Newsociety Thinking – I

When Father Pfluger speaks, what do we hear?
The religion of man, the Council, loud and clear.

Towards the end of last year, the second-in-command of the Newsociety of St Pius X, Fr. Niklaus Pfluger, gave an interview to a Newsociety magazine in Germany, Der Gerade Weg, in which he answered seven questions ranging over the Church, Tradition, the “Resistance” and the XSPX. Given his important position, his thinking cannot be without interest. Its main lines are presented here below, and then its main flaw.

The Catholic Church is broad, much broader than just the Traditional movement. This movement began in the 1970’s as an understandable reaction of Catholics rendered homeless by the Conciliar revolution, but we will never make Tradition attractive or convincing if we remain mentally stuck in the 1950’s or 1970’s. Catholic Tradition is a vast treasure, not to be confined within the condemnations, which were routine in the 19th and 20th centuries, of modernism, liberalism and Fɾҽҽmαsσɳɾყ. In the 1970’s and 1980’s the SSPX did act as a lifeboat for souls drowning, but in 2014 “our time is different, we cannot stand still.” Church Tradition is one, but traditions are many, and much that is modern is not immoral.

So “we must continually re-position ourselves,” somewhere between denying that there is any crisis of modernism at all in the Church, and denying Church reality, as does the “Resistance.” They turn a purely practical problem of re-positioning into a question of faith, but that “faith” is a fabrication of their own, subjective, personal and in extreme denial of reality — how can Rome not be Catholic? How can Bishop Fellay be Enemy Number One? Ridiculous! The “Resistance” is sectarian, narrow-minded, evil-spirited and divisive.

As for SSPXHQ having betrayed Tradition in 2012, its actions were attacked from both sides, so it acted with reasonable moderation. Its texts were not dogmatic, just responding to circuмstances. It did depart from General Chapter decisions of 2006, but who back then could imagine how much less aggressive towards the SSPX Rome would become by 2012? In 2014 our three bishops could all celebrate public Masses in the Basilica of Lourdes!

In brief, the SSPX follows the Spirit, It draws on Tradition. It saved the liturgy (thanks to Archbishop Lefebvre). It is neither monopolistic, nor as disunited or defeated as it may seem. Storms in the Church do continue, but down with conspiracy theories and Apocalypticism, and up with faith, hope and a new youth! (See francefidele.org for the original in German, and a French translation; see  or cathinfo.com for an English translation)

So where is the flaw in Fr Pfluger’s thinking? It is most clearly seen in the first paragraph above, where he suggests that Tradition can thrive outside of the “19th and 20th century condemnations of modernism, liberalism and Fɾҽҽmαsσɳɾყ.” For Fr Pfluger, as for all liberals, these condemnations are not integral to the Catholic Faith but merely “substantial anchorages” (Cardinal Ratzinger’s own expression), which in a different age the ship of the Church can leave behind, as corresponding no longer to the different circuмstances. Therefore if Fr Pfluger does not have a different faith from that of Archbishop Lefebvre, Pius IX, St Pius X, Pius XII, etc., he certainly has a different concept of that Faith, and that different concept underlies all his remarks in the interview quoted.

Thus the problem is much more than just “practical re-positioning.” Today’s Rome is indeed not Catholic. Bishop Fellay is a huge problem. The 2006 General Chapter was implicitly dogmatic. Tradition is not to be made attractive to men, but true to God (mentioned only once, passingly, in the interview). The “Resistance” is far fr om creating its own “faith.” And so on and so on.

Kyrie eleison.

I guess in the second part of this letter the bishop will be talking about a period of transition that allows the laity (and priests) to get used to the new way of thinking. We should all be famiiar with what our parents and grandparents had to endure shortly after the imposition of the conciliar theology upon the mainstream church resulting in either a complete surrender to or rejection of the new direction. I cannot imagine long-term  anyone hanging around that could not go along with the emerging new order. For those slow to act there is always a last straw that induces action.

It is going to be quite a chore for Fr, Phluger to align the Society with the ideas of fifty years of conciliar popes. But as a possible successor to Bp. Fellay he will do the impossible and take his time doing it and summon the required resources to this end. He hints at the loss of priests but replaces them with new generations better able to deal with the needs of today and cultural differences across the world could refreshingly help counter those with fixed ideas! This is typical Vatican 2-speak.

 

 

It is going to be quite a chore for Fr, Phluger to align the Society with the ideas of fifty years of conciliar popes. But as a possible successor to Bp. Fellay he will do the impossible and take his time doing it and summon the required resources to this end. He hints at the loss of priests but replaces them with new generations better able to deal with the needs of today and cultural differences across the world could refreshingly help counter those with fixed ideas! This is typical Vatican 2-speak.
 

