CathInfo.com

Dear all,

Please find attached a comprehensive critique (English translation of the original French) by Mgr de Galarreta of the original version of the Doctrinal Preamble received by Mgr Fellay from Cardinal Levada on 14th September 2011 (but which is substantially the same as the "modified" version received by Mgr Fellay from Cardinal Levada on 13th June 2012, as confirmed by the internal circular letter of 25th June 2012 of Fr Thouvenot, the General Secretary of the SSPX).  The Doctrinal Preamble was presented by Mgr Fellay during the meeting of the General Chapter of the SSPX which took place at Albano on 7-8th October 2011.

After this meeting, Menzingen (the General House of  the SSPX) issued a press communiqué stating that "the twenty-eight persons in charge of the Society of St Pius X present at the meeting – seminary rectors, district superiors from all over the world – manifested a profound unity in their will to maintain the Faith in its integrity and its fullness, faithful to the lesson which Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre left them, according to St Paul’s “Tradidi quod et accepi – I have handed over what I myself have received” (I Cor 15:3)."
(Links:
www.dici.org/en/news/press-release-from-the-general-house-of-the-priestly-society-of-st-pius-x/
www.dici.org/actualites/communique-de-la-maison-generale-de-la-fraternite-sacerdotale-saint-pie-x-albano/)

As Fr Paul Morgan, Superior of British District of the SSPX, stated in the November 2011 issue of the British District newsletter (which was published in late October 2011): "... the stated consensus of those in attendance was that the Doctrinal Preamble was clearly unacceptable and the time has certainly not come to pursue any practical agreement as long as the doctrinal issues remain outstanding.  It was also agreed that the Society should continue its work of insisting upon the doctrinal questions in any contacts with the Roman authorities."

It is my understanding that the rejection of the Doctrinal Preamble by the majority of the superiors in attendance was almost entirely as a result of the forceful and logical arguments presented by Mgr de Galarreta in the attached study.

Yours in Christ,



PS - You will not find a copy of the November 2011 newsletter on the website of the British District of the SSPX (www.sspx.co.uk), as an instruction was received by Menzingen for its removal, as confirmed in the press communiqué by Menzingen of 2nd November 2011:
   "Since the meeting of the seminary Rectors and District Superiors of the Society of St. Pius X in Albano (Italy) on October 7, 2011, several comments have been published in the press about the answer that Bishop Bernard Fellay should give to the Roman propositions of September 14th.

   It has to be recalled that only the SSPX’s General House has the competency to publish an official communique or authorized comment on the subject."

(Links:

www.dici.org/en/news/press-release-from-the-general-house-of-the-priestly-society-of-st-pius-x-november-2-2011/

www.dici.org/actualites/communique-de-la-maison-generale-de-la-fraternite-saint-pie-x-2-novembre-2011/)

Well, apparently several people didn't notice the other one.

My wife told me the same thing -- that it was already posted here.

But the "11 downloads" suggests that this translation is "news" for many people.

This is a real translation, too, not a Google translation attempt.

I just received it by e-mail this morning.

Accordingly, it is not the moment to change the decision of the Chapter of 2006 (no practical agreement without resolving the doctrinal issue) and it is not right or prudent to embark on preparing minds otherwise, before there is in us the conviction, consensus and the decision to change, otherwise it will only cause division and, by reaction, squabbling, anarchy.

How should we understand this?  Is Bishop de Galarreta saying that they, those who decide SSPX's future including himself, should wait until they get the conviction to change?

He seems to be more worried because of the possible reaction than because of the agreement itself.  He is even talking about preparing minds.

Do we have here something like Bolsheviks and Mensheviks?  If so, Bishop Fellay would be among Bolsheviks, while Bishop de Galarreta would be among Mensheviks.  Both walking in the same direction, but one being more prudent, going more slowly than the other.