CathInfo.com

Italian bishop forbids people to receive sacraments from SSPX

Posted on 27 October 2014 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf
At L’Espresso I saw this, in Italian:

Pope Francis forbids Lefevbrite priests from saying Mass
The follows of the ultra traditionalist French bishop, already excommunicated, are now in Bergoglio’s crosshairs. Through one of his most faithful men he has forbidden them to celebrate Mass and administrate the sacraments. Whoever follows them risks excommunication.

In essence the article says that “new beatings with a stick” have come from “pastor of mercy and forgiveness”.

The Bishop of Albano, Marcello Semeraro, has forbidden the SSPX priests – who have their Italian HQ in Albano, a stone’s throw from Castel Gandolfo and two stone throws from Rome – from administering the sacraments. He also forbade the faithful from receiving the sacraments from the SSPX priests saying that they run the risk of excommunication. This was issued in the form of a notification signed by Bp. Semeraro, who happens to be the secretary of the Gang of Nine assembled by Pope Francis… Cards. Marx, O’Malley, Rodriguez Maradiaga, etc.

The notification was apparently published in no less than the official daily of the Italian Bishops Conference, Avvenire. It seems that he had received numerous requests about the celebration of sacraments by the SSPX. He wrote that “it isn’t an institution… of the Catholic Church”.

The article mentions that the SSPX has 15000 followers in Italy. Given the state of the Church in some places, that’s not nothing.

I didn’t find the Notification in the online version of Avvenire, but that’s no surprise.  It would be interesting to see the actual wording. Did Bp. Semararo raise the specter of excommunication for Catholics in the Diocese of Albano who seek sacraments from the SSPX?

Just lately the Prefect of the CDF, Card. Muller, had a meeting with SSPX leadership which seemed to betoken something positive. This is more than a little chilling, don’t you think?

It also seems as if there is a lack of coordination or of vision on this topic, indeed, a lack of guidance.

http://wdtprs.com/blog/2014/10/italian-bishop-forbids-people-to-receive-sacraments-from-sspx

Oh yes: there's something nasty floating in the pool, that's for sure. I just have no idea what.

The strangest thing is that when I started getting calls this morning, I thought it was about the Society or some such... it wasn't. It was about the Bishops becoming their own little mini-Popes. (The calls were from friends in the conciliar church who, I suppose, are hearing things about the RCC itself breaking up into mini-RCCs??? For example, twice I was asked how "stable" the Society is. I thought the issue was SSPX vs Resistance, but apparently not).

I have no idea what happened at some peoples' "experiences" yesterday (they call it "service" and just about everything but "mass" now, so I guess "experience" is just as good a description of what they do on Sundays as the other descriptions, lol).

However, I think Z sums it up nicely with that last sentence ("It also seems as if there is a lack of coordination or of vision on this topic, indeed, a lack of guidance.") And I imagine it's intended. Frank is big on mini-popes, so maybe one anti-bishop said, "Hey, Society, we embrace you" while the anti-bishop of Albeno is sending a completely different message, and Frank thinks that's just the bees' knees! That, I can see. (Author of confusion and all that...)

Gotta admit, the world does seem to be looking on "with wonder". (And shaking their heads in disgust, but that's the "spirit of vatican 2" for you.)