resources open to him, the Sovereign Pontiff has therefore determined that the following information, which should contribute to lifting any last doubts, should be available to all the Episcopal Conferences… LETTER FROM POPE PAUL VI TO MGR LEFEBVRE To our brother in the Episcopate Marcel Lefebvre Former Archbishop of Tulle Dear Brother, it is with great heartache that we write to you today. Heartache, because we can divine the interior wrenching of a man who sees the annihila- tion of his dreams, the ruin of work that he thought would bear fruit for the 207 208 Appendix 1 right cause. Heartache, because we think of the confusion of the young people who have followed you, full of ardour and who now find themselves at an impasse. But our pain is amplified by the fact that the decision under compe- tent authority – moreover formulated very clearly and altogether justified, it has to be said, by your refusal to modify your public and persistent opposition to the ecumenical Council of Vatican II, to the postconciliar reforms and the direction taken by the Pope himself – that this decision lends itself to discus- sion to the point that you search for a judicial reason to invalidate it… Dc no. 1689 (January 1976) p. 32–3 DECREE OF EXCOMMUNICATION Congregation of Bishops Mgr Marcel Lefebvre, Archbishop-Bishop of Tulle, having neglected the formal motion under canon law of June 17th together with repeated appeals to not continue with his actions, has committed an action which is itself schis- matic: he has ordained as bishop four priests without pontifical authority and against the wishes of the Reigning Pontiff. It is for this reason that he has incurred the punishment detailed under canon law in articles 1364 1 and 1382 under the code of canon law. For all juridical purposes, I declare that the undernamed Mgr Marcel Lefebvre, together with Bernard Fellay, Richard Williamson and Alfonso de Galaretta, have incurred ipso facto excommunication latate sententiae reserved for use by the apostolic see. In addition, I declare that Mgr Antonio de Castro Mayer, Emeritus Bishop of Campos, has incurred excommunication as detailed in article 1364, because he has directly participated in this liturgical celebration as co-consecrator and has publicly endorsed a schismatic act. Priests and the faithful are warned not to give their support to this schismatic act of Mgr Lefebvre in order not to incur the same punishment. Given at Rome, at the see of the Congregation of the Bishops, July 1st, 1988. Cardinal Bernardin Gantin Prefect of the Congregation of Bishops DC no. 1967 (7–21August 1988) p. 789 MGR JACQUES GAILLOT, REMOVED FROM OFFICE AS BISHOP OF EVREUX Communiqué from the Holy See The Holy See published on 13 January, a brief communiqué announcing that: The Holy Father John Paul II has removed His Excellency Mgr Jacques Gaillot from the pastoral government of the diocese of Evreux (France), transferring him to the tenure of the seat at Partenia. Another communiqué from the Holy See was made public on 13 January, and distributed by the Office for the Conference of Bishops of France. Appendix 1 209 1. His Excellency Mgr Jacques Gaillot, Bishop of Evreux, since June 20th 1982, has not, during the course of the past ten years, paid attention to the advice and the observations made concerning his method of carrying out his episcopal ministry in doctrinal and pastoral communion with the Church. 2. On three occasions, in Nancy in 1987, Rome in 1992 and 1995, the Cardinal Prefect for the Congregation of Bishops spent a considerable length of time with him to share with him the questions, worries and negative reactions which arise everywhere from his frequent travels and his taking a stand on certain issues. 3. On the occasion of his Ad Limina visit, the Holy Father did not forget to give him a serious warning to refrain from undertaking such action outside the ecclesiastical communion. COMMUNIQUÉ FROM MGR JACQUES GAILLOT Mgr Jacques Gaillot was received, on 12 January, by Cardinal Bernardin Gantin, Prefect of the Congregation of Bishops, who invited him to tender his resignation. Mgr Gaillot declared that he did not think he was able to accept. He transmitted the following communiqué: I was summoned to Rome by Cardinal Gantin, Prefect of the Congregation of Bishops, on January 12th at 9.30 a.m. The threats which have been hanging over me for a while have been turned into reality. The blade [of the guillotine] fell: it was explained to me that my office as bishop had been removed and that the seat of Evreux would be declared vacant as of Friday at midday. COMMUNIQUÉ FROM MGR JOSEPH DUVAL, PRESIDENT OF THE CONFERENCE OF BISHOPS OF FRANCE Also on 13 January, the Office of the Episcopal Conference published the follow- ing communiqué from Mgr Joseph Duval: I am sad. I have always hoped that we would never come to this point. I am sad for Mgr Gaillot and for the diocese of Evreux. I am sad for the Church. Such situations reveal that there are problems. They are failures. They lead to misunderstandings. We have tried everything within our power to avoid such a situation. Last April, I sent a letter to Mgr Gaillot to ask him to place less distance between himself and the bishops, between himself and Rome. I explained to him, in the presence of several bishops, that I had written this letter so that Rome would not have to intervene. My appeal was not heeded, although in 1989 a similar appeal was addressed to him by Cardinal Decourtray, President of the Conference. I have pleaded with Rome for patience. However, unhappily, I must state that Mgr Gaillot has made no sign of an attempt to show his concern over living in closer communion with the Pope and the bishops. Rome has drawn its own conclusions. DC no. 2109 (5 Feb 1995) 210 Appendix 1 DECLARATION OF THE BISHOPS OF FRANCE (AN EXTRACT) Bishops from Champagne and Picardie At the start of their quarterly meeting in Reims, the bishops of Champagne and Picardie issued, on 17 January, the following declaration: The dismissal of Mgr Gaillot by Rome has provoked much emotion and has given rise to indignant protests in France. Mgr Gaillot originally comes from the diocese of Langres. He was a teacher at the seminary of Reims. Bishop of Evreux, he formed part of our apostolic region of the North. We are particularly attached to him and affected by what has happened. Mgr Gaillot has gained the friendship and confidence of many. In his own way, he has opened himself up to the world of today which we are also con- cerned about. The decision by Rome, even if numerous efforts were made to avoid it, including those by us in our apostolic region, and even if it was preceded by numerous cautions, has troubled and shocked us. It is generally perceived in a negative light… MGR GILSON, BISHOP OF MANS (EXTRACTS) Mgr Gaillot has been removed from his ecclesial responsibility as the Bishop of Evreux. Clearly he is still a bishop. I meditated long and hard yesterday evening on this serious event for the Church which affects our country. Allow me to share with you my meditation and my prayer. 1. I am worried about my Church. A wound has opened up in its ecclesiastical body. It is a still more serious misfortune as it involves the communion between bishops. 3. Mgr Gaillot is a friend. He is a brother in the Episcopate. For many years, we have attended, together, a spiritual group, which usually gathers together several bishops. We have worked out, together, what we might call a ‘evangelical reason for our daily lives’. I have a great deal of respect for him. 6. Mgr Jacques Gaillot clearly has charisma: an evangelical presence. He makes one uncomfortable. He is provocative, even in his non-violent approach. But he reminds us that it is important to take the side of those mar- ginalized by society. He is not the only person committed to translating this into a way of life.