Valid But Illicit - Holy Orders

Holy Orders

All bishops are able to ordain a deacon, priest or bishop. A valid but illicit ordination, as the name suggests, is a non-sanctioned ordination in which a bishop uses his valid ability to ordain someone without having first received the required authorization. The bishop is therefore acting in a manner deemed illicit or illegal.

A Catholic bishop who consecrates someone to the episcopate without a mandate from the Pope is automatically excommunicated according to canon law, even though the ordination may be considered valid. The person who receives consecration from him is also automatically excommunicated. The excommunication can only be lifted by the Holy See.

Likewise, any and all subsequent ordinations or consecrations by someone thus consecrated may be considered valid but illicit.

In the 20th century, Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre is said to have earned automatic excommunication for his valid but illicit ordinations of four bishops without a papal mandate. However, his defenders argue that he acted under grave fear, which, according to canon law, excuses him from automatic excommunication. After Lefebvre's death, the Holy See on 21 January 2009 lifted the excommunication of the four bishops whom he ordained.