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The General Chapter

This took place at Ecône from 9th to 14th July, following a priests’ retreat preached by Fr Alain Lorans, the former rector of that seminary. The chapter began with its calling, with the reading of the rules of the chapter and the examination of the convocations, as well as of the case of Bishop Williamson, who has seen himself suspended from his office of capitulant by reason of canon 2331, 1 and 2 (NC 1373). The chapter gave its approval to the Superior General by a very large majority. The capitulants then invoked the Holy Ghost before swearing to keep secret the deliberations of the Chapter. The work of the Chapter was thus then able to begin.

You will see attached the Final Declaration that the Chapter adopted before it broke up and its members made their way to the tomb of our esteemed founder. This declaration will be made public on DICI, the official organ of communication of the General House.

Also, the essential conditions of any normalisation of our relations with the official Church were given a better definition :

The sine qua non conditions to which the Society binds itself and that she requires from the Roman authorities before considering a canonical recognition :

1 Freedom to keep, to transmit and to teach the sane doctrine of the unchanging magisterium of the Church and of the unchangeable truth of Divine Tradition ; freedom to defend, to correct and to reprove, even in public, those responsible for the errors or novelties of modernism, of liberalism, of The Second Vatican Council and their consequences ;

2 Exclusive use of the liturgy of 1962. The retention of the sacramental practice that we have at the moment (including holy orders, confirmation and marriage) ;

3 The guarantee of at least one bishop.

Desirable conditions :

1 Our own ecclesiastical tribunals, in the first instance ;

2 Exemption of houses of The Society of St Pius X in respect of diocesan bishops ;

3 A Pontifical Commission in Rome for Tradition, dependent on the Pope, with a majority of members, and the presidency, from Tradition.

The Acts of the Chapter will be published in the edition of Cor Unum to come out between now and the end of July. You will read how the keeping of natural, professional and commis secrets is a serious obligation, binding in justice. May this circular letter, meant only for superiors and to be made known to members of The Society of St Pius X, remain within our society, and not be made known in public, in particular on the Internet, on forums and blogs.

Rome

Bishop Fellay has asked me to add the following considerations :

The General House is well aware of the trouble and disquiet – often exagerrated - that have been caused by certain ambiguities, ambiguities that Rome has only clarified very recently, in particular by the reply of Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith dated 13th June last. Bishop Fellay is, moreover, grateful to Rome for having, at last, clarified precisely its position, which will allow the problems to be dealt with more easily in future. From now on, may our energies be united, and may rash judgements, and knocking of each other, stop.

1 Freedom to keep, to transmit and to teach the sane doctrine of the unchanging magisterium of the Church and of the unchangeable truth of Divine Tradition ; freedom to defend, to correct and to reprove, even in public, those responsible for the errors or novelties of modernism, of liberalism, of The Second Vatican Council and their consequences ;

2 Exclusive use of the liturgy of 1962. The retention of the sacramental practice that we have at the moment (including holy orders, confirmation and marriage) ;