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Name:
Marcel Lefebvre
Dates:
Born: November 29, 1905 (Tourcoing, France)
Died: March 25, 1991
Ordained Priest: September 21, 1929
Consecrated Bishop: September 18, 1947
Society of St. Pius X founded in Ecône (Switzerland): November 1, 1970
Suspended a divinis: 1976
Excommunicated: June 30, 1988
Biography:
Marcel Lefebvre was a popular French prelate who became responsible for one of the more serious schismatic movements in modern Catholicism. Lefebvre was a traditionalist bishop who attended the Second Vatican Council meetings and didn't like what he encountered. He refused to sign many of the documents issued by the council and would later oppose dropping the Latin Mass.
As a matter of fact, the Latin Mass would become a rallying cry for his supporters. For a time during the 1970s he was more or less reconciled with Rome, though the situation was uneasy. When he realized that he would make no gains in Rome with his views, he embarked on a course that would lead to schism. Lefebvre realized that unless he took steps to ensure the continuation of his movement, it wither and die eventually. Thus he began to not only ordain priests but also bishops, something the Vatican had long insisted only occur with their approval.
Because of this, Lefebvre was excommunicated. This caused a split in his movement: some returned to obedience to Rome while others continued to follow him. His Society of St. Pius X has members all over the world who claim to be Catholic but who are not in any sort of communion with Rome.
Also Known As: none
Alternate Spellings: none
Common Misspellings: none
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