SSPX Official Offers Cautions Concerning Possible Reconciliation with Rome

By Randy Sly
10/5/2011
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

States The Society must continue its mission of combating 'modernist Rome'

Last month, Catholic Online reported on the historic meeting held in Rome by Cardinal Levada of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith with the Superior General of the Society of Saint Pius X, Bishop Bernard Fellay. In a recent interview, First Assistant of the Society of St. Pius X, Fr. Niklaus Pfluger, remained cool about any possible reconciliation.

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WASHINGTON, DC (Catholic Online) - A senior official for the Society of Saint Pius X, the traditionalist group that broke with the Roman Catholic Church, has poured some cold water on excitement that a reconciliation may occur with the group very soon. Last month, Catholic Online reported on the historic meeting held in Rome by Cardinal Levada of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith with the Superior General of the SSPX, Bishop Bernard Fellay.

During the proceedings the Cardinal Prefect presented the Superior General with a statement of principles they are calling a "Doctrinal Preamble" as part of the regularization of the canonical status of the SSPX. The General Council, which includes the Superior General and both of his Assistants, were present for the meeting. All attending agreed to keep the content of the preamble confidential while the society has a chance to study it.

Speaking with the German District of SSPX during a visit to Stuttgart, First Assistant of the Society of St. Pius X, Fr. Niklaus Pfluger, shared his thoughts about the September 14 meeting, the "Doctrinal Preamble," and what may come of it.

"The document allows for corrections from our side," Fr. Pfluger stated. "That is necessary also, if only to exclude clearly and definitively even the appearance of ambiguities and misunderstandings. So now it is our duty to send Rome an answer that reflects our position and unambiguously represents the concerns of Tradition."

The society was established by Archbishop Marcel Lefebrve in 1970 as a response to what he described as errors that had crept into the Catholic Church following the Second Vatican Council.

Tensions increased and relations strained to the breaking point in 1988 when the Archbishop ordained four bishops against the orders of Pope John Paul II.

In 2009, in order to initiate a movement toward reconciliation, Pope Benedict remitted the excommunication of the bishops in anticipation of further talks. In spite of this initiative, many who support SSPX see the recent meeting as "Rome setting a trap." Pfluger responded to that concern.

"This criticism is altogether justified and should be taken seriously. For how can we avoid giving the impression that this amounts after all to a tacit acceptance, so to speak, that would in fact lead to this parallel diversity and relativize the one truth; that is indeed precisely the basis of Modernism."

According to the First Assistant, several issues stand in the way of reconciliation and may become a permanent stumbling block. Further, as the Church continues to move forward, SSPX sees their roll to continue the fight against Vatican II and Roman modernity.

"Assisi III and even more the unfortunate beatification of John Paul II, but also many other examples make it clear that the leadership of the Church now as before is not ready to give up the false principles of Vatican II and their consequences.

"Therefore any "offer" made to Tradition must guarantee us the freedom to be able to continue our work and our critique of "modernist Rome". And to be honest, this seems to be very, very difficult. Again, any false or dangerous compromise must be ruled out."

Whatever agreement may be reached with Rome by the Superior, Fr. Pfluger sees the final hurdle resting with their members when the final document is presented. The response of the group can, in many ways, shape the permanent destiny of the society.

"It is clear that now they are demanding a document that can be presented to the public. The question is, whether one can sign the document. In one week the superiors of the Society of St. Pius X will meet in [Albano Laziale, a suburb of] Rome to discuss this together.

"Of course it has to be clear to Cardinal Levada and the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith too that they cannot insist on a document that the Society cannot justify in turn to its members and faithful."

There will certainly be a lot to discuss when the superiors meet next week. The heart of the pontiff, however, cannot be ignored. He has been very clear, both in this initiative as well as with the Anglican Ordinariate that he wants the crowing work of his papacy to be unification.

The entire interview with Fr. Pfluger can be seen on the SSPX website.

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Randy Sly is the Associate Editor of Catholic Online and the CEO/Associate Publisher for the Northern Virginia Local Edition of Catholic Online (http://virginia.catholic.org). He is a former Archbishop of the Charismatic Episcopal Church who laid aside that ministry to enter into the full communion of the Catholic Church.

