The Vatican condemns Econne seminary

THE HOLY SEE has withdrawn approval for the "traditionalist" seminary in Econne, Switzerland. run by .Arehbishop Marcel -Lefebvre, founder of the Fraternity of Pius X.
And in a document issued with the Pope's backing, the French Archbishop, a former missionary, has been told that his views are unacceptable and cannot be reconciled "with genuine loyalty towards the Church."
The latest Vatican move comes after an investigation by
a Commission of Cardinals into .a manifesto issued by Archbishop Lefebvre in November, 1974.
It was this document. addressed to members of the Pius X Fraternity and to seminarians at Econne, which laid down the basic direction of priestly training at the seminary.
It said: "We decline to follow the Rome of neo-Modernist and neo-Protestant tendencies which came about at the Second Vatican Council and later in the resulting reforms. No authority, not even the highest hierarchy, can force us to give up or reduce our Catholic Faith."
The document expressed opposition to "destructive innovations" in the Church. "To a new Mass are added a new Catechism. a new priesthood, new seminaries, new universities and a Charismatic, rentecostal Church: things which are opposed to ortho'dozy and to the permanent teaching office of the Church," Reform was "poisoned through and through," the manifesto added: "It stems from heresy and ends at heresy." Every "conscious and Joyal Catholic" would find it "impossible to accept this reform and somehow submit to it."
' The manifesto concluded: "Our work of training priests in accordance with the guidelines of the eternal teaching office" would continue. "We cherish the hope that the true light of tradition will banish the gloom which darkens the sky of eternal Rome."
The Commission of Cardinals says of this document: "Such a declaration appeared to us unacceptable on every point. It is impossible to harmonise most of the statements contained in this document with genuine loyalty towards the Church, 'towards him who bears the highest responsibility for the Church and towards the Coun
cil at which the views of the Church and its will came to expression.
"It is inadmissible that anyone should be required to relegate the directions of the Pope to his own judgment before submitting to them or disregarding them: that is the traditional language of sects — appealing to the Popes of yesterday in order to avoid obedience to the Pope of 1 od ay ."
Iii conversations with the Cardinal's Commission Archbishop Lefebvre was asked with "well-reasoned objections" to withdraw his views. But he indicated that this was impossible and said: "If I had to alter this text I would rewrite the same thing," The cardinals found painful the "obvious inflexibility" of Archbishop Lefebvre's views. But "under these circumstances the Cardinal's Commission had
no choice but to convey to the Holy Father the whole dossier of this affair and the entirely obvious conclusions, so that he could judge for himself."
Now, "with full approval of His Holiness", Archbishop Lefebvre has been informed of the decision to withdraw Church backing for the Frater nity of Pius X. and has been told that its establishments— namely the Econne seminary — "automatically lose their right to exist". In future all support for Archbishop Lefebvre must
cease as long as the views contained in his manifesto are the "principle of his action".
The letter, signed by the Prefects of the Congregations for Study, Clergy and Religious Orders — Cardinals Ciarrone, Wright and Tahcra — ends with the words; "Our ssish is that the Lord will enlighten you and help you find the path which is his will, trusting in him to whom we as bishops owe sincere and active obedience."
The document was sent to Archbishop Lefebvre on May 6, but sources close to him are said to have declared that there would be "no change" in the seminary's activities "in the immediate future".
To make matters worse. Archbishop Lefebvre recently contravened Church regulations by celebrating a Mass in the Tridentine Rite for 3.000 "traditionalist" pilgrims at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, Archbishop Lefebvre told the Rome pilgrims that he intended to appeal against the decision of the Holy See. But unless he is prepared to modify his views it is highly unlikely that his appeal will meet with success.