Lefebvrians Await “Yes” Answer From Pope

La Stampa-Vatican Insider ^ | 5/6/12 | Andrea Tornielli

[marshmallow]

The process for the Society of St. Pius X’s return to full communion with Rome is expected to be concluded by the end of May

The response sent to the Vatican on 17 April by Bishop Bernard Fellay will be examined in the next few days by the cardinal and bishop members in Ordinary Session of the Congregation of the Doctrine for the Faith, commonly known as Feria Quarta; their decision will then be submitted to Benedict XVI. The process which should lead the Society of St. Pius X – founded by Mgr. Lefebvre - to return to full communion with the Catholic Church is expected to conclude by the end of May. Twenty four years have passed since the illegitimate consecrations that led to the split from Rome and the excommunication of the traditionalist archbishop and four priests whom he ordained bishops without the Pope’s approval. When the final decision is announced, the content of the doctrinal preamble - that the Holy See presented Fellay and the Fraternity with and which the Fraternity’s leader sent back to Rome proposing some minor modifications - will also be published.

In recent days, statements by some authoritative figures of the Society of St. Pius X have multiplied, particularly from the Lefebvrian wing that is more favourable towards the Society’s return to full communion with the Catholic Church. In a public conference in Hattersheim, Germany, Fellay’s First Assistant Fr. Niklaus Pfluger, said that under the current circumstances, the Fraternity’s superior does not “believe it is possible to turn down the Pope’s proposal.” He said that straying from the Pope’s wishes would lead to Sedevacantism. Pfluger pointed out that there is still some disagreement between the Holy See and the Fraternity and the latter claims the right to freely criticise certain points contained in the..........