Daniel del Castillo González
The Priestly Society of Saint Pius X has filed a petition against the excommunication decree issued by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith.
According to the decree, signed on July 2 by the Prefect, Cardinal Fernández, several bishops of the Society have been excommunicated. The same penalty applies to whoever, priest or lay, formally adheres to the movement.
On July 13, the Society issued a communiqué stating that they had filed an appeal in accordance with Canons 1734 and following of the Code of Canon Law.
These codes regard the administrative decrees issued by Church authorities.
In the same statement, the Society, citing the Code of Canon Law, holds that the excommunication is suspended until the case is settled.
GFX- “An appeal or recourse against judgements of a court or against decrees which impose or declare any penalty has a suspensive effect.”
Canon 1353 Code of Canon Law
The Society thus seeks to exercise rights recognized by the Church for any person who considers themselves to have been harmed by an administrative act.
According to Vatican sources that spoke to Rome Reports, the submission of the document does not entail the annulment of the excommunication decree, although it could temporarily suspend its enforcement.
The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith can now modify its decree, reject the appeal, or simply not reply.
If, in thirty days a decision has not been reached, the time restrictions allow for a subsequent appeal to be made to the Apostolic Signatura.
