Rome-SSPX: The Drama Continues
Compiled by John Vennari
On line at:
http://www.cfnews.org/page10/page32/rome_s...acontinues.htmlWe here present the latest reports about the Society of St. Pius X and Rome.
In the midst of all talk of "regularization” and the SSPX being brought "back into the fold”, it must be first mentioned that the SSPX is not and never was outside the Church in the first place.
The only "crime” of which Archbishop Lefebvre and the SPXX is guilty is the "crime” of fidelity: they have always been faithful to Catholic doctrine "in the same meaning and in the same explanation” as it has always been taught throughout the centuries.
All that the SSPX hold and teach is perfectly in line with the doctrine of Popes Pius IX, Leo XIII, Pius X, Benedict XIV, Pius XI and Pius XII.
This fidelity of the SSPX, however, puts them at odds with the novelties of Vatican II.
Yet the SSPX's approach follows not only Catholic common sense, but the "theological note” from Vatican II itself.
At the end of Vatican II, the Council Fathers asked Archbishop (later-Cardinal) Felici for what theologians call the theological note of the Council. In other words, what is the status of the Vatican II docuмents?
Cardinal Felici replied, "We have to distinguish according to the schemas and the chapters those which already have been the subject of dogmatic definitions in the past; as for the declarations which have a novel character, we have to make reservations.”
Thus, Cardinal Felici recognized that Vatican II contained novelties no Catholic is bound to accept. These novelties, such as ecuмenism, religious liberty, and its new approach to Judaism that claims Jєωs need not convert to Catholicism for salvation, are contrary to what the Church has always taught, and have proved disastrous for the Church and for souls.
This is all the more pressing, since the Conciliar novelties such as ecuмenism and religious liberty stand condemned by previous Church teaching, particularly Blessed Pius IX Syllabus or Errors (against Religious Liberty), and Pope Pius XI's Mortalium Animos (against Ecuмenism).
We continue to pray for the Society of St. Pius X as it struggles to keep its primary goal: unswerving fidelity to the Catholic Faith of all time. The SSPX is aware of its duty to keep alive in its schools and in its seminaries the anti-liberal zest and theological precision of Father Henri Le Floch and Archbishop Lefebvre; both of whom were outstanding expositors of traditional papal teaching.
A brilliant friend in Portugal – a Ph.D. who worked for years in British Intelligence, who is well-versed in the tactics of social engineering and world politics — said the following to me via email in early May regarding the present SSPX situation. His note was in response to a conference in Germany by Father Pfluger, Assistant to Bishop Fellay, wherein Father Pfluger said Pope Benedict has indicated the SSPX does not even have to accept Vatican II and the New Mass for the sake of "regularization”.
While this indeed is a game-changer, if true, it nonetheless requires caution. My Portuguese friend expressed his opinion that the SSPX still have to be careful regarding the Pope's proposal, no matter how well-intentioned Benedict may be. He noted, "The Papal powers have been so undermined since Vatican II, particularly during John Paul II's disastrous term of office, that even if Pope Benedict wanted to abide by his word, it is likely that the Vatican apparatus wouldn't let him.”
As the following reports indicate, it appears that the Vatican apparatus is still trying to thwart an SSPX regularization wherein they remain in public opposition to the liberalism of Vatican II. We provide constant updates about the present situation on our webpage at
www.cfnews.orgThe following are the latest reports as we go to press:
Vatican Communique on the Society of St. Pius X
May 16, VIS: Early this afternoon, the Holy See Press Office issued the following communique regarding the Society of St. Pius X:
As reported by news agencies, today, 16 May 2012, an Ordinary Session of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith met to discuss the question of the Society of St. Pius X.
In particular, the text of the response of Bishop Bernard Fellay, received on 17 April, 2012, was examined and some observations, which will be considered in further discussions between the Holy See and the Society of St. Pius X, were formulated.
Regarding the positions taken by the other three bishops of the Society of St. Pius X, their situations will have to be dealt with separately and singularly.
Catholics must accept Vatican II, including on Judaism, Cardinal Koch Says
ROME (CNS) -- The Catholic Church's relationship to Judaism as taught by the Second Vatican Council and the interpretations and developments of that teaching by subsequent popes, "are binding on a Catholic," said the Vatican official responsible for relations with the Jєωs.
Swiss Cardinal Kurt Koch, president of the Pontifical Commission for Religious Relations with the Jєωs and a member of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, spoke to reporters May 16 after delivering a speech on Catholic-Jєωιѕн relations in light of Vatican II's declaration "Nostra Aetate" on the church's relations with non-Christian religions.
The afternoon speech followed Cardinal Koch's participation in a meeting of the doctrinal congregation to examine the latest progress in the Vatican's reconciliation talks with the traditionalist Society of St. Pius X.
"There are questions to clarify in discussions with this community. I can't say more than that," he told reporters, echoing a Vatican statement saying the reconciliation talks are ongoing…
"All the doctrinal decisions of the church are binding on a Catholic, including the Second Vatican Council and all its texts," Cardinal Koch said when asked if the SSPX would be expected to accept all the teachings of Vatican II. "The 'Nostra Aetate' declaration of the Second Vatican Council is a clear decree and is important for every Catholic," he added.
