Bp. Williamson on the validity of Bp. Dolan's consecration
10-21-93
Dear
Mr. Padula,
Thank you for this letter, as [well as] for the booklet by Fr. Cekada on
the Thuc Consecrations, which I had seen.
I think that Fr. Cekada's arguments are good, such that I agree with him
and not with Fr. Kelly or Fr. Jenkins as to the
validity of the up-coming consecration.
However, one must distinguish validity from licitly or lawfulness. A
consecration can be valid, but unlawful, like eating a stolen apple. The eating
is valid; it satisfies my hunger, but if the apple was stolen, then the eating
is unlawful.
Is the up-coming consecration lawful? Answer: if (a) the Cincinnati
operation of these priests is lawful, and if (b) they need a bishop
imperatively, then the consecration would be lawful.
But as to (a), these Cincinnati priests are not ordinary traditional
priests; they were Society of St. Pius X priests who broke with Society of St.
Pius X positions to take up harsh and un-Catholic positions, out of line at any
rate with Archbishop Lefebvre's thinking. Yet the future bishop on the flyer
advertising his consecration leads one to think that there was no such split
with the Archbishop. Conclusion: the Cincinnati priests' operation is
doubtfully lawful.
As to (b), if their operation is doubtfully lawful, then a consecration
is at best doubtfully necessary.
Conclusion: however much it would interest you to attend a consecration,
you would best stay away from a doubtfully Catholic occasion.
I hope this answers you question.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
+ Richard Williamson