ROME —The Society of St. Pius X's three conditions for reuniting with Rome have been revealed in a letter sent by their general secretary to the society’s superiors across the world.
“The freedom to accuse and even to correct the promoters of the errors or the innovations of modernism, liberalism and Vatican II and its aftermath” is listed as part of the first condition in the July 17 letter from Father Christian Thouvenot.
The interpretation and legacy of the Second Vatican Council, which took place from 1962-1965, now seems to be the major stumbling block for the society in their ongoing negotiations with the Vatican aimed at healing their 24-year rift.
The new prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Archbishop Gerhard Muller, told Catholic News Agency July 20 that “the assertion that the authentic teachings of Vatican II formally contradict the tradition of the Church is false,” although he added that there are “gradations” in the authority of different Council documents.
The breakaway traditionalist group also listed “the exclusive use of the Liturgy of 1962” and a “commitment of at least one bishop” as their second and third conditions for reconciliation with Rome.
The former would seem to be guaranteed by Pope Benedict’s 2007 motu proprio Summorum Pontificum, while the latter would also seem to be covered by the Vatican’s present offer of personal prelature status for the society. A personal prelature is a Church jurisdiction without geographical boundaries. The only personal prelature at present is Opus Dei, whose prelate is also ordained a bishop.
Father Thouvenot also listed three other “desirable conditions” for reunification. These are “a separate ecclesiastical court” within the Church’s wider judicial system, the “exemption of the houses of the SSPX from the diocesan bishops” and the creation of a pontifical commission in Rome “for the tradition” that would be directly under the direction of the Pope, with “the majority of the members and the president in favor of tradition.”
The Vatican is currently awaiting an official reply from the society, which would involve them accepting a “Doctrinal Preamble” that includes a full adherence to the dogmatic content of the Second Vatican Council. Even if they refused to sign the document at the present moment, the Vatican has suggested that further dialogue will be possible.
“The purpose of dialogue is to overcome difficulties in the interpretation of the Second Vatican Council,” Archbishop Muller told CNA.
The Society of St. Pius X was founded in 1970 by the Frenchman Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre in response to errors he believed had crept into the Catholic Church following the Second Vatican Council.
The society has had a strained relationship with the Church since its founder ordained four bishops against the will of Pope John Paul II in 1988.
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“The heart of the Pope is bleeding today because of one Bishop of the holy Church of God who, through an arbitrary episcopal ordination carried out against his will, is opening up a painful schism in the Catholic Church. But this is only the beginning. In fact many bishops are no longer united with the Pope and are moving along a road which is opposed to that which he is pointing out. This is a greater and more dangerous deviation, even if it is not yet visible, and one which gives pain to my motherly Heart and causes it to bleed and, as it were, causes my Pope to fall under the weight of a cross which is too heavy. (Our Lady to Fr. Stefano Gobbi, June 29, 1988 at the Shrine of Knock, Ireland)
Are we sure that Archbishop Müller is not related to the late Gestapo Commander Heinrich Müller? It is easily discernible by a simple reading of the documents of Vatican II and a look at the committee that developed the so-called new order of mass that the Church went into error and is not a mimic of Protestantism. The Church is presently is error in it thinking and liturgy.
In addition I would like to add that the diocesan bishops and priests are the major contributor to the spiritual collapse of the contemporary Church. The Pope must require the diocesan clergy to take a vow of poverty as most of them are living better than their parishioners. They have become a joke!
This is interesting news! I hope that the Congregaton of the the Faith will consider these demands. They sound high handed,but in truth, there is a need for discipline and reform. Too many feel that “anything” goes and that there is a whole new Church ” out there “, wherever that might be! The Church is ever new and ever fresh! But the sinners that are called to guide Her have their flaws. There must be a way to conciliated this schism before souls are lost! The Vatican Council was called by a concerned Church which had to face the aftermath of WWII, the terrible humiliating degradation of humanity, yet the apotheosis of goodness and holiness that seemed to spring from it . Today our witness has to be to the East. To those who are oppressing their people for wealth and power. How can we witness to the Muslim people if we are fighting over arcane points of celebration and form? Bob’s post , a quote from Fr. Gobbi, is perhaps the most penetrating. Our Youth are demanding Authority from the Pastorate. And God has given it. This is a precious time we live in for the Church. Religion is less a business and is now a spiritual journey towards the Light of Christ.
