Heretics May Not Lawfully Be Promoted
Pope Leo XIII in Satis Cognitum states: Heresies and schisms have no other origin than that obedience is refused to the priest of God, and that men lose sight of the fact that there is one judge in the place of Christ in this world" (Epist. xii. ad Cornelium, n. 5). No one, therefore, unless in communion with Peter can share in his authority, since it is absurd to imagine that he who is outside can command in the Church. Wherefore Optatus of Milevis blamed the Donatists for this reason: "Against which ages (of hell) we read that Peter received the saving keys, that is to say, our prince, to whom it was said by Christ: 'To thee will I give the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and the gates of hell shall not conquer them.' Whence is it therefore that you strive to obtain for yourselves the keys of the Kingdom of Heavenyou who fight against the chair of Peter?"De Romano Pontifice, Saint Robert Bellarmine: This principle is most certain. The non-Christian cannot in any way be Pope, as Cajetan himself admits. The reason for this is that he cannot be head of what he is not a member, not he who is not a Christian is not a member of the Church, and a manifest heretic is not a Christian, as is clearly taught by Saint Cyprian (Liber 4, Epitle 8), Saint Athanasius (Scr 2 Contra Arianus), Saint Augustine, liber de great. Christ. Caput 20), Saint Jerome (contra Lucifer.) and others; therefore the manifest heretic cannot be Pope.The Holy Office on June 22, 1859 declared: Communication with heretics can be either in a condemned doctrine, or in rites and other signs indicative of adherence to a false sect, with the accompanying scandal of the faithful, to whom the Church therefore forbids this communion, lest the faith be lost or endangered. Whence St. John the Evangelist strictly commands: "if anyone comes to you and does not bring this (i.e. the Catholic) doctrine, do not receive him into the house, or say to him, Welcome. For he who says to him, Welcome, is sharer in his evil works.", II John 20. These words evidently imply that everything is forbidden that is expressed by a welcome, in so far as it constitutes liturgical actions instituted to signify ecclesiastical unity. Wherefore we read that a law was enacted by the Fathers of the Council of Carthage 'against praying or singing with heretics' as is cited by Benedict XIV. It is therefore illicit to invite heretics to a choir during sacred services, to sing alternately with them, to give them peace or sacred ashes and other such tokens of external worship, which are rightly and reasonably regarded as signs of interior bond and agreement. This is to be done neither in the active sense, namely by giving them such things, nor in the passive sense, by accepting from them in their sacred services.The following are irregular from crime: 1. apostates from the faith, heretics, schismatics: (Canon 985) An irregularity is a condition forbidding the reception of Holy Orders and the use of Orders already received. The following are irregular from defect: 5. Men who have incurred infamy of law. (Canon 984All apostates from the Christian faith and each and every heretic or schismatic incur the following penalties:1.ipso facto excommunication;
ipso facto excommunication;2.If they have been admonished and to not repent, they shall be deprived of any benefice, dignity, pension, office or other position which they may hold in the church; they shall be declared infamous, and, if they are clerics, they shall after renewed admonition be deposed;
If they have been admonished and to not repent, they shall be deprived of any benefice, dignity, pension, office or other position which they may hold in the church; they shall be declared infamous, and, if they are clerics, they shall after renewed admonition be deposed;3.If they have joined a non-Catholic sect or have publicly adhered to it, they incur infamy ipso facto, and, if they are clerics and the admonition to repent has been fruitless, they shall be degraded. Canon 188, paragraph 4, provides, moreover, that the cleric who publicly abandons the Catholic Faith loses every ecclesiastical office ipso facto and without any declaration, Canon 2314, paragraph 1
If they have joined a non-Catholic sect or have publicly adhered to it, they incur infamy ipso facto, and, if they are clerics and the admonition to repent has been fruitless, they shall be degraded. Canon 188, paragraph 4, provides, moreover, that the cleric who publicly abandons the Catholic Faith loses every ecclesiastical office ipso facto and without any declaration, Canon 2314, paragraph 1APOSTOLIC CONSTITUTION OF POPE PAUL IV, 15TH FEBUARY 1559 (ROMAN BULLARIUM VOL. IV. SEC. I, PP. 354357)
6. Further, if ever at any time it becomes clear that any Bishop, even one conducting himself as an Archbishop, Patriarch, or primate; or any Cardinal of the aforesaid Roman Church, even as mentioned, a Legate; or likewise any Roman Pontiff before his promotion or elevation as a Cardinal or Roman Pontiff, has strayed from the Catholic Faith or fallen into some heresy, [or has incurred, encouraged or incited schism], then his promotion or elevation shall be null, invalid and void. It cannot be declared valid or become valid through his acceptance of the office, his consecration, subsequent possession or seeming possession of government and administration, or by the enthronement of or homage paid to the same Roman Pontiff, or by universal obedience accorded him, or by the passage of any time in said circumstances, [nor shall it be held as quasi-legitimate.] It shall not be considered to have given or to give any power of administration in matters spiritual or temporal, to such persons promoted as Archbishops, Patriarchs or primates or elevated as Cardinals or as Roman Pontiff. Rather, each and, every one of their statements, deeds, enactments, and administrative acts, of any kind, and any result thereof whatsoever, shall be without force and shall confer no legality or right on anyone. The persons themselves so promoted and elevated shall, ipso facto and without need for any further declaration, be deprived of any dignity, position, honor, title, authority, office and power, [without any exception as regards those who might have been promoted or elevated before they deviated from the faith, became heretics, incurred schism, or committed or encouraged any or all of these.]
Michael Fighting
"Michael…who standeth for…thy people," — Dan. 12:1-12
