From La Croix:
[In Bishop Fellay's text] there remained however formulations judged non-acceptable by Rome, notably the mention of the "errors of the council": to put it clearly, the Society may have reservation on this or that point of Vatican II (freedom of conscience, interreligious dialogue, ecumenism), but they cannot speak of the "errors of the council".
It is Saturday June 9, during a working meeting with Benedict XVI, the text has been developed. This Wednesday, June 13, Cardinal William Levada, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, gave it to Bishop Bernard Fellay, superior general of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Pius X (SSPX). The document makes possible the return of the fraternity in the Church, addressing both the substantive and formal requirements, with the creation of a personal prelature for the SSPX.
On the merits, that is to say the preamble doctrinal set a condition to reinstatement, the document notes the progress made by the Superior of the Society in March, in a letter sent to Rome. This response was considered positively , both by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith that the pope himself. The Cardinals were then struck by the change in tone expressed by the Brotherhood. Unlike their first response, in effect, rejected the fundamentalists more generally and the final teaching of Vatican II and the following popes.
However remained formulations deemed unacceptable by Rome, including the reference to "errors of the council" in the clear, the Brotherhood may have reservations about certain points of Vatican II (freedom of conscience, interreligious dialogue, ecumenism) but it can speak of "errors of the council." The introduction should be made public once the final agreement of Bishop Fellay obtained. However, we will not know the original version first proposed by Rome, which focused on the discussion.
The text presented on Wednesday also provides the practical conditions of this reinstatement, with the creation of a personal prelature, similar to that created by John Paul II for Opus Dei. A personal prelature is a kind of diocese without territory, which would thus give to the fraternity authority over its members, provided they obtain the agreement of the local bishop to settle in one place or another. However, this knowledge of the bishop would not be necessary for houses, priories and churches already founded.
It should however be cautious about the rest of the process. First, Bishop Fellay has to accept the latest modifications requested by Rome, and then enter the door opened by Benedict XVI. All indications are that there is ready. Thus, in an interview published on the website information of the SSPX , June 7, he noted that "Rome is no longer a full acceptance of Vatican II a condition for the canonical solution," noting that "TODAY 'Today, in Rome, some consider that a different understanding of the Council is not decisive for the future of the Church because the Church is more than the Council. "
But the Superior of the Society may request a further period for reflection. It must indeed be remembered that already in 1988, when they had signed the doctrine, fundamentalists had abruptly severed discussions. Moreover, it seems certain that even if Bishop Fellay agree, part of the Brotherhood will not follow. And it is unclear what it will look the other bishops of the Society, whose excommunication was lifted by Benedict in 2009, and which, presumably, will not accept reinstatement .
Resorption of the schism is one of the objectives assigned by Benedict XVI for his pontificate, and he put all his weight to get there. He is convinced, observed a close case, "If the Brotherhood is linked to the rest of the Church, the living tradition irrigate this community, and that time will do its work to overcome the resistance."
Seen from the Church of France, however, where the weight of the Fraternity is historically important, things are more complex. The bishops will be extremely attentive to the views of public officials of the Brotherhood, so that the latter, by a form of triumphalism, do not antagonize the majority of French Catholics, as had happened during the creation of the Institute of the Good Shepherd.
They also know that the decision could be read by those same Catholics as a funeral achievements conciliar, fifty years after the meeting. No doubt they will seize the opportunity provided by the anniversary to reassure them, and powerful reminder of the importance of Vatican II in the functioning of the Church today.
Frederic MOUNIER (Rome) and Isabella of GAULMYN
ORIGINAL FRENCH
Mgr Fellay a reçu la réponse de Benoît XVI pour la réintégration de la Fraternité Saint-Pie-X
Mgr Fellay, supérieur de la Fraternité sacerdotale Saint-Pie-X, était à Rome mercredi 13 juin pour recevoir de la Congrégation de la doctrine de la foi la réponse du pape visant le retour de la Fraternité dans l’Église
Ce document concerne à la fois les conditions de fond, et aussi la mise en œuvre pratique de cette réintégration
C’est samedi dernier 9 juin, lors d’une réunion de travail avec Benoît XVI, que le texte a été mis au point. Ce mercredi 13 juin, le cardinal William Levada, préfet de la Congrégation pour la doctrine de la foi, l’a remis à Mgr Bernard Fellay, supérieur général de la Fraternité sacerdotale Saint-Pie-X (FSSPX). Le document rend possible le retour de la Fraternité dans l’Église, abordant à la fois les questions de fond, et les conditions de forme, avec la constitution d’une prélature personnelle pour la FSSPX.
