Faced with the profusion of statements, articles and interviews which present the Society of Saint Pius X as responsible for a fracture within the Church, for a very serious disobedience towards the Holy Father, or even for a real schism, it seems appropriate to write a few lines in order to provide some clarification.
Our method will always be the same, not impressions, nor “hearsay,” nor the lucubrations of the occasional commentator, but Catholic theology, drawn from its sources: the constant Magisterium of the Church and the teaching of the great theologians and canonists.
1. The Society of Saint Pius X Is Not Schismatic
Cardinal Tommaso de Vio (known as Cajetan, 1469-1534), one of the greatest theologians of all time, explicitly stated: “Disobeying, even obstinately, the Sovereign Pontiff does not constitute a schism. What constitutes a schism is refusing to submit to him as head of the whole Church.” 1
What is the difference between simple disobedience, which does not lead to schism, and disobedience accompanied by rebellion, which implies a refusal to submit and constitutes a schism?
Cardinal Cajetan explains it clearly. I can disobey an order from the Pope for three reasons:
- because what he orders me to do not please me or seems unfair to me;
- because I believe he is acting unfairly towards me;
- because I do not recognize him as my superior.
In the first two cases, there is no schism; in the third, there is a schism. 2
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