Holding that he had been guilty of no stubborn resistance and unaware that the reply made on his behalf by Burtsell had never reached the Pope, McGlynn, claiming ill health, refused to obey the order, and the excommunication became effective on July 4, 1887.
McGlynn declined to obey the order, citing health issues and lacking knowledge that a reply on his behalf had not reached the Pope, leading to the excommunication's effectiveness on July 4, 1887.