Cathinfo:

This letter of Fr Jean (OFM) appears in the pinned "Collection of Resistance Writings."

In my opinion, it is the most damning of all of them, and deserved to be singled out for this reason:

Coming in April, 2009 (ie., during the height of the Bishop Williamson fury about the RSPs), it was overlooked by most.

Also, most of us did not become convinced the SSPX was trying to sellout until Feb 2, 2012, whereas this letter foresaw it 3 years prior (when our convictions were still but suspicions).

Here we have confirmation from a priest about the inroads made by the GREC, and a plausible explanation for the deviation of the SSPX from the principles of Archbishop Lefebvre.

Please read that which follows with great diligence, and meditate upon it.

Note: Fr Jean makes a strange statement at the end about Bishop Williamson, which time has proven to be completely off-mark.  Do not let that distract you from his revelations in the rest of he letter.

Seraphim



   
French Capuchin Resists Drive for Accord Back in 2009
Taken from TIA website
TIA commentary puts letter in context; actual letter follows:


Reactions opposed to the accord of the SSPX leaders with Rome implying the acceptance of Vatican II “interpreted in the light of Tradition” seem to be growing among priests of the organization. Two of them that recently came to TIA's knowledge appear to be just the tip of the iceberg. The first was from the Prior of Orizaba in Mexico, Fr. Basilio Meramo, who publicly stated his indignation over Bishop Fellay’s agreement with Rome, which he qualified as an apostasy. TIA posted one sermon and an open letter that he wrote presenting his opposition to any accord.

Now, a new case has come to the surface.

On February 5, Bishop Fellay was present at a meeting of the SSPX superiors in France that took place in St. Nicholas de Chardonnay, Paris. After his speech in which he gave an account of the recent steps regarding his relations with the Vatican, a Capuchin superior of the Convent of St. Anthony Aurenque, Fr. Jean de Morgon, stood up and asked whether it was Bishop Fellay’s intention to accept “the Conciliar Church, the Modernist Rome.” As the Bishop hesitated, the religious insisted a second and a third time, but received no answer to his question.

The Franciscan superior, also present, ordered Fr. Jean to be silent and leave the room. Fr. Jean declared in loud voice that “there is no obligation whatsoever to obey someone who contradicts Faith and Morals,” but he left the room. Afterwards, he was ordered to issue a letter of apology to Bishop Fellay.

Fr. Jean stated that he would apologize for the form of his question, not for its content. To this “letter of apology” he had been ordered to write, he attached a declaration in which he expounded the reasons for his disagreement with the accord. He sent this declaration to various friends and supporters of SSPX, who placed it on a French website on February 22, 2009. Recently, one of our readers sent it to us.

Below, we present the main excerpts of Fr. Jean’s attached statement, translated from French by TIA (our subtitles). Our readers familiar with French can read the full text here or read news about it on websites that reported the episode (here and here).

The highlights of this docuмent are doubtless the following:

Fr. Jean’s allegation that a network of progressivist priests infiltrated the SSPX;
His affirmation that they managed to rise to key-positions in the organization;
His statement that the present day accord with Rome headed by Bishop Fellay would be the principal goal of their agenda.
Also surprising is his final affirmation that Bishop Williamson would be a part of this team.
I leave the reader to judge the truth of these statements.

TIA is taking the initiative to report this episode, as it did in the case of Fr. Meramo, because it seems to have been forbidden to circulate these dissensions among the SSPX grassroots. It is hard to justify leaders of a movement who prevent their followers from knowing what is happening in their own ranks. I believe the faithful have the right to know these controversies. Here is my contribution toward this end..

    The Editor



Principal Excerpts from Fr. Jean’s Letter


Convent St. Anthony Aurenque
Castelnaud d’Arbieu, Fleurence
February 11, 2009
Our Lady of Lourdes

Monsignor, …

In conscience, before God and men, for the common good of Catholic tradition and hence the Church, it seems to be my duty to add to my letter of apology what follows:

After my vehement intervention on February 5, pressure was put on me both in St. Nicholas and in Causade. In response, I said that I would apologize for the form (the ire) but not for the matter (the complaint).

Thus, I intensely regret having lost my temper, insofar as it caused scandal to some (although I have received congratulations by telephone and letter) or harmed or deviated from the subject of my complaint. Further, a simple letter of apology might allow you to think that I regret what I said. Thus, [to avoid this impression] I feel obliged to return to that matter and make it even more explicit. …

If I did not sing the Te Deum for the Motu Proprio, it is because my superior allowed me freedom on that point. I did not want to applaud a text that places the Mass of all times on the same level as the “bastard” Mass, as Msgr. Lefebvre often called it. …

I consider the SSPX a work of the Church, my second mother. To it I owe the integral conservation of my faith, my religious life and my priesthood. I wholehearted love it, and this is why I become indignant when I believe it is threatened. …

[He goes on to explain that he believes there is an infiltration inside the SSPX, and he calls those members “subversives.”]