Sur le fond, c’est-à-dire le préambule doctrinal posé comme condition à la réintégration, le document prend acte des avancées faites par le supérieur de la Fraternité en mars dernier, dans une lettre envoyée à Rome. Cette réponse avait été jugée positivement, aussi bien par la Congrégation pour la doctrine de la foi que le pape lui-même. Les cardinaux avaient alors été frappés par le changement de ton manifesté par la Fraternité. Contrairement à leur première réponse, en effet, les intégristes ne rejetaient plus de manière générale et définitive le magistère de Vatican II et celui des papes suivants.
Restaient cependant des formulations jugées non acceptables par Rome, notamment la mention des « erreurs du concile » : en clair, la Fraternité peut avoir des réserves sur tel ou tel point de Vatican II (liberté de conscience, dialogue interreligieux, œcuménisme) mais elle ne peut parler d’« erreurs du concile ». Ce préambule devrait être rendu public, une fois l’accord définitif de Mgr Fellay obtenu. En revanche, on ne connaîtra pas la version originale d’abord proposée par Rome, sur laquelle a porté la discussion.
Le texte remis ce mercredi prévoit aussi les conditions pratiques de cette réintégration, avec la création d’une prélature personnelle, semblable à celle créée par Jean-Paul II pour l’Opus Dei. Une prélature personnelle est une sorte de diocèse sans territoire, qui donnerait donc à la Fraternité autorité sur ses membres, à condition d’obtenir l’accord de l’évêque du lieu pour s’implanter dans tel ou tel endroit. En revanche, cet assentiment de l’évêque ne serait pas nécessaire pour les maisons, églises et prieurés déjà fondés.
Il faut cependant rester prudent sur la suite du processus. D’abord, Mgr Fellay doit accepter les dernières modifications demandées par Rome, et donc saisir la porte ouverte par Benoît XVI. Tout semble indiquer qu’il y est prêt. Ainsi, dans un entretien paru sur le site d’information de la FSSPX, le 7 juin dernier, il notait que « Rome ne fait plus d’une acceptation totale de Vatican II une condition pour la solution canonique », relevant qu’« aujourd’hui, à Rome, certains considèrent qu’une compréhension différente du Concile n’est pas déterminante pour l’avenir de l’Église, car l’Église est plus que le Concile ».
Mais le supérieur de la Fraternité peut demander un nouveau délai pour réfléchir. Il faut en effet se souvenir que déjà, en 1988, alors qu’ils avaient signé l’accord doctrinal, les intégristes avaient brutalement rompu les discussions. De plus, il paraît certain que, même si Mgr Fellay accepte, une partie de la Fraternité ne le suivra pas. Et on ignore quelle sera la situation des autres évêques de la Fraternité, dont l’excommunication avait été levée par Benoît XVI en 2009, et qui, vraisemblablement, n’accepteront pas la réintégration.
La résorption du schisme est l’un des objectifs assignés par Benoît XVI pour son pontificat, et il a mis tout son poids pour y parvenir. Il est convaincu, observe un proche du dossier, que « si la Fraternité est rattachée au reste de l’Église, la tradition vivante irriguera cette communauté, et que le temps fera son œuvre pour aplanir les résistances ».
Vu de l’Église de France cependant, où le poids de la Fraternité est historiquement important, les choses se présentent de manière plus complexe. Les évêques vont se montrer extrêmement attentifs aux prises de position publique des responsables de la Fraternité, de façon à ce que ces derniers, par une forme de triomphalisme, n’indisposent pas la majorité des catholiques français, comme cela s’était passé lors de la création de l’Institut du Bon Pasteur.
Ils savent aussi que la décision risque d’être interprétée par ces mêmes catholiques comme un enterrement des acquis conciliaires, cinquante ans après sa tenue. Nul doute qu’ils saisiront l’occasion donnée par cet anniversaire pour les rassurer, et rappeler avec force l’importance de Vatican II dans le fonctionnement de l’Église d’aujourd’hui.
Frédéric MOUNIER (à Rome) et Isabelle de GAULMYN
http://www.la-croix.com/Religion/Urbi-Orbi/Rome/Mgr-Fellay-a-recu-l...
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I really do not wish to post from RC but here it is.
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SSPX-Rome divinations
From Jean-Marie Guénois for Le Figaro (June 15, main excerpt, with our emphases):
Bp. Fellay, Superior of the Society of Saint Pius X, will consult his General Chapter in July before responding to the Pope. Between Rome and Écône, things get more detailed but more complicated at the same time. Bp. Bernard Fellay, Superior of the Society of Saint Pius X, came back to Menzingen (Switzerland), its admistrative center, on Thursday, with a Roman dossier that is heavier than what had been foreseen. From which, the first information: the signature of an agreement with the Holy See is not for tomorrow. Both in the proper and in the figurative sense. It is now certain that Bp. Fellay will not be able to give a response to these last Roman proposals before the end of the General Chapter of the Society of Saint Pius X, that will take place in [Écône,] Switzerland on July 7-14.
