Father Themann is very well liked, particularly in the Cincinnati area. He's also spent time in St. Mary's.
He comes from a very nice family. His mother introduced herself to me and took quite an interest in getting to know me - but when I told her my age she was shocked - which makes me wonder why she took such an interest in me, if it was not to find out if I was a suitable match for her youngest daughter.
Anyway, he has a big problem if he believes the Novus Ordo mass was legitimately promulgated.
He has a very big problem if he believes that:
the teachings of the Second Vatican Council, . . . illuminates – i.e. deepens and further makes explicit– some aspects of the life and of the doctrine of the Church, implicitly present in her midst or not yet conceptually formulated.And if he thinks the conciliar church is the Catholic Church: then he is clearly not on the same page the Archbishop was on.
This is not a matter of "prudential truth" - whatever "prudential truth" is.
It's a matter of principle, and acting on principle. The principles the SSPX was founded upon.
: We do not have the same outlook on a reconciliation. Cardinal Ratzinger sees it as reducing us, bringing us back to Vatican II. We see it as a return of Rome to Tradition. We don’t agree; it is a dialogue of death. I can’t speak much of the future, mine is behind me, but if I live a little while, supposing that Rome calls for a renewed dialogue, then, I will put conditions. I shall not accept being in the position where I was put during the dialogue. No more.
I will place the discussion at the doctrinal level: “Do you agree with the great encyclicals of all the popes who preceded you? Do you agree with Quanta Cura of Pius IX, Immortale Dei and Libertas of Leo XIII, Pascendi Gregis of Pius X, Quas Primas of Pius XI, Humani Generis of Pius XII? Are you in full communion with these Popes and their teachings? Do you still accept the entire Anti-Modernist Oath? Are you in favor of the social reign of Our Lord Jesus Christ? If you do not accept the doctrine of your predecessors, it is useless to talk! As long as you do not accept the correction of the Council, in consideration of the doctrine of these Popes, your predecessors, no dialogue is possible. It is useless.”
Thus, the positions will be clear.
The stakes are not small. We are not content when they say to us, “You may say the traditional Mass, but you must accept the Council.” What opposes us is doctrine; it is clear.