When I took the microphone [at the meeting in Paris], I said that I - along with many other priests - was very apprehensive with what was happening in the SSPX- Vatican relations that appears to be leading us - slowly but surely – toward joining with conciliar and modernist Rome.

On that occasion I spoke out – with great repugnance – on behalf of other priests who encouraged me to do so. I was not just expressing my personal opinion. For five years, I have been convinced that this development constitutes part of a skillful process designed by certain subversive priests who managed to occupy strategic positions in the SSPX (as superiors, in seminaries, media and finances) in order to lead it to this merger [with modernist Vatican]. …

A suspect petition

Since I returned from Paris, Divine Providence has confirmed to me - as if it were necessary - that this process of merging is in progress. One of the faithful showed me a text from the Internet of a petition of support for Benedict XVI. In the announcements of Sunday Mass, I believed it was my duty to warn the faithful about this campaign, telling them that we should pray for Pope Benedict XVI, because he has heavy responsibilities, but that it was not the case to give him an unconditional support, considering that he had just declared (L’Osservatore Romano, French weekly edition, Dec. 23-30, 2008, p. 6) that the Church rejoices at the autonomy between the State and the Church, considering it a great progress of mankind. I also deemed it proper to invite the faithful to read an [old] article of Bishop Tissier de Mallerais about the errors taught (again and again, without any corrections) by professor Ratzinger (Sel de la Terre n. 67, pp 22-54).

Further investigation of the source of this petition clearly shows on the website of Forum Catholique that it springs from and is encouraged by GREC [French acronym for Group of Reflection among Catholics] that was founded in 1997 (for 10 years we did not even know of the existence of such a club!). This group brings together clergy and laity from all the various tendencies of “tradition,” primarily those who have merged [with the Vatican]. Among those is found the SSPX. They work “to achieve reconciliation according to the institutional and juridical forms.” This goal obviously targets the SSPX, which among that group is the only one that (still) has not merged.

One can also read there that this petition is encouraged by Archbishop [Fortunato] Baldelli, the Apostolic Nuncio, and Bishop [Philippe] Breton of Aire and Dax, representing the Bishops of France. I was told by a SSPX colleague that Bishop Breton stated that he met Fr. Cacqueray [the French superior of SSPX] at a GREC meeting … I was not surprised, therefore, to learn that the superior of the French district [Cacqueray] had exhorted all the faithful of Mutualité [in Paris] to sign the petition supporting Benedict XVI.

Do we need more proofs that the SSPX authorities are determined to merge with conciliar Rome? Is it necessary to listen again to the program of Radio Courtesy (July 17, 2007) where Fr. Lelong, a GREC activist, assured his listeners that the present day SSPX leaders would be fully willing to merge and that their task would essentially be only to silence the recalcitrant inside the SSPX?

Measuring the consequences

I am perfectly aware of the gravity of these revelations and their consequences. I have weighed and verified them as much as possible through the means Divine Providence recently afforded me. In conscience I could no longer remain silent, only in prayer. I do not want to wait for the house to be completely burned before calling the alert! I am absolutely certain that I fulfill my duty and the will of God in communicating these things to you. It is up to you to make your own judgment following your own conscience. Thinking about the numerous souls that were confided by Our Lord Jesus Christ to your care and for which you will have to give an account regarding their faith at the judgment day [the question rises]: “What do you expect from the Church?” The answer: The FAITH.

Regarding the future, I place myself totally in the hands of Divine Providence. I expect to be cast into the street, being labeled “sede-vacantist” (defamation is a classical tactic of the subversives to marginalize their opponents). If some tragedy will happen to me - it is necessary to foresee everything - I have confided this letter and all my hot docuмents to some dependable friends, who can disseminate them should the need arise. I know that my parents will provide for me and help me to re-start or, better said, to continue my religious life somewhere else. It is an enormous pain for me to become “vagus”, but if this is the will of the Good God in this astonishing crisis, so be it!

I have no trust in Bishop Fellay, who uses his authority to cover this whole operation. Neither do I have any in Bishop Williamson, who was found to be in secret contact with Rome a week after Easter 2008. Regarding our other two Bishops, I hope that on the day of the merger (which would not be so far off, as many pretend, since Benedict XVI is getting old…) or even before, at least one of them will stand up and continue the work of Msgr. Lefebvre.

Should this happen, I alert my brothers of Morgon and Aurenque who refuse this capitulation on the battlefield of the Faith that I will return and place myself under the obedience of their superior or the eldest one. Until this day comes, let us remain united in praying the Rosary, confiding in the final triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Fr. Jean O.F.M.
Posted April 14, 2009

I have read this letter many times since it was first published by TIA.  Thank you, Seraphim, for posting it here.  May our Good God have mercy upon us!