Contrary to certain rumors, this meeting will not see the calling into question of Bp. Fellay from his position of Superior: he is in the middle of a twelve-year term. But capital decisions will certainly be taken: to continue negotiations? To suspend them? To discontinue them? Or to continue [reaching out to] this outstretched hand of Benedict XVI, who wishes to see the disciples of Abp. Marcel Lefebvre reintegrate into the Catholic Church? In expectation, as seen from Rome, the ball is on the Lefebvrists's field. And they are divided on the subject.
From an article by Summorum Pontificum Observatus, whose handling of the initial publication of the correspondence of the SSPX bishops partly sparked the current mess (June 15, main excerpt, with our emphases):
When everything seemed ready for a final agreement between the Holy See and the Fraternity of St. Pius X, Bp. Fellay, its Superior General, returned to Menzingen this Thursday with a new document in hand. According to several sources, it is assured that this document does not correspond to the one that had been expected, and that several important modifications had been added to it. From the Roman side, three people met with the Superior of the Society of St. Pius X, Cardinal Levada, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Mgr. Pozzo, secretary of the Commission Ecclesia Dei, and Abp. Luis Francisco Ladaria Ferrer, SJ, Secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, who would have played a part that one day will have to be taken into consideration. In this state, Bishop Fellay could not sign the "doctrinally modified" document, leading to the postponement announced in both communiqués, that of the Holy See followed by one of the Society of Saint Pius X for an external [audience].
Several serious vaticanists had announced the final agreement as certain [before the June 13 meeting] and, for this time perhaps, there was no exaggeration on their part. But it might be that there was a crisis at the very heart of the Curia, even if at present there is no evidence to seriously confirm this. From his side, faithful to the line he has chosen, determined to abdicate nothing doctrinally (and it would seem that the difficulties of a doctrinal order have been added at the last moment), Bp. Fellay will continue his reflection and his consultation, within the frame of the General Chapter and certainly more widely. It is currently clear that the response will take time and that time, either in a positive or in a negative sense, will also play its part.
Quote:"When everything seemed ready for a final agreement between the Holy See and the Fraternity of St. Pius X, Bp. Fellay, its Superior General, returned to Menzingen this Thursday with a new document in hand. According to several sources, it is assured that this document does not correspond to the one that had been expected, and that several important modifications had been added to it. From the Roman side, three people met with the Superior of the Society of St. Pius X, Cardinal Levada, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Mgr. Pozzo, secretary of the Commission Ecclesia Dei, and Abp. Luis Francisco Ladaria Ferrer, SJ, Secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, who would have played a part that one day will have to be taken into consideration. In this state, Bishop Fellay could not sign the "doctrinally modified" document, leading to the postponement announced in both communiqués, that of the Holy See followed by one of the Society of Saint Pius X for an external [audience].
Several serious vaticanists had announced the final agreement as certain [before the June 13 meeting] and, for this time perhaps, there was no exaggeration on their part. But it might be that there was a crisis at the very heart of the Curia, even if at present there is no evidence to seriously confirm this. From his side, faithful to the line he has chosen, determined to abdicate nothing doctrinally (and it would seem that the difficulties of a doctrinal order have been added at the last moment), Bp. Fellay will continue his reflection and his consultation, within the frame of the General Chapter and certainly more widely. It is currently clear that the response will take time and that time, either in a positive or in a negative sense, will also play its part."
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DM: No my lord. Consider it a grace from Heaven to show you that these men are not sincere. Perhaps to open your eyes last and finally.
God bless you and with that I know you will do the right thing+
With the grace of God all things are possible!
I believe the Lord God and His Holy Mother heard and answered the prayers of their children.
Thank you Jesus, thank you Mary+
THE MAGNIFICAT
Who is she that cometh forth as the morning rising, fair as the moon bright as the sun, terrible as an army set in battle array.....
My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior. For He hath regarded the humility of His handmaiden.
For behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For He that is mighty hath done great things to me, and holy is His Name. And His Mercy is from generation unto generations upon them that fear Him.
He hath shewed might in His arm, He hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart. He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble. He hath filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He hath sent empty away.
He hath received Israel, His servant, being mindful of His mercy. As He spoke to our Fathers, Abraham and His seed forever.
Rejoice O Virgin Mary; rejoice a thousand times!
What do you all think: Should we also especially pray for Cardinal Levada, Mgr. Pozzo, , and Abp. Luis Francisco Ladaria Ferrer?
This is the best sermon on the crisis I have yet to hear . Thank you for keeping us informed, DM.
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