DICI---Press Review: Relations between the Society of St. Pius X and Rome

[Dawn Marie]

Press Review: Relations between the Society of St. Pius X and Rome

1-10-2012  
Filed under News, The Church in the world

 

The ad limina visit of the French bishops which began this week (see the article: “The Bishops of France in Rome”), is an opportunity for journalists to question the Roman and French prelates staying in Rome on the status of the relations between the Society of Saint Pius X and Rome, since it is certainly true that these relations are of interest to the French.  To hear Archbishop Gerhard Ludwig Müller speak (i.e. the new prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, as reported by Cardinal Jean-Pierre Ricard on the KTO network), one might even believe that these relations are of interest to the French exclusively, or nearly so! In fact, according to the German prelate, this is a question one must take into account while granting it “its rightful place” in the universal Church, since it concerns “France, Switzerland, and Germany” above all. The faithful of the 59 other countries around the world served by the Society of St. Pius X will appreciate it!

The September 21 article of the Swiss news agency Apic titled “Internal Problems of the Society of St. Pius X”.   Based on statements confided to the Roman agency I.Media by anonymous “sources close to the matter”, Apic’s dispatch reveals that “the Vatican hopes that the SSPX will, in the weeks to come, make a definitive statement about its adherence to or rejection of the doctrinal preamble which had been proposed to them a year ago”, because “a conclusion must be reached, albeit with all the necessary calm and reflection.” The article went on to say: “The Vatican is aware of the difficulties that the internal problems of the Society may pose. On the other hand, the slowing of the process can be explained by the replacement of the management of the Ecclesia Dei Commission, which took place this summer. In the Vatican, it is considered legitimate that Bishop Fellay should wish to meet with his new interlocutors before issuing his official response.  Nevertheless, Rome has not as yet received a formal request for a meeting with Abp. Gerhard Müller, or with Abp. Augustine Di Noia, president and vice-president of the Commission, respectively.”

When questioned on Radio Vatican in mid-September, Abp. Müller declared that he intended to get beyond the “ill feeling” in the Church brought about by “the opposition between the traditionalists and the progressivists”. According to him, “if one really believes in Christ, without exploiting the Magisterium of the Church by highlighting only certain points in favor of one’s own ideology, … [then] the unity of the Church is not torn by jealousy and ambition.” Certainly, but the unity of the Magisterium as defined by Saint Vincent of Lerins in his Commonitorium must be understood as that which is believed everywhere (ubique), by everyone (ab omnibus) and for all time (semper). The Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith said in this interview that one of his objectives is to “reduce the tensions within the Church”;  now the most important tension is not between the traditionalists and the progressivists, but rather between the traditional Magisterium and the one that was promoted by Vatican II. Continuity or discontinuity:  that is the question.

On September 18, in an interview granted to the website pius.info, Father Franz Schmidberger, Superior of the District of Germany, discussed the relations with Rome. Apic’s summary of it, dated September 20, is entitled “The Lefebvrists declare the failure of negotiations with Rome—Father Schmidberger rejects the idea of a reunification.” On September 20, Apic’s dispatch was quoted by La Croix. It is interesting to see which of Father Schmidberger’s remarks were kept, and especially which were omitted. In order to allow DICI readers to form their own opinion, we have translated this interview in its entirety;  it can be found in our Documents. Having read it, one will be able to tell whether the Apic headline accurately reflects the exact and complete thoughts of Fr. Schmidberger who shows, among other things, what these doctrinal meetings with Rome between 2009 and 2011 have accomplished. (Sources: imedia/apic/pius.info/fsspx.org—DICI #261 dated 09/28/12)