 The Bishop put his intention into effect on 6 May 1975 , thereby officially dissolving the Society . This action was subsequently upheld by Pope Paul VI , who wrote to Archbishop Lefebvre in June 1975 . Lefebvre continued his work regardless because " having taken legal advice from competent canon lawyers who advised him that , despite the letter from Pope Paul dated 29 June 1975 , the entire legal process taken against the Fraternity had been so irregular that it could not be considered as having been legally suppressed . The Archbishop was further advised that , as the Vatican had permitted priests to be incardinated directly into the Fraternity on three separate occasions , it could be considered that the privilege of incardinating priests directly into the Fraternity now existed . " Lefebvre also argued that there were insufficient grounds for suppression as the Apostolic Visitors , by the Commission 's own admission , delivered a positive report , and that since his Declaration had not been condemned by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith ( CDF , formerly known as the Holy Office , or Inquisition ) , he appealed , twice , to the appellate court of the Church , the Apostolic Signatura . Cardinal Villot blocked the move , reportedly threatening the Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura Cardinal Staffa with dismissal if the appeals were not struck out . 