It is interesting that the Society PX accuses the clergy of disobdience when they turned around and ordained illicit Bishops and Priests in defiance if the will of God! And then has the audacity to fault the Roman Church for what they deem illicit ! St. Benedict had a name for these kinds of people in his rule: Sarabites. “that which they want to do they deem as holy, and that which they do not want to do they deem as evil” ! Our dear Holy Father has clarified the importance of the former Roman Rite and has allowed communities of people to follow a way of life that seems to some as stuck in time, but in fact they are beacons of Light on the Lampstand, just as the Lord would have it! Look at wonderful communities of St John Cantius in Chicago who present such a fullness of celebration to all of us. There is a beautiful witness there! We are on a brink of “interesting” times! Let’s be vigilant and forgive!
Imagine that a liberal group set out similar conditions from their perspective! They would have been excommunicated on the spot. The Vatican loks silly bending over backwards to mollify these rigid, far right separatists.
Seems doable to me. We need more priests correcting the bizarre thinking prevalent in the Church today. The last two “demands” should be a piece of cake as well. Let’s get these guys regularized now!
Vatican II Must be Used as Bridge, Not as Wedge!
Why do those who accept as relevant Vatican II’s non-dogmatic, “pastoral” suggestions and who are committed to implementing the concepts and trends introduced at the Council, violate both Vatican II’s letter and spirit by using the Council as a wedge to create division, discord and scandal within the Church, instead of as a bridge to understand, harmonize, and respect fellow Catholics that do not fully agree with them?
It should be evident that it is completely contrary to the letter and the spirit of Vatican II to unjustly demand that Catholics who disagree with the Council’s non-dogmatic concepts and pastoral suggestions violate their informed conscience to get them to agree.
Did not the Council unequivocally condemn bullying, coercion, force or intimidation? How is it that Council partisans occupying the Church’s highest offices are constantly observed bullying, and trying to coerce, force, or intimidate into submission otherwise faithful Catholics who, as a matter of conscience, disagree with them when it comes to the Council’s pastoral and non-dogmatic suggestions?
To restore unity in the Church, shouldn’t Vatican II partisans currently occupying the Church’s highest offices honor the wise axiom of the great St. Augustine that should always guide us as Christians: “In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, freedom; in all things, charity”?
In fidelity to the mind of the Church and to Vatican II itself, shouldn’t Vatican II partisans unequivocally oppose bullying, coercion, psychological pressure or intimidation against those who disagree with the Council’s non-dogmatic suggestions? Should not Catholics unequivocally oppose use of the Council as a wedge to divide, disunite or sow discord among Catholics faithful to the Magisterium?
Can we all agree that this fabricated “crisis” within the Church not only injures the Body of Christ, but it is a source of scandal to the World, that those currently occupying the highest offices in the Church must work to end if their commitment to Vatican II is genuine and sincere?
We pray to our Eternal Father to guide our Pope to take the right decision
You modernists just can’t get over yourselves can you? As your good ship lollipop of Vatican II is sinking you are going to shake your fists at SSPX in defiance of tradition and sanity all the way to the bottom of the ocean. Have a nice trip down.
Dear Br. cybro: Saddened by your lack of charitable language. No one is shaking fists at any one! There is One Lord One Faith One Baptism, and we believe in one holy, Catholic and Apostolic church . Can we afford to have our enemies seeing that we are arguing and cutting each other off? Vatican II is a reality. Whether we like it or not the Mother Church. You call those who don’t agree with you Modernists! Yes there are modernists, who have perverted the witness and we pray for them. Holy Mother Church got over Herself at the foot of the Cross. there is no Good Ship Lollipop of Vatican II. If you read closely and accurately, you will see that every word of that Council was sustained by the teaching of the Fathers of the Church. Do not judge lest ye be judged, nor condemn lest ye be condemned. there is nothing new about the Council; there is nothing revolutionary about it. Alas, there are those who think that we have the right to do what we want, but every age has that underbelly. Ours alas was far too numerous. Pray for unity, dear Brothe in the Lord. Don’t judge those who are following the precepts of the Lord. And rejoice in the rich gift that you have of Faith. We are blessed with Jesus present in the Eucharist, we believe hat he is as present to us as we are to each other… do you think that he will let His Holy Bride be degraded and dishonoured? I think not. Man have tried and they all have failed. Let us not tear the seamless Robe of the Church by disrespect and uncharity. May God bless you and keep you in His infinite Love.
Pls. sent me updates about further developmwents between Rome and the SSPX.
Thank you & Brgds
Willem
Spot on Cybro, what is really sad are the false pius who would call the truth uncharitable.
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