When it comes right down to it Lefebvrites are no different from any other schismatics throughout history. It does not matter if a person believes in 99.99% of what the Catholic Church teaches if that person also reserves to himself the right to sit in judgment of the Church's teachings and to choose which to accept and which to reject. Ultimately, if you cannot submit your mind and will to the judgemnt of the Church, you are a heretic or schismatic. SSPX patronizes Rome and presumes to teach Rome. They should reread St. Ignatius of Antioch's Letter to the Romans, where he humbly says that he does not presume to instruct the Roman Church as though he were a Peter or a Paul. But what St. Ignatius of Antioch (the greatest bishop of Asia, on his way to martyrdom) would not dare to do, these nobodies who lead SSPX presume to do. They should also read St. Augustine's contemptuous dismissal of the Donatists and their setting up of themselves against the whole Church of God. Schismatics are the same in every age. Many if not most schismatics were complaining against the "laxness" of Rome. They thought Rome was too soft. This was true of Hippolytus, of Tertullian, of Cyprian in his conflict with Popes Stephen and Cornelius (though he never went into schism), of the Donatists, of the Jansenists, of the Feeneyites. We tend to think of heresy as being being driven by a desire for a loosening of doctrine or morals. It is often quite the opposite. Many schismatics have been doctrinal or moral "rigorists". The spirit of schism is an ugly thing and its on full display in the SSPX leadership.
I am of the firm belief that the Catholic Church presents the only sure road for us in life. You can go into the ditch on either side of the road, the left or the right - take your pick. Either way, you are still in the ditch.He compares both the Chinese Patriotic Association and the SSPX in their attitudes.
A common element in Rome’s conflict with the PCA and the SSPX are their illicitly consecrated, excommunicated bishops. More importanly, however, they are also deeply mired in the matter of religious liberty in one way or another. Simply put, in China the Party doesn’t want people to have religious liberty in the way the Church says they should. On the other hand, the SSPX doesn’t want people to have religious freedom in the way the Church says they should. Hey wait! Isn’t that pretty similar? The SSPX has always been a sharp critic of the Council’s document on religious liberty. This is the true sticking point. The liturgical question, as important as that is, and the matter of bishops etc., is all a side show easily resolved with the stroke of a pen. Religious liberty is the key....Pope Benedict is more than likely ready to grant all sorts of things liturgical to the SSPX. It hasn’t happened yet, but don’t you just know he wants to? However, when it comes to the theological dimension of the conflict, the SSPX would do better to come to the table and learn rather than demand. Unless of course their power players are now confortable with their hobby Church and don’t want to submit. Non serviam and all that… we’ll see.
So you are saying my diocese is schismatic?