Epikeia negates the Church’s Divine constitution

Epikeia negates the Church’s Divine constitution

1. The papal election constitutions Vacante Sede Apostolica and Vacantis Apostolicae Sedis both forbid the use of epikeia, defined as a correction to the law, as well as any other changes to canon law or papal law during an interregnum.

2. Ultimately, the invocation of epikeia is a quasi-legal maneuver — an attempt to supplant the Divine constitution of the Church. 

3. Bishops do NOT receive their jurisdiction immediately from Christ, but only through the Roman Pontiff, and this must be held as certain (Mystici Corporis, Ad sinarum gentum, Humani generis, Ad Apostolorum Principis.).

4. In the absence of the Roman Pontiff, all papal jurisdiction ceases and cannot be appealed to or invoked during an interregnum, (Pope Clement I, Vacante Sede Apostolica, Vacantis Apostolicae Sedis).

5. This includes “supplied jurisdiction” under Canons 209 and 2261 §2, for the Roman Pontiff alone supplies it as approved authors attest. 

6. Traditionalists long ago refused to elect a Roman Pontiff, relinquishing any claim whatsoever to even pretend to validly possess jurisdiction.

7. “It is from the institution of Christ Himself … by Divine right that the blessed Peter has perpetual successors in the primacy” (Vatican Council; DZ 1825). The Roman Pontiff has the “full and supreme power of jurisdiction, ORDINARY AND IMMEDIATE, over the churches altogether and individually, and over the PASTORS and faithful altogether and individually” (Vatican Council; DZ 1831).

8. Unless the Roman Pontiff is included in the Apostolic College of Bishops, and the other bishops are in communion with him, jurisdictional power cannot exist. The Divine constitution of the Church consists in God the Father sending His only-begotten Son to earth to appoint St. Peter as the head of the Apostolic College; and through him all power and authority flow. He alone is divinely appointed by God to possess this authority and power and only he can share it with the bishops.  Sever the head bishop from the body of bishops, and the connection to the Divine is lost.

By T. Stanfill Benns, 2022.