Concerning an SSPX Dossier on Sedevacantism - Novus Ordo Watch

legally admissible excuse; it would also be necessary that “no subterfuge” could possibly
conceal it.
a) Against Fr. Boulet’s first point, in which he cites the divine law, The First See c<strong>an</strong> be judged by no
one, we may consider the Decretal Si papa, <strong>an</strong>d the commentary upon it of Innocent III, who
famously taught as follows.
He [the Rom<strong>an</strong> Pontiff] c<strong>an</strong> be judged by men, or rather c<strong>an</strong> be shown to be already judged,
if for example he should wither away into heresy; because he who does not believe is
already judged.” (Sermo 4); see Decreta Grati<strong>an</strong>i, III, d. 40, c.6. 16
And the Decretal itself reads,
“Let no mortal being have the audacity to reprim<strong>an</strong>d a Pope on account of his faults, for he
whose duty it is to judge all men c<strong>an</strong>not be judged by <strong>an</strong>ybody, unless he should be called to
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task for having deviated from the faith.”
The Abbé de N<strong>an</strong>tes provides a parallel text from the same Rom<strong>an</strong> Pontiff, as follows.
“The great Innocent III comments on this, applying it humbly to himself: ‘For me the faith is
so necessary that, whereas for other sins my only judge is God, for the slightest sin
committed in the matter of the faith I could be judged by the Church.’ (Serm. Consecrat.
Pontif. Rom., P. L. CCXVII, col. 656).
Nothing turns on the point, but it appears to be inaccurate to say that no act of Paul VI’s, John Paul
II’s, or Benedict XVI’s could be notorious with a notoriety of law, on the grounds that nobody may
judge “the Pope.” For if <strong>an</strong>y of the three were guilty of public heresy he would lose his papal status
by the very fact, <strong>an</strong>d could therefore be declared a heretic by <strong>an</strong> imperfect general council. This
would render his heresy notorious with a notoriety of law.
16 Quoted by Mgr. G. V<strong>an</strong> Noort, Dogmatic Theology, Vol. II, "Christ's Church" - Mercier Press, 1958, p. 310.
17 Ia, dist. XL, c. 6, Si papa; ex Gestis Bonifacii martyris.
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