Michael Fighting
"Michael…who standeth for…thy people," — Dan. 12:1-12
Cum ex Apostolatus Officio applied to the Interregnum
Before reading this synopsis of Cum ex please read Pope Paul IV's entire Bull written in 1559. This Bull is generally accepted as infallible across the board by Traditionalist sects. Its implications today are far reaching and yet its principles have never been applied as they ought to bring the crisis in the Church into its proper focus. If this vitally important Bull is enforced to the letter, as the 1917 Code of Canon Law provides in cases of a doubtful law or situation, the crisis is resolved and the Church is restored. Let us proceed to draw out the conclusions of this amazing legislation.
Heresy, apostasy and/or schism must be manifest All without exception, even Catholic leaders of nations; but especially clerics and religious, Bishops, Archbishops, Patriarchs, Cardinals and even one appearing to be Pope are declared ipso facto excommunicated if they have publicly committed heresy, apostasy or schism prior to election or promotion. These leaders or members of the hierarchy also automatically lose their offices. (Those promoting a Great Monarch fail to realize that if this Prince or noble person has committed schism by adhering to a Traditionalist sect, or has publicly abandoned the Catholic Church, he is declared unfit for his office as Monarch by Cum ex. Therefore he cannot fulfill any Catholic prophecies predicting this Monarch, since these assumed such a leader would possess the faith of previous ages (links to Modernist oath.)
Heretical and/or schismatic clergy are reduced to the lay state As a result of heresy, apostasy or schism, all clerics become simple laymen, (Canon 188§4). They cannot be rehabilitated, nor can they participate in any future Conclave or election. (Schism is the primary error fou
nd today among the many Traditionalist sects. But this schism also is shot through with heresy, especially concerning the nature of the papacy.)
No declaration of this heresy, apostasy or schism or the subsequent deposition of clerics is necessary. Even a man elected Pope who committed heresy prior to his election is automatically deposed from his office. Bishops/archbishops and cardinals especially are held to a greater responsibility in these matters than the laity; to whom more is given, more is expected.
Nothing an heretical usurper "pope" does, says, orders; no one he appoints or dismisses and all of his acts are null and void. Likewise null and void are the acts of any others mentioned above who became heretics, apostates and/or schismatics prior to their promotions. (So no question of deposing an heretical Pope ever arises. Such a Pope was a heretic prior to his election. One only deposes a usurper.)
Such an election or promotion of heretics and/or schismatics cannot gain any validity by seeming possession of the office, enthronement, homage paid or universal obedience rendered to one believed to be a Roman Pontiff, or by passage of any length of time in such circumstances. Nor shall such a person obtain any sort of quasi-legitimacy. (SSPX supporters most certainly do not owe B16 and his predecessors any homage, nor can he be considered quasi-legitimate i.e., material/formal. No matter how many accept and acclaim him or how long this imposture lasts, such a heretic cannot gain validity.)
Flee from heretics or share in their sins and censures Those who so accept or defend such an antipope whose heresy has been clearly demonstrated, or whoever he has appointed as cardinals, bishops, etc. also are excommunicated ipso facto. Cardinals, other clerics and laity who leave the service of an antipope or other heretic, immediately upon realizing that these heretics' publicly demonstrated heresy requires denunciation, are not held accountable for having once obeyed them.
The laity may call for a papal election If a man usurping the papacy cannot be removed, all may implore the aid of the secular arm (the laity) to remove him. (No mention is made here of any "interim" government for the Church such as concocted by Traditionalists. Pope Paul IV assumes that the papacy will be re-established as soon as possible and the usurper deposed. The permission to elect a new Pope is implied, since surely if a usurper is ousted a true Pope must take his place.)
Only a Pope canonically elected is a true Pope Obedience is owed only to the canonically established Roman Pontiff or those in obedience to him and appointed by him. Bishops not in obedience to the Roman Pontiff and priests and laity not in obedience to bishops under a true Pope are forbidden to function in any sacramental or teaching capacity. (Notice that it is presumed that a true Pope exists despite the fact that the usurper may still reign from Rome or elsewhere. The Bull also defines how this true Pope must be established, which is according to Canon Law.)
Infallible decrees must be observed and obeyed Pope Paul IV commands Catholics to avoid heretics, apostates and schismatics as "warlocks, heathens, publicans and heresiarchs." He warns all who would infringe his bull that they will incur the wrath of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul.
It is quite clear that any and all who have publicly set up Traditionalist chapels and attended these chapels are in schism. And clearly those trying to recognize JP2 and B16 as partly legitimate to claim they have jurisdiction favor the usurpers and are excommunicated. Paul IV reminds Catholics they must not associate with those outside the Church on pain of sin. If Traditionalists truly recognize the infallibility and indefectibility of the papacy; if they honestly believe that Cum ex is infallible, then they have no choice but to bring their beliefs and actions in line with this Bull and obey it if they wish to escape excommunication. That they have not done so in the 30 years that Cum ex has been available is proof positive that their pretensions to unity and reverence for the papacy are nothing more than empty words. Under Can. 1325, their manner of acting alone constitutes heresy and schism.
