In a critical study of the Novus Ordo Missae (the Mass of Paul VI), Catholic priest James Wathen discussed the deposition of a (materially and/or formally) heretical pope that I found to be interesting, as it is a topic that has resulted in many opinions among Catholics, within the mainstream, Traditionalist, and even Sedevacantist camps (his comments about excommunication is also important to those who may be familiar with the debate about the validity of the Thuc consecrations, too):
The widespread notion that anyone who incurs “ipso facto excommunication” is thereby out of the Church (i.e., no longer a member) and therefore loses all ecclesiastical offices, dignities, etc., is based on a fundamental misconception: “Once a Catholic, always a Catholic” is a valid principle. “Anathema sit” does not mean that the Church thereby excludes a person altogether; but the subject may not participate in the life of the Church, that is, receive any of the Sacraments of the Living, or participate in liturgical ceremonies, take part in the Church functions, etc. As regards any offices, they are lost through a canonical condemnation only. Loss of an ecclesiastical office occurs immediately upon a declaration of “excommunicatus vitandus” (“excommunicated and to be avoided” ) by the Pope himself. Obviously the Supreme Pontiff cannot incur this censure. (Cf. Codex Iuris Canonici. Nos. 2256-67). Cardinal Journet explains that the Church cannot depose a Pope, no matter how wicked he may be because there is no authority above the Papacy. God Himself must do it. (Journet, The Church of the Word Incarnate, Vol. 1, pp. 425-26). If he is a heretic the Church can declare him “worthy of disposition.” “The Church’s action is simply declaratory; it makes the fact plain that an incorrigible sin of heresy exists; then the authoritative action of God disjoins the Papacy from a subject who, persisting in heresy after admonition, becomes in divine law, inapt to retain it any longer.” (Ibid. p. 484). These words do not mean that the Church, i.e., the bishops in council, have the power to deprive even an heretical Pope of his office and jurisdiction. They mean that the Church may use every moral means to force his abdication or prevent his acts from causing too great confusion and scandal. The defenders of the Faith in such a case would have to urge the people to pray, either for the Pontiff’s conversion or for his direct removal by God, while they warned the people that his teachings were pernicious. From all this it can be seen that an individual Catholic or group of Catholics cannot decide that a Pope is “worthy of deposition” let alone already deposed. (James F. Wathen, The Great Sacrilege: A critical essay on the Novus Ordo Missae of Pope Paul VI with particular reference to its moral impact and ramifications [Rockford, Ill.: Tan Books and Publishers, 1971], 21-22, n. 6, italics in original)
