DIVINE INTERDICT?
Some authors have observed that God has apparently interdicted the world for its sins. The similarity of our times to the effects of an interdict are striking. Since some who propose we are under Divine Interdict seem to ignore most of the effects of such an interdict, we shall outline them briefly:'An interdict is s censure by which the faithful are not denied communion with the Church, but are deprived of certain spiritual goods (or rights) enumerated in the succeeding Canons.', (Canon 2268.) Unlike excommunication and suspension, which are only inflicted on individuals (and then only those who have violated the law), interdiction can be inflicted on places or groups. and affect both the innocent and the guilty.
Effects of Local Interdict
Obviously the assumption is that the whole Earth is the 'locality' interdicted under Divine Interdict:1. no divine offices may be held, except on the Feasts of Christmas, Easter, Pentecost, Corpus Christi and the Assumption. when a local interdict is suspended. (Canon 2270)2. The dying may be attended to, and certain other private actions, such as one private Mass without solemnity, are permitted in one church only in each locality. (Being a censure these concessions must be interpreted strictly.)This situation mirrors our own, with the exception that we have NO divine offices, no Masses, etc. Of course the exceptions above apply, only if the clergy are not personally interdicted.Effects of Community Interdict
Here we are speaking of a community, such as a parish or religious house. Under Divine Interdict, the assumption is that the community is the Universal Church. Under Community Interdict the community cannot exercise any spiritual rights. (Canon 2273)Effects of Personal Interdict
Under the Divine Interdict theory, all persons are interdicted for the participation in the rejection of God. The penalties for personal interdict so mirror those for excommunication that they need not be considered separately. However, we wish to note that personally interdicted people cannot celebrate divine offices or assist at them, and are forbidden to administer, confect or receive the sacraments and sacramentals according to Canons 2280 and 2281. (Canon 2275)Are We Interdicted?
As we know from our study of censures, no one is censured, unless the law specifically censures him for some crime. Therefore to support the reasoning for Divine Interdict, we must necessarily cite the law we violated and were interdicted for. The law is 'Exsecrabilis', which is restated in the Vatican Council and finally Canon 2332, 'Each and every one of whatsoever state, degree or condition-whether king, bishop or Cardinal-who appeals from the laws, decrees or mandates of the reigning (contemporary) Roman Pontiff to an Ecumenical Council, is suspected of heresy, and incurs ipso facto excommunication reserved in a special manner to the Apostolic see. Universities, chapters or other legal bodies, by whatsoever name they be known, incur an interdict reserved in a special manner to the Apostolic see.' There is some question on the translation of the words, 'Reigning Roman Pontiff', which some translate, 'Contemporary Roman Pontiff.' This discrepancy invokes Canon 8, note 4, which requires us to go back to the old law. 'They stray from the straight path of truth who affirm that it is permitted to appeal from the judgements of the Roman Pontiffs to an ecumenical Council, as to an authority higher than the Roman Pontiff.', (The Vatican Council, chapter 3, DZ 1831.) 'The execrable and hitherto unheard of abuse has grown up in our day, that certain persons, imbued with the spirit of rebellion, and NOT from a desire to secure a better judgement, but to ESCAPE the punishment of some offense which they have committed, presume to appeal to a future council from the Roman Pontiff, the vicar of Jesus Christ. to whom in the person of blessed PETER was said: 'Feed my sheep' (John 21:17), and, 'Whatever thou shalt bind on earth, shall be bound in Heaven' (Matt 18:19).... Wishing therefore to expel this pestiferous poison far from the Church of Christ and to care for the salvation of the flock entrusted to us, and to remove every cause of offense from the fold of our Saviour .... we condemn all such appeals and disprove of them as erroneous and detestable. (Pius II, Bull 'Exsecrabilis', DZ 717.)The appeal in question is the appeal by the Universal Church through the Bishops to Vatican II against the decrees of the Roman Pontiffs from Peter to Pius XII. The appeal occurred, and we are members of the interdicted community, although in most cases we are innocent, as we have shown above. However, this does not exempt from the observance of the censure, until God is appeased by His Vicar, the Pope, and the Pope in Christ's Most Holy Name absolves us from this censure. The censure of interdict allows the innocent to ignore the interdict, so long as they are not otherwise censured. Therefore we are permitted to posit a Papal Election, although those guilty of this detestable appeal are strictly forbidden to participate, whether they be laymen or clerics.The Clergy
One last note: We have already proven that it is hardly possible for the clergy to be ignorant, juridically speaking. Therefore we must presume that they are FORMAL heretics and have incurred all of the censures for heresy. As such, until they are absolved, we are forbidden to induce them to violate their censure. Above all we may NEVER induce a heretic to say Mass, as this requires the reception of a Sacrament. This is specifically forbidden by Canon 731 and Christ, Himself, who told us not to cast pearls before swine.CONCLUSION: Until the Pope can regulate affairs and absolve from the various censures or otherwise release us, we have no access to the Sacraments with the sole exception of absolution in danger of death. (Canon 882, 2261/3) Therefore to demand them is to implicitly deny the teaching of Christ, who stated, 'Whatsoever you bind on earth...' The Pope, to whom this. power is gin has bound us, therefore only the Pope can invoke the last part of that statement, .and whatsoever you loose on earth is loosed also in heaven.'
Effect on Election Procedure
On pages 441 to 453 we outline the election procedure. Although it is true that a Bishop who is valid and licit exists, it is highly probable that such a one cannot prove this beyond any doubt to us. In any case we must take the safe course under Canon 21. Therefore we amend pages 441 to 453, as follows:1. NO Masses will be celebrated before or during the Conclave.2. nor will Confessions be heard (except in danger of death), because the faculties of any priest or Bishop are in some doubt owing to defection and silence in the Code on this subject. (We ask the Pope to absolve some priest from his censure and grant him jurisdiction for our Confessions. Until then we must make the Perfect Act of Contrition and may avail ourselves of 'lay confession', if we so desire, as St. Thomas outlines.)3. The 'Veni Creator' opening the Conclave will be recited rather than sung.Michael Fighting
"Michael…who standeth for…thy people," — Dan. 12:1-12
