Brian Harrison (theologian)

Father Brian Harrison, O.S., M.A., S.T.D., is a prominent Australian Catholic theologian and a prolific writer on religious issues.

He is a professor at the Pontifical University of Puerto Rico, and also an Associate Editor of the Living Tradition, a publication of the Roman Theological Forum hosted by the Oblates of Wisdom in St. Louis, Missouri.

He is doctrinally conservative, but opposes as allegedly excessive the Traditionalist Catholic movement e.g. those who criticise the actual texts of the Second Vatican Council, rather than the alleged incorrect interpretations of it made by allegede Progressivists.

He is also a forthright opponent of Sedevacantism. In this connection, he authored a tract, White Smoke, Valid Pope  A Heretic Pope Would Govern Illicitly—but Validly, which he based on the Conclave legislation of Pope Pius XII, Vacantis Apostolicæ Sedis which he quotes to the effect that:

"The right to elect the future Pope belongs solely to the Sacred College of Cardinals to the exclusion of any intervention by any other civil or ecclesiastical authority or dignity, or even by a General Council, which, if it is in session at the time, is ipso facto suspended on the death of the Pope until reconvened by the new Pope.

"Of the Cardinals, each and every one has the right to vote in the election, even though under excommunication. (emphasis added)

Therefore, Harrison holds, that even Cardinals who incurred excommunication due to heresy, can attend the Conclave, and he further alleges that they could also therefore be elected Pope legitimately.

However, the opponents of Harrison have proven that he has not quoted Pope Pius XII's legislation completely, and has deliberately suppressed a further relevant part from Vacantis Apostolicæ Sedis:

"Cardinals who have been deposed or who have resigned, however, are barred and may not be reinstated even for the purpose of voting. [1]

After this information was circulated, the Living Tradition website pulled off Harrison's article (http://www.rtforum.org/lt/lt87.html), and, despite the passage of several years, it has not been restored. Despite this, several other website have posted this article without, however, supplying the correct information about the part of Vacantis Apostolicæ Sedis suppressed by Harrison. (e.g., http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/2001/0103fea1.asp This Rock)

Harrison himself has never retracted, admitted or apologized for misleading his readers with false information.