CathInfo.com

So let's discuss some of the Resistance's allegations about the supposed unfaithfulness of the SSPX to +ABL, despite the fact that Archbishop Lefebvre very often negotiated with Rome for decades, in just the same way as his Society has (rightly) continued to do under +Fellay and +Pagliarani. Some years ago, Fr. Arnaud wrote in a letter to Society Faithful,

"Where do we stand in the midst of such important happenings? We stand and remain in the same place as yesterday. The circuмstances around us may change; our adhesion to the Catholic Faith remains total and unmitigated in our dedication to battle faithfully for a full restoration of Tradition within the Catholic Church. As a matter of fact, we have not created the circuмstances around us—they exist by Divine Providence. We just have to accept reality and act accordingly. As always, the Society is committed to the defense of the Catholic Faith in its entirety, without any compromise with “the neo-Modernist and neo-Protestant tendencies clearly evident in the Second Vatican Council and, after the Council, in all the reforms which issued from it.” As Bishop Fellay repeated in his recent letter to benefactors, we adhere with our whole heart to the words of our founder, Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, in the declaration of November 21, 1974: “This reformation, born of liberalism and modernism, is poisoned through and through; it derives from heresy and ends in heresy, even if all its acts are not formally heretical. It is therefore impossible for any conscientious and faithful Catholic to espouse this reformation or to submit to it in any way whatsoever.” On the other hand, we hold fast to the Roman Catholic Church, to Eternal Rome, recognizing in the Holy Father, Pope Francis, the Bishop of Rome, the successor of Saint Peter and Vicar of Our Lord Jesus Christ on earth. We recognize that he is the one who possesses the keys of Heaven, full jurisdiction over the Church. Given that the crisis came from the collapse of Church authority, it is clear that only the Pope has in his hands the means to end the crisis of the Church.

Since the seventies many do not understand how we can hold fast to this twofold principle, which seems so contradictory. How many have deviated, even in very recent history, from this double-sided position. Some have strayed into a blind submission to the Roman authorities despite the evidence of the crisis within the Church, while others reject, at least in practice if not in principle, the reality of these authorities and therefore a prudent submission whenever possible. I would like therefore to take this opportunity to warn you against grave errors and injustice committed against the Society and its superiors in the past few months. We have waited patiently in hope that some of the confused priests or faithful would see by themselves the lack of foundation of their criticisms, infested with a revolutionary spirit, definitely a temptation under the appearance of good, nevertheless a diabolical trap, based on emotion, fear and resentment, under the appearance of a defense of the Faith, which has led to harder and harder positions against the Society of Saint Pius X, including its founder. It is very understandable that with this confusion some of you may have been misled. Please, let me remind you here the rules of Saint Ignatius that one should apply in these circuмstances. When a situation or a thought brings “disquiet or disturbs the soul, taking away its peace, tranquility and quiet, which it had before, it is a clear sign that it proceeds from the evil spirit, enemy of our profit and eternal salvation.” In such a situation Saint Ignatius adds also not to make any decision, any change, and wait for a more peaceful time ...

It is indeed an injustice to accuse the Society of betraying the legacy of Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, with false accusations, rash judgments and extrapolations. The fact of repeating them over and over does not make them any less false. It is an injustice to allege that the authorities of the Society have betrayed the Faith by proposing a “doctrinal declaration,” as if Archbishop Lefebvre had betrayed the Faith by signing the protocol of May 1988. He himself explained to the seminarians at Ecône that the protocol was not bad in itself, and no one had ever accused the Archbishop of betrayal for signing it. It is a grave injustice to the members as well as to the faithful of the Society to call for the dismissal or resignation of the Society’s Superior General. It is immoral to use unjust means in order to attain one’s goal. The revelation of private docuмents is a perfect example of injustice. It is an injustice to call for disobedience and rebellion without facts or undeniable proofs, using fear and prediction of a contingent future. It is an injustice to lead the faithful to distrust their pastors because they do not rebel against their superiors ...

These attacks against our Society, this little fortress of Catholic life and Tradition, are fomented clearly by the father of all lies, the devil. That is why we must answer these attacks with supernatural means, by a life of prayer, by accepting our daily crosses and especially those of our duty of state, offering them to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Without bitterness but with great charity, let us also pray for those who are misguided or misguiding. I am confident that once the storm is over, by the grace of God, the Society, with its members and its faithful, will find itself strengthened in the Faith, as well as in Hope and Charity. I would like to finish by heartily thanking the many of you who have been faithful and confident in God’s Providence during this turmoil, manifesting trust in and support of your pastors. Recommending this letter to the protection of Our Mother and of Saint Joseph, I assure you of my prayers and give you my priestly blessing. Father Arnaud Rostand

That is anecdotal and subjective. …