Quote from: parentsfortruth

Reading this, I'm confused about the role Bishop Williamson would have played in what he's talking about. Perhaps someone can clarify what was meant by Fr. Jean.

Only Fr Jean could clarify.

But the comment has been contradicted by the passage of time: It is Bishop Williamson who has held the course, not Tissier or de Galaretta.

But you have missed the point of the letter, if the comment about Bishop Williamson was your primary takeaway.

Oh I see the entire point of the letter completely, but that is the one thing I had a question about. I already understand that this positioning towards a "meeting of the minds" between the SSPX and Rome has been going on for more years that most of us want to admit.

Seraphim, I would like to take the opportunity to say thank you for your good work in making the compilation of: “Collection of Resistance Writings”.   You had written, “No Posts Please”, so I was unable to do so on that thread.  

It is a valuable resource for everyone to reference, as well as, for any new people to see the well thought out writings of the many SSPX priests themselves, and of others, who are more than concerned about these new leanings and turnings of Menzingen.

As well, a big thank you for the many here who have come together for the same common interest , for the good of the Church, to transcribe Bishop Fellay’s recent conference, and hold him, and others, accountable for their actions.

So again, to all, thank you for your good work…it’s now for others to see the contradictions and the real fight for the Faith.

Viva Cristo Rey…

On February 5, Bishop Fellay was present at a meeting of the SSPX superiors in France that took place in St. Nicholas de Chardonnay, Paris. After his speech in which he gave an account of the recent steps regarding his relations with the Vatican, a Capuchin superior of the Convent of St. Anthony Aurenque, Fr. Jean de Morgon, stood up and asked whether it was Bishop Fellay’s intention to accept “the Conciliar Church, the Modernist Rome.” As the Bishop hesitated, the religious insisted a second and a third time, but received no answer to his question.

I am perfectly aware of the gravity of these revelations and their consequences. I have weighed and verified them as much as possible through the means Divine Providence recently afforded me. In conscience I could no longer remain silent, only in prayer. I do not want to wait for the house to be completely burned before calling the alert! I am absolutely certain that I fulfill my duty and the will of God in communicating these things to you. It is up to you to make your own judgment following your own conscience. Thinking about the numerous souls that were confided by Our Lord Jesus Christ to your care and for which you will have to give an account regarding their faith at the judgment day [the question rises]: “What do you expect from the Church?” The answer: The FAITH.

God Bless you...Fr. Jean for standing up to do what is right.

And almost 4-years later, we still do not get any answers from Bishop Fellay...

Fr. Jean de Morgon, stood up and asked whether it was Bishop Fellay’s intention to accept “the Conciliar Church, the Modernist Rome.” As the Bishop hesitated, the religious insisted a second and a third time, but received no answer to his question.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

At his next conference someone should point this episode out to Bp Fellay . At the moment he seems to be just trying to smile his way out of trouble.

Thank you, Seraphim. The whole GREC matter may be the key to what's happening today. The TIA article confuses the matter a bit, by implying it's a group that intends to reconcile many different types of traditionalist opinion, but it's clear from Fr. Michel Lelong's book, Pour une necessaire reconciliation (published in 2011 before the recent negotiations) that it's sole aim is to integrate the SSPX with the Conciliar Church.

It was founded in Paris in 1997, at a dinner in the rue de Rome, at the flat of Madame Huguette Perol, widow of the French Ambassador to Rome, Gilbert Perol. Before his death in 1996 he had written some notes about it, which became a sort of founding charter of GREC.

The four founding members, who were present at the dinner, were:

1. Madame Huguette Perol.

2. Father Alain Lorans (then Director of the SSPX University Institute in Paris and "head of SSPX communications" - which he still is (Dici)). (Had he also been Rector of Econe?).

3. Father Michel Lelong (Novus Ordo priest much invoved in "ecuмenical" work with Muslims.

4. Father Olivier de La Brosse, O.P. (Novus Ordo Dominican, later spokeman for the French Bishops' Conference, d. 2009).

Fr. Lelong says in the book, "GREC was founded that day."

5. Fr. Emmanuel du Chalard of the SSPX Italian District was also involved from the beginning, but more discreetly and in the background. (I don't know if he still is. I've just obtained a copy of the book, but haven't finished reading it.) (Was he Italian District Superior at one time?) He's now editor of Si Si No No (Courrier de Rome).

In the book there are photographs from the 1990's of Gilbert Perol with Bishop Fellay and with Fr. Schmidberger and one of Huguette Perol with Archbishop Lefebvre in 1991, the year he died. She is smiling broadly, he looks most unhappy. The pictures all seem to be taken at the Society's house at Albano near Rome. So contact of the Perols with the SSPX goes back a long way. I wonder what was happening then?

Can anyone answer the questions I've put in bold?

Raphaela, where could one purchase this book?  Has it been translated into English?