PATRIARCHAL SEE 11 April 2020 (ORCNS) - On Holy Saturday, His Holy Eminence the Florentine Archfather issued a ban of excommunication for "... all heads of states and government officials of any level who impose any legal restrictions upon the Church, engage in hostility against the Church, openly oppose Church sovereignty and authority, prevent the clergy from fulfilling their duties, prevent the faithful from religious participation, or impose any penalties upon the clergy or faithful for religious participation and the fulfillment of their spiritual duties." This was done so that the Church might make a public stand in favour of religious freedom around the world. Often misunderstood, such a ban, the highest penalty the Church can impose, is a pastoral tool that ultimately and sincerely seeks true repentance and reconciliation, that the peace of God might be established on earth as it is in Heaven.
The complete text of the document is provided below.
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BANNUM EXCOMMUNICATIONIS
WHEREAS the present global pandemic warrants significant attention and diligent effort both from church and state, as do all pandemics, the governments of some nations, both at the national level and at provincial and local levels, have taken measures that unquestionably have placed hundreds of millions of people, particularly the poor and vulnerable, at additional serious risks, not the least of which is the very real threat of starvation for many due to lack of daily wages. Further troubling is the complete lack of respect by the governments of some nations of the sovereignty of Holy Mother Church, the usurpation of Church authority by such civil governments, direct hostile action taken by the said governments against the hierarchy and clergy of the Church, and the denial of religious rights of countless people in many nations. We have spoken on this matter. Others have spoken on this matter. Yet, while some nations have openly embraced the role of the Church, reverencing her authority, embracing her worthy role, and respecting the religious rights of the people, nevertheless the governments of many nations have failed to respect the religious rights of their people and the sovereign and supreme authority of the Church. It is not for any civil government to dictate to the Church, to impose orders upon the clergy, or to control the fulfillment of religious obligations and religious participation on the part of the faithful. That is wholly and entirely the exclusive right of the government of the Church. We, therefore, have a duty to impose the strictest of penalties for the benefit of the faith, the Church militant here on earth, and the faithful around the world.
By Our sovereign and universal authority under Almighty God that we possess from Rome and Florence, We, as Bishop of St. Stephen, Legate of Christ, Custodian of the Apostolic See of St. Mark at Aquileia, Successor of Pope Leo X, hereby and forthwith impose by these presents a ban of excommunication upon all heads of states and government officials of any level who impose any legal restrictions upon the Church, engage in hostility against the Church, openly oppose Church sovereignty and authority, prevent the clergy from fulfilling their duties, prevent the faithful from religious participation, or impose any penalties upon the clergy or faithful for religious participation and the fulfillment of their spiritual duties. This does not apply to any such persons in government of a state that make requests of the Church, seeking to work together with the Church as a partner. Neither does this apply to any such persons in government of a state that merely imposes general restrictions that do not specifically apply to spiritual activities, but temporarily modify the manner in which such activities are carried out in the interest of public health without in any way preventing that which is determined by the Church to be appropriate and necessary spiritual activity.
Under the provisions of this ban, any civil official to which it applies suffers immediate loss of legitimacy to hold civil office. Therefore, all edicts, orders, legislation, judgments, and other acts that apply to their civil office that they carry out, decree, or impose during the imposition of this ban are rightly considered null and void as long as this ban remains in force. Furthermore, the faithful who individually choose to disobey such officials commit no moral offense by doing so. Most importantly, the faithful are entirely justified in making a personal decision to disobey especially the anti-religious acts and regulations of such officials and are absolved from any moral responsibility from such disobedience to the civil government. Moreover, this ban and all its provisions likewise apply to any civil official or agent of a civil government that seeks to impose penalties upon the faithful who do not follow provisions, decrees, orders, and regulations of civil officials excommunicated under this ban are likewise excommunicated by this ban.
The provisions of this ban are reserved to this See. They may be lifted for a particular person without further act immediately upon true repentance and removal of all offending civil provisions, provided that such removal is done for the purpose of respect of the faith, fear of God, acknowledgment and reverence of Church sovereignty and authority, and the benefit of the souls of the faithful. Any removal of such provisions by a civil official for any other reason shall not result in automatic lifting of this ban.
We genuinely and sincerely hope and desire that the civil officials excommunicated under this ban may repent and be reconciled with the Church. In such a case, We would welcome them with open arms. The Church and the civil state should be partners working for the common good of the people, with the acknowledgment that such work only is legitimate if it is under God, with the Church supreme above the state. Again, We pray that the civil officials may be reconciled with Almighty God and His Holy Church. Until such time, We enjoin all civil officials covered by this ban from any and all exercise of their civil office.
Ego Archipater R.
