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From:
Subject: Re: seek info on lifting of excommunication of Fenians
Date: Sat, 26 Apr 2003 22:46:02 -0500
References: <20030426203127.47833.qmail@web20508.mail.yahoo.com>

>Greetings, Is there any information (on the internet or in books) with
details about the lifting of Pope Pius IX 's excommunication of the Fenians?
>I am interested to know what Pope lifted the excommunication, what year,
and even the text of the document if possible. Thank you and take care.
>Ben Emerson


I believe the excommunication still stands. It was imposed January of 1870
and never rescinded that I know of. It was ignored by many clerics at the
time, many in a "don´t ask don´t tell format" where the priest simply didn´t
ask if the person was a Fenian during Penance or Holy Eucharist. In 1880s
the Fenian Brotherhood basically ceased to exist and it is a moot point
nowadays. I have not heard of any application directly to the Clan Na Gael
or Sinn Fein although the wording "or legitimate authorities" would include
all clandesitine organizations which advocate the overthrow of established
order. The area becomes fuzzy in Catholic countries under dictatorships such
as in South America where there have been priests who support clandestine
revolutionary groups. I am acting on memory now but I believe there have
been some excommunications in Central or South America in some cases but not
all where priests supported clandestine revolutionary organizations.

Here is a website which explains the process:
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05678a.htm

Go to the following section:
VII. EXCOMMUNICATIONS LATÆ SENTENTIÆ NOW IN FORCE
(b) Excommunications Simply Reserved to the Pope
(4) "Those who become members of the Masonic sect, of the
Carbonari, or of other similar sects that plot either openly or secretly
against the Church or legitimate authorities; all who countenance these
sects in any way whatever, and finally, all who do not inform against the
occult chiefs or leaders, i.e. until they have made such denunciations."
Certain associations are prohibited because of their evil or dangerous
object; this article deals only with those to which it is forbidden to
belong under pain of excommunication latæ sententiæ. These are known by
their aim, which is to plot against the Church or legitimate authorities,
obviously by illicit or criminal means; this excludes at once purely
political groups. It matters little whether or not these societies exact
secrecy from their members, though the element of secrecy constitutes an
unfavourable presumption. The article names two of these sects, the
Freemasons and the Carbonari; to these we must add the Fenians (Holy Office,
12 Jan., 1870). There are four prohibited American societies: the
Independent Order of Good Templars (Holy Office, 9 Aug., 1893), the Odd
Fellows, the Sons of Temperance, and the Knights of Pythias (Holy Office, 20
June, 1894), but not under pain of excommunication. In regard to the sects
of which our article treats, three distinct acts incur excommunication: the
inscribing of one's name as a member, the positive favouring of the sect as
such, and failure to denounce the occult leaders. For this last act censure
is not incurred if the leaders be not occult, or if they be not known with
sufficient certainty. The denunciation, if imperative, must be made within a
month; once it is made the excommunication is no longer reserved, and one is
in a condition to receive absolution from any confessor without further
formality.

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