SSPX confessions valid during Jubilee, Pope Francis declares - many pray schism will end

Pope Francis is taking another step to reconcile with the SSPX.

Absolutions granted by priests of the Fraternity of St. Pius X (SSPX) will have the full support of the Pope Francis and the Church during the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy. The notice was given by Pope Francis in a special letter in which he announced the indulgence available during the Jubilee.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - The Fraternity of St. Pius X is made of priests who subscribe to an older form of Catholic practice. Their uniqueness includes the Tridentine Mass and more conservative manner of dress and conduct. They have long been regarded as a schism of the Roman Catholic Church. The most recent declaration in late 2013 affirmed the declaration of a schism.

Pope Benedict XVI's declaration that the SSPX was not part of the greater Catholic Church has caused tension between the SSPX and the rest of the Church. Pope Francis however, continues to work to heal the rift between the Society and the Church. His letter contains an olive branch for the Society. Unfortunately, some members of the SSPX do not hold Pope Francis in high regard. The Society's Bishop Fellay referred to Pope Francis as "a modernist."

Despite these setbacks, largely caused by breakdowns in negotiations between the bishops of the two sides, hopes remain.

In his letter on the Jubilee, sent to Archbishop Rino Fisichella on Sept. 1, Pope Francis outlined the details of the Jubilee of Mercy and what people can do to obtain pardon for their sins. Once of the problems Pope Francis mentioned what the uncertainty that some followers of the SSPX may have over their absolutions, since priests within the Society are not granted the authority to absolve sins via a Roman Catholic bishop.

Pope Francis has ended that debate, at least for the time, by declaring their confessions equally valid. This is an authority granted to the Holy Fathers of the Church in the Gospels and it extends to priests who are in good standing with the Church.

There are many Catholics who are hopeful that reconciliation will take place between the SSPX and Roman Catholic Church. There are no good reasons for the two parts to remain separate. There is room within the Church for some diversity of belief and practice as long as the core teachings of the faith remain whole. Both agree on the True Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, the path to salvation, the Virginity of Mary, Mother of God, the sanctity of marriage and life, and so on. There do remain some differences on other important beliefs, but should these differences keep two parts of the same whole truly apart?

Hopefully this gesture from Pope Francis will be reciprocated by the SSPX and they too will seek to reunite with the Church, but will also be respected and permitted their own diversity under the Church just as other rites of the Church are presently acknowledged.

We all love and serve the same Father, and we agree on so many things. Let us believe that our Heavenly Father will end divisions and heal wounds so that we may happily worship by the sides of our equally faithful brothers and sisters.

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