Posted on 06/28/2008 4:57:31 PM PDT by livius
The schismatic traditionalist Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX) has reacted to a Vatican ultimatum by challenging the conditions Rome set for its return to the Catholic fold. By sending this in a letter, SSPX leader Bishop Bernard Fellay partly fulfilled one condition of the ultimatum, i.e. answering by the end of this month. But he did not fulfill the more important other half of that requirement, i.e. that he respond positively. In fact, he told the Vatican that other conditions — to accept papal authority and not criticise the pope — were too vague to be accepted, according to SSPX spokesman Rev. Alain Lorans. As Lorans put it: “You can say he’s not responding, despite answering it.”
This is a clever way of ducking deadline pressure, but it doesn’t answer the real issues. It looked like the Vatican had the SSPX in a corner when the ultimatum of June 4 became known early this week. By wording the five conditions so vaguely that contentious issues such as the new Mass and the Second Vatican Council reforms went unmentioned, Pope Benedict and Cardinal Darío Castrillón Hoyos — the Vatican official dealing with traditionalists — may have thought they might win over the schismatics. Benedict had already taken the first step towards a possible accord last year by liberalising the use of the old Latin Mass that the SSPX has championed as its visible trademark. The ultimatum made a further conciliatory gesture by keeping the explicit requirements to a minimum.
But Benedict has his red lines too...
(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.reuters.com ...
Maybe the SSPX can hook up with the pro-gay Episcopalians. They’re worlds apart on theology, but the spirit is much the same.
I think they have permanently marginalized themselves.
Yes. I think some members will leave very soon when they realize the SSPX simply isn’t interested in being Catholic.
Well...it sounds like they’re trying to preserve the status quo without outright rejecting the conditions.
It will be interesting to see how the Vatican responds to this. They have been very patient thus far.
I think Fellay probably couldn’t get the hardliners to go along with him. I’m not sure he was 100% for it, but I think he might have been a little more willing if it was simply up to him. On the other hand, the odd thing I have noticed is that the attitude of the SSPX actually seems to have hardened a bit since the Motu Proprio. You’d think they’d have been happy about it, but they almost seem a little threatened to think that the old Mass might someday be commonly available to any Catholic, without SSPX involvement. Interesting, in any case, and I hope they rethink this.
Here’s the SSPX thread!
We are spending far too much time and energy on these heretics.
Send’em off packing to join the rest of the protestant heresies.
When they are ready to come home to Christ’s Church they will.
I think he (Bp. Fellay) has heard from the Society’s financial contributors, and he may be afraid to appear “soft.”
There is frankly a fair amount of paranoia in certain parts of the SSPX, and some people are unfortunately reacting to the Vatican’s rapprochement as some kind of maniacal plot to undermine Tradition.
From my perspective, the Holy Father has moved things in just the right way. Let us see what happens next. I actually don’t think he will react harshly, for a number of reasons.
Also, I think it is possible that the Vatican will simply and patiently clarify the requirements, and answer any concerns expressed.
You wrote:
“You’d think they’d have been happy about it, but they almost seem a little threatened to think that the old Mass might someday be commonly available to any Catholic, without SSPX involvement.”
I think you’ve hit the nail on the head. They wanted the old Mass open to everyone and that seems to be happening now (not over night of course, but quickly enough considering the circumstances). The SSPX is not so SPECIAL anymore. It is going to have to compete with diocesan priests everywhere - and the marriages and confessions performed by those diocesan priests will be canonically valid ones unlike with the SSPX! It’s almost like the SSPXers got the big piece of cake they’ve demanded for so long and they’re choking on it.
I hate the fact that Reuters describes the conditions as an “Ultimatum.” It is no more an ultimatum than a Taco Bell employment application or an instruction guide for assembling an Ikea entertainment center. If the SSPX does nothing, nothing happens. In an ultimatum, if the party does nothing, some consequence happens (e.g. “Open up the door or I’ll break it down!”)
Reuters was glad to use the SSPX’s language of “ultimatum.” The SSPX has already stated that they aren’t going to cooperate with the Successor of Peter until their handful of non-successors of Peter determine that the true Successor has “returned to Tradition.” Other than a blanket denuciation of Vatican II, they offer few specifics. Who is giving the ultimata around here?
That said, I want to see a reunification, because millions of souls will be affected if this schism lasts more than a generation.
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More talk-talk. The Vatican doesn't do war-war anymore. For those who see disagreements at the higher levels in the SSPX, think again. They are all firmly united on the theological issues involved. This will be a long, tough series of negotiations. Pray for them, pray for the Pope.
Fellay: “I have already written a response
and we will see how Rome will react”
...
[17:45][Fellay:] Perhaps it is false to say, in such a way, directly, that I reject, that I propose a total rejection [of the conditions], that is not true. Rather, I see in this ultimatum a very vague, confused thing. But, in fact, I have already written a response and we will see how Rome will react.
...
[18:53] [Fellay:] For me, this ultimatum has no sense, because we have relations with Rome which go forward in a certain speed, which is truly slow. And it is true, on the other hand, that both the Cardinal [Castrillón Hoyos] and the Holy Father would wish for a rather accelerated speed. For me, the only meaning of this ultimatum is the expression of this desire of Rome to give it a little bit of hastiness. And for me it is not a reconsideration of all our relations.
[Interviewer:] “Then, you expect to continue in the dialogue, still?”
[Fellay:] Yes, yes, it is possible that there will now be a time of more, of coolness, but, frankly, for me, it is not over, no.
“...they offer few specifics.”
On the contrary, they are and have been very specific.
“We are spending far too much time and energy on these heretics.”
Specifically, what is their heresy?
“There is frankly a fair amount of paranoia in certain parts of the SSPX, and some people are unfortunately reacting to the Vatican’s rapprochement as some kind of maniacal plot to undermine Tradition.”
Where could they possibly get this idea?
The Curia and the bishops of the world have embraced the Moto Proprio with such eagerness that Latin Masses are now available everywhere.
Where could they possibly get this idea? The Curia and the bishops of the world have embraced the Moto Proprio with such eagerness that Latin Masses are now available everywhere.Ouch.
They insist that "Extra Ecclesia Nulla Sallus!"
Not exactly the type of 'support' the Holy Father needs. Prayers continue for a solution to this situation.
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