Apostolic Letter Misericordia et Misera Merely Extends SSPX Confessions' Provision

Rorate Caeli ^ | November 21, 2016 | Rorate Caeli

[BlessedBeGod]

From the Apostolic Letter Misericordia et Misera, 12 -- exactly as we had predicted in our last update yesterday:

For the Jubilee Year I had also granted that those faithful who, for various reasons, attend churches officiated by the priests of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X, can validly and licitly receive the sacramental absolution of their sins.[15] For the pastoral benefit of these faithful, and trusting in the good will of their priests to strive with God’s help for the recovery of full communion in the Catholic Church, I have personally decided to extend this faculty beyond the Jubilee Year, until further provisions are made, lest anyone ever be deprived of the sacramental sign of reconciliation through the Church’s pardon.

[vladimir998]

Merely? I guess the author forgot the fact that SSPX confessions are ACTUALLY INVALID under normal circumstances because SSPX priests have no faculties to hear confessions granted by a local ordinary. When Pope Francis granted SSPX the right to hear some confessions validly he actually did something remarkable and daring. There was nothing “merely” about it.

[Hieronymus]

It is a big deal, as you point out. If my memory serves me correctly, this is in some ways narrower than what was granted a year ago, but in some ways broader. Broader, in that the term faculty is actually used—I believe it was only implied in the first document; narrower in the sense that the faculty applies only to those who attend the SSPX Churches. During the year, I think any of the faithful could duck into an SSPX Church and go to confession; now it is only those who regularly attend.

[piusv]

I think the “merely” is used when comparing what actually happened vs. what some thought was going to happen: Francis approving the SSPX wholesale.