- - -

Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

Keywords: Society of St. Pius X, SSPX, Bishop Fellay, Pope Benedict, Unity, Unification

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1 - 10 of 13 Comments

Bulbajer
1 year ago
Chris, I completely agree.
Chris
1 year ago
The real stumbling block here (although there hasn't been a lot of talk about it) is the Society's rejection, more or less, of religious liberty. Such rejection is irreconciable with Western civil tradition, however, and is based almost entirely in Archbishop Lefebvre's reaction to 1789. This position needs to be abandoned, to a certain degree, by the SSPX before true reconciliation can begin.

When a handbook for an SSPX school in Canada states that expressed disagreement of an SSPX position, which I would have to assume includes rejection of religious liberty, results in possible suspension or expulsion, something has to change.
Taylor
1 year ago
Dear Chris McAvoy - I think that the changes in the 1973 translation are relatively minor in many cases. I am surprised at such a huge fuss over such a minor issue, especially when those attending and actively participating in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass actually understand what the words of the Mass intend. Nothing good can come from complaining about this improvement. One should be praising the improvement. There should be a recognition of the sincere integrity of those who recognized and applied the changes. There is no conspiracy here - but only good, Christian humility in action. The primary challenge here is perhaps the apparent self-pride of those who are discovering that there has not been a conspiracy afterall.
Christopher McAvoy
1 year ago
It is true that the recognition of the vatican II council containing ambiguous teachings has grown to become gradually a more mainstream idea. This is especially among those who are more serious about their faith, the seminarians, the scholars and lay leaders.

The new translation of the mass, which plainly recognizes errors contained in the current 1973 translation used until the end of 2011 makes it clear to the average lay person that some "funny business" occurred to allow such a serious error to occur for a 40 year period. The questioning will inevitably grow stronger. Authoritarian modernism is in decline.

The truth can not be concealed any longer. God's truth endures forever.
Taylor
1 year ago
Disobedience, such as that of the SSPX, should be met with the truth - that is, that they have been and continue to be disobedient and unfaithful. Such was the case with Adam and Eve. I am floored that SSPX believes that, after an entire existence of struggling with Original Sin due to disobedience of our parents that disobedience would be acceptable from anyone in the Church. I look forward to a reunion, but only one based in humility on the part of those who arrogantly disobeyed the Pope and his Magisterium by setting up a schism within the Church. Shame on SSPX. Shame!
Bulbajer
1 year ago
Rod, my understanding was that most Traditionalists plain out reject Vatican II, not just because of modernist interpretations of the council, but also because the ideas supported by the council are allegedly wrong. The emphasis on ecumenism and social justice, as well as the official condemnation of Anti-Semitism, were the reasons a lot Traditionalists broke off from the Vatican. As far as I know, a person who accepts the validity of Vatican II is not a Traditionalist, even if he/she favors a "traditional" interpretation of that council.
Anthony
1 year ago
Glad to see an honest report of the situation. We pray for the good work of the SSPX to continue.

catholicapologetics.info/
Bulbajer
1 year ago
P Smith, you're right. But the SSPX's mission has certainly gone beyond that.
Jason, I think that the Church, as part of the worldwide ecumenist movement, reach out toward all religious groups. This includes Protestants and dissident Catholics like Traditionalists and liberation theologians.
Rod
1 year ago
Re: Jason:
The reason the Vatican is giving what seems to be excessive attention to the SSPX is because the SSPX's criticisms are embarassing to Rome and have gained a significant sympathy even outside the SSPX.

The SSPX is the only organized resistance to Vatican II, but the resistance is much larger and general and involves many clergy outside of the SSPX both in and outside union with Rome.

The fact of the matter remains that Vatican II is ambiguous, and this has been basically admitted by Rome. Thus it is open to a very liberal interpretation leading to modernism, which is what has spread throughout the Church over the past 40 years. It can also be interpreted traditionally (more or less) which is what the Pope wants.

The problem that remains however is that the Church is left with a council that is not clear in its teachings and contains prima-facie ambiguities, if not contradictions to past teachings.

The job for a future pope will be to determine if it needs to go down the memory hole of history along with some other councils (it has happened before) to return sanity to the Church.

The issue for the SSPX is whether it can trust Rome (ie the Pope) to start the restoration. If the SSPX leaders feel that the winds have sufficiently changed, then they will have no problem assisting in the restoration under the Roman umbrella. They have even said they would "clean the toilets in the Church" if necessary.

Let's pray the restoration is on the way.
Jason
1 year ago
I see no reason why SSPX should not go they way of all Protestant sects. All this kowtowing by the Vatican baffles me. The Church isn't making concessions for (say) Methodists who disagree with her teachings; why should she make concessions for SSPX?

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