CIRCULAR NO. 16/98-A CAVEAT ON THE ST. PIUS SOCIETY

August 24, 1998

To All Priests, Religious Men and Women, Heads of Catholic Institutions, Church Organization and the people of God:

My brothers and sisters in Christ:

The news of a Mass celebrated here in Cebu City by a priest of the Lefebvre Society of St. Pius X was brought to my attention.

On account of this incident and due to the inquiries of several people, I wish to inform our Catholic faithful that the Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, has issued a decree of excommunication upon the leaders of the Lefebvre Society of St. Pius X, a schismatic organization, in a Motu Proprio “Ecclesia Dei” on July 2, 1988.

For this reason, I am directing all our Catholic faithfuls to refrain attending Mass or religious services celebrated by a priest of the Society of St. Pius X. Besides, no Catholic can go to confession to any Lefebvre priest, since they have no faculty to hear confession in Cebu.

I wish, therefore, to indicate clearly that it is  a grave duty for every Catholic, whether priest, religious or layperson, not to adhere to said Society’s act of disobedience to the Holy See nor to give support in any way in favor of the schismatic movement founded by Msgr. Marcel Lefebvre.

In this regard, however, out attitude must be tempered by charity towards our erring brethren and with firmness in our fidelity to the Vicar of Christ.

I am confident that you, dear brothers and sisters, will follow this instruction in the spirit of ecclesial unity.

Given in Cebu City on August 22, 1998, Feast of the Queenship of Mary, Patroness of the Visayas.

+RICARDO J. CARDINAL VIDAL

Archbishop of Cebu

By Mandate of the Archbishop:

MSGR. ADELITO A. ABELLA, H.P.

Chancellor