A Church historian at Philadelphia’s Villanova University has said three U.S. bishops are “devout schismatics” who try to diminish the authority of Pope Francis.
“They are devout in the sense that they publicly display their preference for a traditionalist Church and its devotions, such as the rosary. They are schismatics because they openly promote the undermining of the bishop of Rome among the Catholic faithful,” Massimo Faggioli wrote in a July 16 essay for La Croix magazine.
Faggioli made specific mention of three U.S. bishops among those he called “devout schismatics”: Archbishop Charles Chaput of Philadelphia, Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco, and Bishop Joseph Strickland of Tyler, Texas.
The historian said the “schismatic instincts” of those bishops were manifested in August 2018, when they “sided with Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, the former papal nuncio to Washington who called on Francis to resign.”
In July 19 comments to CNA, Faggioli said that he “did not state that the Archbishop called on Francis to resign or that he created a schism, only that he vouched for Viganò’s integrity. That seems like siding with Archbishop Viganò especially in the context of his continued silence about Viganò’s request for the resignation of the pope.”
The Church’s canon law defines schism, the charge Faggioli makes against the three bishops, as “the refusal of submission to the Supreme Pontiff or of communion with the members of the Church subject to him.”
Full story at Catholic News Agency.
I have respect and high regard for these bishops, in spite of a Villanova theologian’s pronouncements. It seems he misunderstands schism.
Of course, let us continue to pray for all of our bishops. Even as a deacon, I do not have to submit to the pronouncements of a “Catholic” university theologian.
Please tell what Abp Cordileone has actively done to foment ‘revolution’ or otherwise seek the removal of the current Pope.
utter nonsense
And it’s only just beginning.
With “theologians” like that, one begins to wonder if a fancy degree makes them anymore reliable than many of the Church’s hierarchs, who seem neither moral nor Catholic.
The “theologian’s” name literally means “maximum beans” so I will call him that. Maximum Beans should direct his critical pen towards clerics who do not respect Tradition. The pope is not the master of the church, he is its servant. Maximum Beans should realize that bishops faithful to the church are not unfaithful to the pope; they are being utterly faithful.
I don’t recall Faggioli or any other theologian naming any schismatics during the 2 preceding pontificates. His sympathies are clear. The church needs less theologians and more catchists.
It is amusing that some conservative Catholics are so defensive about any criticism of these ultra traditionalist bishops when these same conservatives have been engaged in the very same undermining of more liberal bishops (think Bishop McElroy of San Diego) for years. Turnabout is fair play – is it not? Remember the Golden Rule!
Sounds to me like the historian is the schismatic.
Interestingly, few or no American university-based theologians called out all of the progressive bishops a decade ago when these bishops questioned and condemned the “authoritarian style” of JP II and B XVI. I reject Faggioli’s statement that by affirming Vigano’s honesty, Chaput, Cordileone, and Strickland “openly promote the undermining the authority of the Bishop of Rome.” To question is not to undermine. To affirm a fellow bishop in good standing is not to refuse to submit to authority. It’s part of the fabric of the Church Politic. It is clear this Italian lay theologian (whom I have never heard of…) has an axe to grind.
This is what sin does.
Thomas More did nothing at all to the King.
It was the example of holiness that gnawed away at someone in mortal sin.
Its the way it is.
Academia’s persisting DARKNESS revealed !
He certainly does nothing to hurt the feelings of the dear “Catholic” Governor.
Am not sure what it would take to get a full out condemnation.
Perhaps, public abortions on the steps of the Capitol beneath a statue of Moloch?
Archbishop Viganò gave true testimony. The Church should be rescued from homoheresy.
Disagreement with the Pope does not in itself make one a schismatic, and certainly the accusations of some bean-head theologian mean nothing. Somebody remind the professor that libel and slander are sins, too.
More about Massimo Faggioli:
“The Curious Case of Maximum Beans”
https://onepeterfive.com/the-curious-case-of-maximum-beans/
You disagree with his conclusions so you have to bully him about his name? Did you ever graduate from 6th grade? Oh NO! Mister Bill!!!
Why is this even published in CCD? Faggioli is not a theologian and not a canon lawyer. The record shows that Abp. Cordileone cares about leading those that can be lead, to salvation. And Abp. Vigano has placed his life on the line for Catholic truth.
To be accused by the heterodoxical Faggioli is a badge of spiritual honor.
Keep up the great work, Archbishop Cordileone! We are keeping you, a faithful servant of our Lord, in our prayers.
Notice…..all of the Bishops are TRADITIONAL!!!
That tells the whole story.
This is a foolish report. These men are devoted to the church in every way but keeping with what is right and will have enemies. I pray for these men that they will continue to be faithful to the Holy Church.
Me thinks Faggioli has been reading too much “Eye of the Tiber”. His article fits in so well with “Eye of the Tiber” articles such “Maestro Who Conducts Symphony with Back Facing Audience Labelled Radical Traditionalist”.. If Faggioli keeps on writing like this, maybe they will hire him.
My point being Faggiori’s article is as silly as “Eye of the Tiber” satire. The three bishops he mentioned are simply CATHOLIC, not rad trad, not heretical, not schismatic, not apostate, not heterodox, simply CATHOLIC.
The Anon post today at 2:58 Pm was mine, Anne TE.
People: no matter how you slice it, the last authoritative papal declaration calling out a schismatic act came from St. John Paul II on July 2, 1988 who said of the beloved Lefebvre and his SSPX: “In itself, this act [the ordination of 4 bishops without papal permission] was one of disobedience to the Roman Pontiff in a very grave matter and of supreme importance for the unity of the church, such as is the ordination of bishops whereby the apostolic succession is sacramentally perpetuated. Hence such disobedience – which implies in practice the rejection of the Roman primacy – constitutes a schismatic act” (Ecclesia Dei, #3). Listen people, listen.
Jon, both Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict said that some people were automatically excommunicated for their stands on abortion, etc., but a whole lot of people just love to tiptoe around it.
You are automatically excommunicated for directly procuring an abortion. What do you mean being excommunicated for their stands on abortion? Do you mean excommunicated or not allowed to receive communion?
Please document your statement.
Anne TE: And your point is…? The facts are as Jon stated – Lefebvre and his minions are schismatic!
My point is that Jon always goes after the “right”, and never says when men like Fr. James Marin are wrong, His partiality shows by what he leaves out. .
And I have never attended an SSPX Mass, but I certainly can see why some of them were pushed there by all the nonsense going on in the rest of the church such as some priests telling people that the miracle of the loaves and fishes was that Christ got the people “to share”. That is heresy. If Christ did not perform an actual miracles, or if he did not actually rise from the dead, our faith, as St. Paul said, is in vain. It would mean that Christ is no different than any other man.
Correction: “no different from any other man.”