The Validity of Marriages Celebrated Before Priests of the Fraternity of Saint Pius X: A Commentary on the Letter of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei

Abstract

To grasp the exact scope of the provisions introduced by the letter of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei, the commentary first investigates the question of the validity of marriages celebrated so far before the priests of the Society of San Pius X. After the analysis of the current legislation, a study of the practice of the Roman Curia and of the Rotal Jurisprudence will follow. The applicability to the aforesaid cases of the faculties substitution and of the extraordinary canonical form is also considered, as well as the possible consequences of the formal defection from the Church of the members belonging to the Society.