How about another shot at this?
If it were only the words of H.E. that were printed it would look like this:
Number CCLXXXVI (286), 5 January 2013
YELLOW LIGHT
Not all of you readers of "Eleison Comments" may have come across the admirable letter of two months ago written by Fr. Ronald Ringrose to the US District Superior of the Society of St Pius X, Fr. Arnauld Rostand. Fr Ringrose has been for over 30 years the independent pastor of the Traditional parish of St Athanasius just outside Washington, D.C., and for all that time he has been the faithful friend, without being a member, of the SSPX. However in June of last year he hosted in his parish the first meeting in the USA of the nucleus of priests now forming a Resistance to that change of direction of the Society, long latent, but which became clear to all in the spring of last year. As Bishop Fellay's faithful executive in the USA, Fr. Rostand wrote to him to propose a meeting where he might persuade Fr Ringrose that the change was no change. Here is Fr. Ringrose's reply:--
...
And Fr Ringrose's letter concludes with fraternal greetings. It is truly a model of clear-mindedness and courtesy, firmness and charity. Long live Fr Ringrose to maintain an incomparable bastion of Catholicism right next to the United States' capital city !
Kyrie eleison.
But this is the part that H.E. inserted, words of another author, and if you
are an avid Dinoscopus fan like I am, you would know, that this does not
happen often. In fact, it happens almost NEVER.
So, we are left to surmise that the words of Fr. Ringrose hold a much more
elevated stature now that they have been awarded top prize for notability.
Or, should I say,
nobility? I'll let you draw your own inferences with
that one. Suffice it to say, that H.E. has offered his episcopal powers to
those who may make the wisest use of them.......
"Thank you for your letter of October 12 in which you offer to meet to
discuss the situation within the Society of St Pius X. While this is a very
kind offer on your part and I appreciate it very much,
I don't think
that such a meeting will serve any useful purpose, since the
problems stem from the Society's top leadership, and
you are not in a
position to change that.It is true that I have been a strong supporter of the Society for many
years. This support was based on the fact that my mission as a priest,
and the Society's mission were one and the same, to help souls hold
onto the Catholic faith during this time when it seems to have been
abandoned by post Vatican II Rome.
Now
I have to be more cautious and reserved in that support:
~
I am alarmed that the Superior General would say that 95% of
Vatican II is acceptable. ~
I am astounded that the Society's leadership would respond to
three of the Society's bishops by suggesting that they are making
the errors of Vatican II into a "super-heresy". ~
I am disappointed that the Society's response to Assisi III was so
weak and anemic. ~
I am saddened by the Society's unjust disciplining of priests who
are following the example of Archbishop Lefebvre, and
~
I am outraged at the treatment of Bishop Williamson
-- not just his recent expulsion, but the shabby treatment he has
gotten over the past few years.Prior to this year, when asked about the Society by an inquiring
parishioner, I always gave the Society a
green light. Given the
Society's recent actions, I do not yet give the Society a
red light, but I
do give it a
yellow light of caution. The
red light will come
if and when the Society
allows herself to be absorbed into
the Conciliar Church that Archbishop Lefebvre so vigorously resisted.It is with
great sadness that I write these words. There
are many good, zealous, faithful priests within the Society's ranks. Many
of them I know personally and admire. Many souls depend on them. It is
out of love for the Society that I fear for her future. I fear that she is on
a suicidal path.
The leadership may think that a deal is off the
table, but I fear that that is not the thinking of Rome.I pray for the Society to
return to the mission given to her by Archbishop
Lefebvre
without compromise or hedging. When she does, she will have
my unreserved support."
Fr. Ringrose is alarmed, astounded, disappointed, saddened and outraged,
but in explaining it he gives a model of clear-mindedness and courtesy,
firmness and charity.
I don't know about you, but I'm glad I didn't get that assignment in
composition 101.
See how things can change when you just re-arrange the landscape a
smidge?
For a priest's written word to warrant such a place of honor, and for H.E.
to proclaim, "It is truly a model of clear-mindedness and courtesy, firmness
and charity," one must wonder, what higher compliment could be possible
for H.E. to bestow upon him?
"Long live Fr Ringrose to maintain an incomparable bastion of Catholicism
right next to the United States' capital city !"
An incomparable bastion of Catholicism! Right next to the capital city!
And "
Long live...."
I don't know about you, but I would be rather eager to have a peek at
Fr. Ringrose's personal and private reply to H.E. after reading this. But
then again, it's really none of my business.
Does it hurt to
wonder, though?
Topic: "Eleison Comments" by Mgr. Williamson - Issue CCLXXXVI - 286 (Read 1927 times)