http://www.therecusant.com/brilonwaldcarmel (which also has more detailed information and Fr. Schmidberger's editorial)
Correction of the editorial in the Mitteilungsblatt (German District Newsletter) of April 2013
The announcement of the separation of the Carmel St. Joseph from the Society St. Pius X in the April Mitteilungsblatt requires, due to its wrong claims, some corrections which we want to submit herewith.
Claim: The Carmelites of Brilon-Wald were misled by their chaplain ... A period of one and a half years of influencing preceded this move.
Correction: There was no influencing, but sound catechesis, in the form and content similar to the instructions we were commonly used to receive 15 years ago from the Society St. Pius X. With this background it was inevitable that the current deviations of the Society St. Pius X from sound doctrine would become obvious. Our practical conclusion, the step to separate ourselves from the Society, was not discussed with our Chaplain, he was merely informed of it, excluding the practical question of whether he was to go or stay with us in this case.
Claim: We were religious nuns in seclusion who are only "informed" from one side.
Correction: Up until March 2013 we received the Mitteilungsblatt and the Kirchliche Umschau and therefore we were familiar with the official statements of the Society.
Claim: In the last months, subversive and slanderous writings were apparently circulating in the monastery.
Correction: The main object of our studies were in recent months:
Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, Sermons, talks and books (especially They have Uncrowned Him).
Don Félix Sardá y Salvany, Liberalism is a Sin (recommended by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre).
Father Michel Lelong, Pour la nécessaire réconciliation - Le Groupe de Reflexion Entre Catholiques (GREC) (Report of a priest of the official church of the secret talks between the SSPX with Rome for 15 years).
To complement the one-sided reporting of the Mitteilungsblatt, we used (without the mediation of our Chaplain) the writings of the SSPX Resistance. These are flatly condemned by the SSPX as subversive.
Claim: Step by step their (i.e. our) trust was undermined, that is, by the said subversion.
Correction: Our trust was undermined by the Society itself. The contradictions and deviations from the clear line of the Archbishop, of which abundant examples can be found, were irrefutably docuмented by the Resistance. That the Mitteilungsblatt did not even want to publish the letter of the three Bishops Tissier de Mallerais, de Galarreta and Williamson to the General Council in April 2012, as well as the response of the General Council (14.04.2012), certainly does not corrspond to truthful reporting. On the side of the Resistance we meet an objective way of arguing, whereas it is mere subjective arguing on the side of the SSPX.
Claim: Without literal reference, but from its context unambiguously applied to us, we are subject to: stubbornness, self-righteousness, condescension, criticism, false dialectic, mockery and malice.
Correction: A docuмentation of our exchange of letters with Bishop de Galarreta and Fr. Schmidberger, which on our sidewas kept as short and polite as possible, would completely exonerate us in this regard. We forgo publication in order not to unnecessarily show personalities of the SSPX in the light of their own allegations.
Proof of liberalism in the Society
That liberalism has entered the Society can be demonstrated by many statements of Bishop Fellay and other well known representatives of the Society, and can be read in their official statements or more clearly compiled on the website of the Resistance. The willingness for, indeed the pursuit of, a practical agreement with a still modernist, conciliar Rome is the most telling and alarming proof. As complicity in liberalism, Don Félix Sardá y Salvany mentions: "Complicity have the fathers, confessors, spiritual directors, directors of institutes, professors and teachers, when they, if asked about such things, either remain silent or simply do not explain, when they are obliged to instruct the conscience of their subordinates." (Chapter 17, No. 6) In Sarto Verlag (the publishing company of the German SSPX) dubious books are distributed. In the Mitteilungsblatt and the Kirchliche Umschau there constantly appear disputable articles by conservative representatives of the official Church without any correction.
Are we sedevacantists?
No, we are not. A decision on whether the dubious popes since the Council were or are legitimate Popes or not cannot be in any way incuмbent on us. Therefore, we pray for the Pope, without however being able to submit to his still modernist authority.
Our canonical situation
According to the letter of the then Superior General of the SSPX, Fr. Schmidberger, to the monasteries of tradition on 28.05.1991, the situation for all monasteries associated with the SSPX is as follows: The SSPX itself has no power of jurisdiction over the religious communities. The bishop in charge of the religious communities executes his office not as a member of the SSPX but simply as a Catholic bishop by virtue of an extraordinary jurisdiction which arises as the communities call on him due to the state of emergency. The communities are completely free to do so. We have therefore freely forgone, owing to the above-mentioned liberalism, making use of Bishop de Galarreta’s supplied authority. Instead we are in contact with Bishop Richard Williamson.
Conclusion
The quest for a rational assessment of the situation of the SSPX, enlightened by Faith, has suggested to us, after much prayer, the following decision: For the love of the truth, of the Church, and of the SSPX, and of the work of the Archbishop, blessed by God, we see it as our duty to withdraw from the dangerous influence of liberalism which has become apparent in the SSPX. The life of contemplative sisters has as its goal the contemplation of truth and union with God, who is truth itself. It is impossible to use half-truths and compromises to reach this goal. In order to work for the triumph of our Holy Church through the triumpf of the Immaculate Heart of Our Lady, to remain faithful to the mission of the Archbishop and to obtain for us and for many souls the highest good, the union with God, we see ourselves forced to confess and protect our faith by distancing ourselves from the Society. We will return with pleasure, as soon as it returns to the line of Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre.
What about the future of the monastery?
Due to the loss of benefactors who cannot understand our step and also due to fact that our extern sister left us in haste, we are now in a distressed situation. For over 30 years the district has been unable to provide us with a chaplain who could have operated pastorally. Due to the lack of faithful who could help us, we now have to regularly leave our cloister in order to ensure for our livelihood. That we were heading towards this precarious situation had already been communicated eight years ago to the then District Superior, without, however, there being appointed a house-chaplain who could fill the empty post. Therefore, we envisage having to relocate our Carmel to the south where help is assured. Since our monastery cannot be sold – according to the deed, it reverts back to the SSPX as soon as it is no longer used as a Carmel – we need new financial means to rebuild. Even a very humble beginning with a smaller building at least 700,000 Euros are necessary. We urgently ask you for your donations to help ensure that the continuation of our monastery in Bavaria or the nearby region can be guaranteed. For the sake of the Faith we have thrown ourselves into the arms of Divine Providence: "In te, Domine, speravi – non confundar in aeternum - In Thee, O Lord have I hoped – may I never be confounded."
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Guardian of the Faith, pray for us!
The Sisters of the Carmel St. Joseph
Contact: Carmel of St. Joseph, Korbacher Str 89, 59929 Brilon Wald, Germany. Tel 02961/6445
Donations: Sparkasse HSL Brilon, BLZ 416 517 70, Account No. 56 267
IBAN: DE58 4165 1770 0000 0562 67, BIC: WELADED1HSL
This post has been edited by Gabriel on Apr 24 2013, 01:01 AM
Immaculate Heart of Mary, be my refuge and my strength.