4-18-2012
The media are announcing that Bishop Bernard Fellay has sent a “positive response” to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and that consequently the doctrinal question between the Holy See and the Society of St. Pius X is now resolved.
The reality is different.
In a letter dated April 17, 2012, the Superior General of the Society of St. Pius X responded to the request for clarification that had been made to him on March 16 by Cardinal William Levada concerning the Doctrinal Preamble delivered on September 14, 2011. As the press release dated today from the Ecclesia Dei Commission indicates, the text of this response “will be examined by the dicastery (Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith) then submitted to the Holy Father for his judgment”.
This is therefore a stage and not a conclusion.
Menzingen, April 18, 2012.
I thought the reality was more like this, stick in the mud that I am.
Filed under: Catholicism, Church, Religion Tagged: Bishop Fellay, Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Society of St. Pius X, Traditionalism 
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Oh my. This is becoming like an auction, with offers and counter-offers. But what the SSPX fails to see is that Holy Mother Church should not be bargained with. She has made a proposal, and it shouldn’t take this long to accept it if SSPX wishes to be under Her guidance and direction.
Looking around the traditional blogs yesterday, the traditionalists were cheering as though they had scored a victory through the “news” about SSPX “maybe” coming back, failing to see that the news did not come right out and say that they had accepted the proposal outright. The reports were saying that SSPX still had some “minor” differences, implying that they would not be a problem in the long run. If they are such “minor” differences, why must the SSPX be so stubborn in demanding them in their counter-offer?!
But the traditional bloggers can’t seem to see this from the other perspective. They are, instead, proclaiming their superiority over anything that is not “traditional.” Michael Voris has been, in particular, ranting and raving recently in his videos about how the Church is being “resurrected” by traditionally minded people, whom he seems to define as those who attend the Extraordinary form of the Mass. He actually repeatedly speaks about a Church divided. Either one is a liberal, wallowing in happy clappy liturgically abusive Masses in their parishes, or they’re the “young Turks” who are having large families, meeting online and bringing Holy Mother Church back to life through lives revolving around the Latin Mass. It’s as though there is no shade of grey in between!
Anyway — I’m kind of off the topic…and kind of not. This is the elitism that comes from refusing to see, in charity, that our Holy Father loves the Church and is doing what he has been ordained by God to do, as Peter. He does not need to be bargained with by those who think they know better. And vloggers and bloggers need to wake up and realize that attending the Latin Mass does not make for the perfect Catholic culture to which we must all gravitate. Are we to leave our “corrupted” (as he implies) parishes and all flock to traditional communities, vs. staying in our parishes and trying to catechize our neighbors through words and actions? Seems like a cowardly copout to me. But that is, after all, how the elitists through history have often acted.
As a young man that loves the traditional liturgy I feel obliged to respond. Firstly you are right this is just a stage, however signs are even from within the Vatican that such a stage has been positive. Its been said that both parties have been working behind the scences to reach a conclusion. I pray that this happens as it is sorely needed for the Church. Such a resoulution would be a major triumph for the pontificate of Benedict the 16th. “Other Mary” with regards to your veiw that this is like some form of auction its simply two parties coming to an agreement over what is best for them, all religious institutes take time to have their rules approved by Rome I suspect that this is similar,
Pope Benedict is the Pope of Christian Unity and long may his reign last. I was in Rome last week and was delighted to see the young seminarians that had an orthodox approach and a love for Our Lady. “Other Mary” it is our love for orthodoxy that makes the traditional liturgy so revered by faithful Catholics, God Bless you
Scott,
Just to clarify: The present stage of the discussions has nothing to do with what status the SSPX will receive if and when they are reconciled, nor does it have to do with a proposed rule of life. The present stage of the discussion has solely to do with the doctrinal question. The above communiqué indicates that is it premature to characterize the doctrinal question as resolved.