SSPX Bishop Fellay Decries Anti-Semitism: 'Jews are our 'Elder Brothers'

Bishop Fellay: "The Jews are 'our elder brothers'...Anti-Semitism has no place in our ranks."

LONDON (Catholic Online) - In the wake of the lifting of the excommunications of the four Bishops of the SSPX there has been a growing concern over repugnant Anti-Semitic comments made by one of their Bishops. The comment made on European television drew a strong response from the Holy See and two previous actions of the Superior of the SSPX, an act of correction against the erring Bishop and a formal apology to the Holy See.

However, the repercussions have grown into a continuing series of reports, stories, opinions and accusations raising questions about the SSPX and questioning the propriety of the actions by Rome.

Again, Rorate Caeli, a reliable source for news concerning this issue, has led the pack in its comprehensive and breaking coverage. It recently published a translation of an interview given by Bishop Fellay to a French publication, Famille Chrétienne, which we set forth for our readers who have also expressed deep concern and proper repugnance of any hint of anti-Semitism. It is followed by a correspondence which was sent by the Bishop following the interview to Dr. Alcuin Reid, the esteemed scholar of the Liturgy:

Bishop Bernard Fellay welcomed "Famille Chrétienne" [French Catholic weekly] on January 31, in his General House of Menzingen, Switzerland. He responded in particular to the accusations of Antisemitism cast at the Fraternity of Saint Pius X.

"We evidently condemn every act of murder of the innocent. It is a crime that cries to heaven! Even more so when it is related to a people. We reject every accusation of Antisemitism. Completely and absolutely.

"We reject every form of approval of what happened under Hitler. This is something abominable. Christianity places Charity at a supreme level. Saint Paul, speaking of the Jews, proclaims, 'I wished myself to be an anathema [from Christ], for my brethren!" (Rom. 9, 3).

"The Jews are "our elder brothers" in the sense that we have something in common, that is, the old Covenant. It is true that the acknowledgment of the coming of the Messiah separates us.

"It is very interesting to notice that the Church did not wait for the Council to prescribe courses of action regarding the Jews. Since the 30s, even during the war, several texts of Rome provide a very just position: the abominations of the Hitlerist regime must be condemned!

"'Spiritually, we all Semites', Pope Pius XI had said. It is a truth which comes from Sacred Scripture itself, 'we are sons of Abraham,' Saint Paul also affirms."

Statement by Dr Alcuin Reid:

On Friday BBC Radio asked me to discuss recent events concerning the SSPX on 'The Sunday Programme' this morning. Following that request I asked the SSPX for comment on the issues to be discussed. Unfortunately Bishop Fellay's reply reached me only after the programme aired. His reply, written for publication, states:

"The position of Bishop Williamson is clearly not the position of our Society. Anti-Semitism has no place in our ranks. We follow fully God's commandments on justice and charity and the constant teaching of the Church. Anti-Semitism has been condemned by the Church. So do we condemn it. I fully agree with Fr Schmidberger's statement about Bishop Williamson's words. (www.fsspx.info)"

God bless you, +Bernard Fellay

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