[bornacatholic]

tridentine mass was never abolished, the missal was replaced so the traditional way of celebrating mass is not technically illicite. Also, as previously stated, having a love for the tridentine mass does not make one a member of a "protestant cult" although I appreciate that you were speaking about the SSXP they are not a protestant cult. At worst they could be called schismatic, but a schismatic act is that of not recognizing the authority of the pope, which they do. Therefore they can not be considered schism

*Sorry, son. I am happy you are studying to be a priest. Kudos.

However, you are factually wrong about the sspx. they are a schsm.

Ecclesia Dei...

In itself, this act was one of disobedience to the Roman Pontiff in a very grave matter and of supreme importance for the unity of the church, such as is the ordination of bishops whereby the apostolic succession is sacramentally perpetuated. Hence such disobedience - which implies in practice the rejection of the Roman primacy - constitutes a schismatic act.(3) In performing such an act, notwithstanding the formal canonical warning sent to them by the Cardinal Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops on 17 June last, Mons. Lefebvre and the priests Bernard Fellay, Bernard Tissier de Mallerais, Richard Williamson and Alfonso de Galarreta, have incurred the grave penalty of excommunication envisaged by ecclesiastical law.(4)

4. The root of this schismatic act can be discerned in an incomplete and contradictory notion of Tradition. Incomplete, because it does not take sufficiently into account the living character of Tradition, which, as the Second Vatican Council clearly taught, "comes from the apostles and progresses in the Church with the help of the Holy Spirit. There is a growth in insight into the realities and words that are being passed on. This comes about in various ways. It comes through the contemplation and study of believers who ponder these things in their hearts. It comes from the intimate sense of spiritual realities which they experience. And it comes from the preaching of those who have received, along with their right of succession in the episcopate, the sure charism of truth".(5) But especially contradictory is a notion of Tradition which opposes the universal Magisterium of the Church possessed by the Bishop of Rome and the Body of Bishops. It is impossible to remain faithful to the Tradition while breaking the ecclesial bond with him to whom, in the person of the Apostle Peter, Christ himself entrusted the ministry of unity in his Church.

*What a schism claims about itself ought not convince anyone about anything, especially one studying to be a priest

[Sem Student]

Good reply...I appreciate having points that I haven't thought of brought to my attention for further thought and study.

I do have a question for you though, ignoring the SSPX issue, would you agree that allowing both ways to offer mass to meet the needs of the faithful is a good thing? I don't recall seeing a post that you've done dealing with this issue directly.

I know that the exact content of the reported papal indult is still unknown but assuming that the document simply allows priest the right to say mass either way would you oppose or support such a document?

P.S. I don't know how long you've known about FR but this is only my second day...wow...since www.seattlecatholic.com shut down I've been looking for a new site that lists church stories such as this. Do you have any advice for similar ones?