Fr. Pfluger makes it quite clear in this interview that the Society is going after the youth.  There will be (is) no place for those of us who remember the past, who knew the Archbishop, and can see so clearly that history is repeating itself once again.  

I don't think there is any mistaking what Bp. Williamson thinks.  "Bishop Fellay is a huge problem."  That spells out H.E.'s position on the SG pretty clearly.  When Fr. Pfluger speaks out, you hear "the religion of man."  You hear "the Council, loud and clear."  So then, Bp. F and Fr. P, in the bishop's mind can now be viewed as all but fully confirmed disciples of the church's new direction.
 If I understand the bishop correctly, he's telling us that sspx's two top leaders have handed over their organization to the post-conciliar church.  At this point in time it is not even necessary to read Williamson between the lines.  
The sspx faithful may feel that they are still adhering to Catholic tradition.  Nevertheless, because of the growing post-V2 orientation of their leaders and priests, the faithful, for all intents and purposes, have been re-attached to apostate Rome.
 A lot of sspxers repudiate Williamson.  That is at least a consistent position with respect to the Society's current orientation.  It makes sense.  But for active sspxers, who still confess admiration and respect for His Excellency, or, who follow him at a distance, their position has become untenable, even hypocritical.  The bishop is flashing a 'red light' like I've never seen him flash one before.

If you know Bishop Williamson well, you will know he will not "flash a 'red light'", he will come right out and say it when and if he ever comes to that position.

Pilar:

Quote

If you know Bishop Williamson well,....

Did I say that I know Bp. Willliamson well?  I know him after a fashion, but I don't think that I said I know him well.  But I think maybe you're telling me that you know him well.  OK, then maybe you're in a better position to know that he would "come right out and say it,"  and not beat around the bush.

I didn't mean to indicate that you did know him well or that you were saying you did. I do know him along with most who have been with the Society for many long years, especially in America. He pretty consistently says what he means and the last thing I heard him advise was caution, not "red light", and I have not seen anything since that makes me think he has changed that. He is reasonable and "red light" is not a reasonable approach.

This is the same man who has spoken publicly about the enemies of the Church and about perhaps an even more unpopular topic, women wearing slacks. If he thought we should not attend the Society Masses anymore, I do not believe he would have any hesitation in saying so.

If Bp. W's chaplain is giving the green light to folks wanting to attend SSPX chapels in the UK, there must be some understanding with the somewhat neutral district. When Fr. Morgan goes, I sense things will be different. In order to ingratiate itself with the most extreme version of conciliarism here, Menzingen will have to install some very liberal priests!

We used to be intolerant towards new ideas and unqualified clergy but a new generation may not be so and slowly learn the language of the new direction. Because the UK and Irish districts are small beer and not likely to cause Menzingen much lost sleep, there may be a strong desire to merge the few parishes with their opposite number in the indult sector. During this period of transition, it is going to be hard keeping tabs on what structures are going to emerge, the genuine beliefs of priests and who is going where.  

wessex:

If Bp. W's chaplain is giving the green light to folks wanting to attend SSPX chapels in the UK, there must be some understanding with the somewhat neutral district.

What's this about Bp. W's "chaplain?"  I've never heard that the bishop had a "chaplain."  What's his name? Who are these "folks" that he's "giving the green light to?"  What is a "somewhat neutral district?"  C'mmon, sir, give some of us ignorant Americans a heads up. :shocked:

Quote from: Wessex

If Bp. W's chaplain is giving the green light to folks wanting to attend SSPX chapels in the UK, there must be some understanding with the somewhat neutral district. When Fr. Morgan goes, I sense things will be different. In order to ingratiate itself with the most extreme version of conciliarism here, Menzingen will have to install some very liberal priests!

We used to be intolerant towards new ideas and unqualified clergy but a new generation may not be so and slowly learn the language of the new direction. Because the UK and Irish districts are small beer and not likely to cause Menzingen much lost sleep, there may be a strong desire to merge the few parishes with their opposite number in the indult sector. During this period of transition, it is going to be hard keeping tabs on what structures are going to emerge, the genuine beliefs of priests and who is going where.  

Isn't the Menzingen hitman Benoit "Pinaud" Wailliez waiting in the wings in Ireland to take over from Fr Morgan?.

Well, he is close to England and may have a masterplan prepared to turn  a thousand souls into Bergoglio cheerleaders! This would never have happened in the past. The original SSPX crowd had a reputation for sending such priests packing. But now I am not so sure ......