excommunications and the existence of the schism.

[nusaibatara]

4. On June 17, 1988, Cardinal Gantin, head of the College of Bishops, sent Lefebvre a formal canonical warning that if he went ahead with the planned episcopal consecrations, against the specific instructions of the pope, he would incur the grave penalty of excommunication under canon law (CIC 1364 §1, 1382). In addition to the formal canonical warning, repeated informal brother cell phone list appeals were made to Lefebvre to honor the original agreement, right up until the end.

5. Come June 30, 1988, Lefebvre followed through with his threat and, along with Msgr. Antonio de Castro Mayer, Bishop emeritus of Campos, Brazil, he consecrated the following four priests of the SSPX as bishops: Bernard Fellay, Bernard Tissier de Mallerais, Richard Williamson and Alfonso de Galarreta.

6. The following day, July 1, 1988, Cardinal Gantin issued a formal decree of excommunication announcing that Lefebvre, Castro Mayer, and the four new bishops had performed a schismatic act and excommunicated themselves in accordance with the provisions of the Code of Canon Law. The following day, July 2, 1988, Pope John Paul II issued an apostolic letter Motu Proprio "Ecclesia Dei" in which he solemnly confirmed both the

7. Many followers of the Lefebvre schism have since argued, both in print and in public debate, that the excommunication did not apply to Archbishop Lefebvre because he was acting under the compulsion of grave fear in a state of emergency, as provided for under canons 1323:4° and 1324 §1:5°.