(Editor's note: As already indicated, despite Cardinal Koch's assertions, Catholics are not bound to accept the novel teachings from the Council that conflict with the perennial magisterium, as noted by Cardinal Felici in his "theological note” from the Council).
Divide and Conquer:
Comment by Fr Pierpaolo Petrucci SSPX, District Superior of Italy
on the CDF Press release:
Dear Friends,
As you are aware, the Society of Saint Pius X is going through a difficult period. Following the grave and immoral publication of private letters between three bishops and the General Council led by our superior, Bp. Fellay, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, made public today (May 16) a press communique. In the text, on the one hand, the will is displayed of moving forward in "further discussions between the Holy See and the Society of St. Pius X", on the other, it is affirmed, in reference to the letter of the three bishops, that, "regarding the positions taken by the other three bishops of the Society of St. Pius X, their situations will have to be dealt with separately and singularly".
This way of action clearly manifests the intention of dividing our Priestly Society in its highest representatives. For this reason, we invite all the friends and faithful to intensify their prayers and, in particular, the Holy Rosary, in the Crusade called by our Superior, so that the Society of Saint Pius X may remain united in the battle against the errors infiltrated in the Church (emphasis added).
Fr. Pierpaolo Maria Petrucci
District Superior
Note from JV: On Friday May 18, the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the of the Faith gave their report on the SSPX to Benedict XVI. Swiss religious news agency APIC confirms the official delivery by Cardinal Levada, but no real new development is added, other than the confirmation that "the pope can now directly decide the outcome of the discussions with the Lefebvrists or can wait for 'new developments' on the doctrinal questions wished by the members of the CDF."
Bishop Fellay's Salzburg Sermon:
Ascension Thursday, May 17, 2012
Certainly you, my dear faithful, would like to know something about what is going on with Rome. It is a delicate matter. You know, this matter deals with our future. Therefore, it is not an easy matter. What will happen? Will we be received? Or won't we?
I know there are many fears. We have witnessed so many things! We fear, precisely, that things may go wrong. For the largest part, these fears are understandable. We won't just take a step with our eyes closed. That is very, very clear. But at this moment, I cannot even tell you if it will happen, or not! Because, it isn't clear yet. We need assurances that we can continue to do what we have been doing so far. And in this respect, some things aren't clear yet. Simply not clear.
And I can tell you: the devil is at large! And, well, really everywhere. So, for us, one thing is clear: pray! We have to pray as never before. We have for our whole history been consecrated to the Mother of God, she will surely not abandon us, especially if we pray this much, and if we only want the will of God. Therefore, we will continue to pray, with trust, with trust in God. That's it. Let us not be unsettled by our passions, by unjustified fears…
I tell you, really, the devil is at large! And, well, everywhere. In the Society itself; throughout the Church. There really are people who do not want us. Those are the Modernists, the Progressives. And they, too, cause a lot of pressure in order to stop the right thing from being done, the right thing, that is: justice. That once again we will be officially recognized as being Catholic. And that does, of course, not mean that we will all of a sudden accept that which has caused the Church so much damage. One has to understand this correctly. That is not what this is all about. The matter at hand is that we may be recognized the way we are. That we can continue Tradition, that we cannot only show Tradition to others, but also give it to them.
At the moment I don't have anything else but this. So, let us continue to pray, let us entrust these big, big intentions to the good God. He will not abandon us! Here we must have this hope! Whoever asks from our Lord His help will not be left alone by Him!
Bishop Fellay Sermon in Vienna
Sunday after the Ascension, May 21, 2012
You have surely heard that, in the last few months, Rome has offered us a solution - we could rather say, a recognition.
This structure that is being offered to the Society is in fact entirely appropriate. That is, if it actually takes place, you will feel absolutely no difference between now and afterwards. We will remain as we are, so to speak. The problem is the [existence of] safeguards: will it actually happen this way? The fear is great that we will be transformed. Our experience up to this day is there.
It is quite clear that this offer is also very, very controversial in the Church at large. I can assure you: It is the will of the Pope. This must not be doubted. But it is certainly not the will of everyone in the Church.
Whether this will come to fruition depends on terms that are not yet clear terms. There are still points that remain unclear. It could happen that, in the upcoming days, weeks - it is very hard to ascertain this - the Pope will decide directly. It could be that he takes the case back to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. There is a lot of pressure in Rome. Which is why I couldn't say more than this. That is the current status.
One must not think that things will be easy afterwards. To use the words of the Pope that describe the situation quite well: 'I know,' he said, 'that it would be easier both for the Society and for myself to leave the situation as it currently is.' This describes very well the situation, and also that the Pope himself knows that he, when he does it, will be attacked. And also that the situation will not be easy for us. That which will arise out of this situation will be with Rome or against it. Both of which will be difficult.
Yet we have trust in the good God. He has guided us very well so far. We must not think that, praying so much, He would abandon us in the moment of greatest danger. That would be [a thought] against hope. We are counting on God's assistance. [We are ready to pay the cost.] His will be done.
Posted: May 26, 2012
Topic: Rome-SSPX The Drama Continues by John Vennari (Read 947 times)