Who Can Work at This General Council

Since an Imperfect General Council by definition is not convened by the Supreme Pontiff and operates “praeter legem” (beyond the law), it seems that its universality is truly the determining criterion of its legitimacy. Therefore, we want the invitation to join us to be as universal as possible. Regardless of whether you are convinced of the vacancy of the Apostolic See or have serious reservations about this conclusion, if you acknowledge that there is a very serious problem at the head of the Church, you are welcome.

Similarly, we believe that the question of the validity of Orders received should not, in the context of the General Council, be an obstacle to your participation. It is common knowledge in our age of universal chaos that practically all priestly and episcopal lines are suspected of invalidity by one party or another. We therefore believe that the best criterion for acceptance is a reasonable claim to having been ordained a priest or consecrated a bishop, and that for the time being, each person should be treated according to the title he believes he has, provided that he can reasonably justify that title. St Robert Bellarmine does not demand the exclusion of those whose lineage some may doubt; he demands, rather, that no bishop who is in fact a bishop be excluded. It therefore seems that the most prudent course of action is to tolerate anyone who can present reasonable proof of ordination or consecration. Once doubt has been removed and the Church has an indisputable Supreme Pontiff, the question of actual validity of episcopal lineages should be left to his decision. The General Council does not in fact involve an act of ordination, such as priestly ordination. Provided that you have reasonable grounds for having been ordained a priest or consecrated a bishop, if you wish to join your brothers in working for the good of the Church, you are welcome.

For an Imperfect General Council to be able to meet without being convened by the Supreme Pontiff and while there exists a pretender to the papacy, it is necessary that at least a serious doubt be admitted as to the legitimacy of the said pretender. It is therefore necessary in this context not, on principle, to refuse the possibility that the See in fact be vacant. The vacancy of the Apostolic See is not yet a fact that has been canonically established by the authority of the Church. It may therefore happen that some will come to the General Council convinced of the vacancy of the See, while others may not yet be convinced, but nevertheless admit that the situation of the Church is sufficiently serious to justify the convening of an Imperfect General Council. There may also be differences of opinion as to the date of the beginning of the vacancy. Whichever opinion they favour, any member of the clergy is welcome who recognises the absolute gravity of the present situation affecting the head of the Church, and is willing to listen to what his brothers have to say on the subject and to submit to the decisions of the General Council.