European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - August 7, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Magazine rebel archbishop Marcel Lefebvre consecrating one of four Bishops june 30. Breaking by Stephen  associated Pressw Hen archbishop Marcel Lefebvre broke with the roman Catholic Church in june the Vatican immediately cried schism and imposed the once dreaded penalty of excommunication. Over a month later Church officials see no signs of any mass repentance by Lefebvre s followers. They acknowledge the punishment has apparently lost the sting that once led an emperor to Cross the Alps to seek absolution. Schism and excommunication Are very antiquated terms says a senior Vatican official. But they evoke an amazing reaction. For the vast majority of people the Lefebvre Case is terribly  still Lefebvre s break with Rome came As a serious Jolt to the Unity of a Church whose history has been dotted by schism and heresy from the split with orthodox christians in 1054 to Martin Luther s protestant reformation in the 16th Century. Some progressive Bishops Are Happy to see Lefebvre go arguing that no concessions should be made to the 82 year old French Arch conservative who denounces what he regards As the satanic influence of liberalism in the Church. But the schism the first since 1870 when the old catholics split with the Vatican Over the Dogma of papal infallibility has deeply embittered Pope John Paul ii and other Church officials. It came As a personal affront to John Paul who has continuously stressed Christian Unity during his nearly 10-year Long papacy when Lefebvre Conse created four Bishops without papal approval june 30 in Econe Switzerland. It was specially painful for the Pope because he personally had directed years of efforts in trying to reach a settlement with Lefebvre. The timing was also upsetting the consecration came As the Pope was leading joyous celebrations in Rome for 24 new cardinals. The consecration amounted to a schismatic act defined by the Pope As the outright rejection of the roman primate and resulted in the automatic excommunication of Lefebvre the four Bishops and a brazilian prelate who assisted in the ceremony. The Vatican has threatened Lefebvre s priests and Lay followers with the same punishment if they adhere to the split. Excommunication is considered the gravest of All ecclesiastical punishments. An excommunicated roman Catholic cannot receive the sacraments a penalty the Church has described As spiritual  Lefebvre however brazenly flouted the punishment and vowed to press ahead with his movement with even greater vigor. They Call us schismatic and excommunicated but those who excommunicate us already were excommunicated Long ago he said. Lefebvre s reaction was not Only a sign of what some Vatican officials have described As his arrogance but also underlined the change in attitudes toward excommunication which was even considered grounds for the death penalty during the holy roman Empire. One heretic who paid with his life was the italian philosopher Giordano Bruno. Today a haunting hooded statue stands on the spot in Rome s Campo Dei Fiori where he was burned at the stake in 1600. In Early history catholics were advised to shun people who had been excommunicated. But by the 15th Century the Church decided that such behaviour was Only necessary with the most serious offenders those known As Vicandi of be avoided. Most of those excommunicated including Lefebvre Are considered toleration be tolerated. While excommunication in the past often carried political consequences today it is primarily intended to Cut off participation in the Church s spiritual life and persuade the offender to repent. It s certainly now a purely religious punishment said the senior Vatican official speaking on Only condition of anonymity. During earlier times in Christian society it had Many social and political effects but that does t exist  while Lefebvre has scorned his excommunication others in history went to great lengths to fight or avoid the penalty. The German King and holy roman emperor Henry in was excommunicated by Pope Gregory Vii in 1076 after he like Lefebvre installed his own Bishop without papal approval. As a form of humiliation and penitence Henry trekked across the Alps in midwinter moving the Pope to Grant him absolution at Canossa in 1077. Another famous Case involved Henry Viii of England. The King who had supported the Catholic Church As a bulwark against the protestant reformation tried from 1527-33 to persuade the Pope to Grant him an annulment from his wife Katharine so he could marry Anne Boleyn. The Church refused to give in and Henry was promptly excommunicated by Pope Clement Vii when he went ahead and crowned Anne Queen. Henry subsequently declared the English Church Independent of Rome and today it is the anglican Church or Church of England. Also rooted in the past Are Lefebvre s differences with Rome. He opposes Many of the modernizing reforms of the second Vatican Council 1962-65, including the Church s opening to other denominations and faiths. Condemning what he Calls the Church s Neo modernist and Neo protestant tendencies Lefebvre formed his own traditionalist St. Pius x fraternity in Switzerland ordained More than 220 priests and opened seminaries throughout the world. Our future is the past is his motto. A major Issue of Contention is the 16th Century tridentine latin mass which was suppressed by Vatican i and replaced with an updated mass in the vernacular which Lefebvre has described As Bastard  in an Effort to hold onto those Lefebvre followers wishing to remain Loyal to Rome the Pope has promised wider use of the ancient Liturgy. But beyond the Issue of the mass the schism is also seen As reflecting continuing fallout and tensions in the Church created by the Vatican ii reforms. The Lefebvre people Are reacting against the whole culture that emerged in the Church after Vatican ii said the Vatican official. Said the Rev. Robert Graham a Rome based Jesuit historian the Council set up a reasonable program of Reform then All hell broke Loose in the United  surveys have shown that Many american catholics reject Church teaching on a number of issues ranging from the prohibition on contraception to the ban on women priests. Vatican officials have condemned what they Call the pick and choose approach to religion. Other groups have drifted away from the mainstream Church including leftist movements in latin America and the Philippines. They reject the structures of the Church and consider it  there is not As yet the makings for another formal schism said the Vatican official. But some would say that a Large number of these groups have de Facto left the Church. Some of those on the far left would have no problem joining another  it May take years before the full Impact is known of the break with Lefebvre. Much depends on the Success of the Vatican s Campaign to win Back his followers with promises of preserving their spiritual and liturgical  the Pope has set up a special commission headed by Cardinal Paul Augustin Mayer of West Germany to try to reintegrate the Lefebvre followers into the Church. The italian Catholic monthly 30 torni 30 Days reported in its latest Issue that a group of traditionalist priests wishing to remain Loyal to the Pope Are forming their own organization the fraternity of St. Peter and Hope to attract Lefebvre followers. Lefebvre claims millions of sympathizers around the world Vatican officials say about 500,000 catholics turn to his priests for various Church functions. The tug of War for these followers May ultimately determine whether the schism Marks a major division in the Church or whether it will go Down As just a minor footnote in history. Sunday August 7,1988 the stars and stripes Page 13