These people are not in open defiance of the authority of the Church because the authority of the Church is not unlimited. The attempt by the Archbishop to wrest property from its legal owners is STEALING. To threaten the owners by means of such an interdict is unjust and a form of EXTORTION.
Dude, get over your pseudo legal analysis. No one stole anything because the congregation hasn't given up its property or had it taken away. The Church hierarchy told them to do something. They refused. They are part of the Catholic Church so one might naturally assume they are supposed to follow Church rules, but this is an obvious squabble over property and $$. Hardly an admirable fight on either side. It is supposed to be a Church, after all. But there hasn't been any theft or any extortion. Each side is doing their thing. Most Church property belongs to the Church and this situation is an anomoly.
I concur ... the church 'by appearance' cares more about property than saving souls .. the big looser here is the RCC, mainly in this 'image' that it is giving itself. Shame on them for their putting greed over their 'charter' by God to save souls.
You should stick with describing things in your own church, whatever it might be; it isn't Catholic.