06/13/2012
The Pope’s decision is now in Fellay’s hands
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St. Peter's
St. Peter's
The Lefebvrian Superior has received the preamble text which has been read by Benedict XVI
Andrea Tornielli
vatican city
As Vatican Insider reported this morning, the dialogue between the Holy See and the Lefebvrians has reached a crucial point. Having carefully studied the content of the doctrinal preamble with the added modifications requested by the Superior of the Society of St. Pius X, Benedict XVI took his final decision and communicated it to the Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal William Levada and the Secretary of the dicastery, Archbishop Luis Ladaria Ferrer, during an Audience with them last Saturday.
Cardinal Levada delivered the text of the doctrinal declaration to Mgr. Fellay this afternoon, in the offices of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, in Rome. The Lefevrian Superior arrived at the Society of St. Pius X’s house in Albano Laziale, near Rome. The content of the preamble is still top secret but as has been promised from the beginning, it will be published if a formal agreement is reached between the Holy See and the Society founded by Mgr. Lefebvre. The final decision is therefore now in the hands of Mgr. Fellay: if he decides to accept the returned text, the agreement will be officially announced and the Society of St. Pius X will be given personal prelature status and will answer directly to the Holy See.
Given the history of stormy relations between the Holy See and the Fraternity, developments should be viewed with caution: in 1988 Lefebvre had signed a doctrinal agreement but decided to end negotiations at the last minute, claiming he did not trust Vatican authorities and proceeded to illegally consecrate four new bishops, including Fellay, without a papal mandate. Many things have changed since then. Today, the Superior of the Society of St. Pius X - who reiterated his views last 7 June, in an interview published in the Fraternity’s official bulletin – is well aware that Benedict XVI wants a reconciliation to heal the wound opened twenty four years ago. If, after receiving the Vatican’s reply, Fellay signs the doctrinal declaration, the agreement will be announced officially.
The question regarding the other three Lefebvrian bishops, Tissier de Mallerays, de Gallareta and Williamson will, however, remain open. The three bishops contested Fellay’s wish for reconciliation with the Church in a harsh letter which was later published on the web. Even if the Fraternity’s Superior signs the doctrinal declaration, the positions of the three bishops will be examined individually by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.