Let it be noted in passing that we did not look for a practical agreement. That is false. All we have done is not refuse a priori, as you ask us to do, to consider the Popes offer. For the common good of the Society, we would far prefer the present solution of the intermediary status quo but it is clear that Rome will put up with it no longer.
This is a very strange paragraph. IOW, it would be better, for the common good of the Society, to maintain the status quo, but we consider the offer because "is clear that Rome will put up with it no longer."
What does this mean, "it is clear that Rome will put up with it no longer?"
SJB,
That portion of Bishop Fellay's letter stuck out to me, too!
In fact I wondered if that wasn't what has prompted the SSPX's work with the Curia on this "reconciliation".
From the quote, particularly the Bolded portion, it looks like the Vatican in general and His Holiness in particular may have pressured the SSPX to come to the table now or face a serious censure, such as formal declaration of schism and/or excommunication.
If that's not what that quote means, I look forward to reading someone's more enlightened view.
There isn't anything new about the Vatican's threats. ABL stood up to them and
the Society has been keeping it up, until perhaps the past year, under the weakness
of +Fellay. So what's a "formal declaration of schism?" They wore out the word long
ago, and it's a joke now. And what would more so-called excommunications
accomplish? They just "lifted" the previous (non-existent) excoms, so now they're
going to post them again, what, like sticky notes? The Vatican Bulletin Board?
"When Rome speaks, well..." (it used to be "the discussion is over," but now it
would be) "...well, just check again tomorrow: it could all change again."