A Look Back - June 2012

JMJ

In the summary of Father Themann's talk 'Resistance to What?' we find the following paragraph:

Bishop Fellay (because he is not satisfied with assurances that he can attack Vatican II) grants an interview to DICI as a test of Roman openness to attacks against Vatican II and the New Mass. Upon hearing of this interview, a very dissatisfied Cardinal Levada schedules a long meeting with Pope Benedict XVI. (source)

It was brought to my attention that the resistance faults Fr. Themann because Bishop Fellay did not criticize the Novus Ordo Missae directly in the DICI interview that he gave on June 8, 2012.

Thinking this through, it is apparent that a test of Rome's openness to attacks on V2 and the NOM does not necessarily mean that he spoke directly against both elements in the interview.

Reviewing the interview we find the following references to Vatican and the Mass (NB. not the NOM).

... What has changed is the fact that Rome no longer makes total acceptance of Vatican II a prerequisite for the canonical solution ... So the attitude of the official Church is what changed; we did not. We were not the ones who asked for an agreement; the pope is the one who wants to recognize us. ... why this change? We are still not in agreement doctrinally, and yet the pope wants to recognize us! ... The official authorities do not want to acknowledge the errors of the Council. ...

Well this is definitely shows that the position of the SSPX has not altered throughout the various exchanges etc.

... Did the novelties that were introduced during the Council start a trend of growth in the Church and an increase of vocations and religious practice? ... If we want to make the treasure of Tradition fruitful for the good of souls, we must speak and act. We need this twofold freedom of speech and action. But I would mistrust a purely verbal denunciation of doctrinal errors—a denunciation that would be all the more polemical because it was only verbal ... concerning the stages in our dialogue with Rome, we must have “faith in the Traditional Mass, the Mass that demands in and of itself integrity of doctrine and of the sacraments, the assurance of all spiritual fruitfulness in the service of souls”...

Two points here ...
Novelties: Aside from the Four Points, what other Novelty is a direct result of V2? The Novus Ordo Missae which is a manifestation of the 'Spirit of the Council'.

The Traditional Mass 'demands in and of itself integrity of doctrine ...' and what is 'opposite' of the Tridentine Mass? The Novus Ordo Missae of course. Personally, I know that to assert that the Tridentine Mass is in anyway superior to the Novus Ordo Missae is the kiss of death for any diocesan TLM because it is seen as being divisive.

So while it may not have the character that the 'resistance' would desire, the message is unchanged.

V2, N.O.M.: Not good

P^3

References

Interview with Bishop Bernard Fellay on relations with Rome June 8, 2912
Bishop Fellay – The Church and the Society of St. Pius X – News April 10, 2014
Where do we stand with Rome? Nov 9, 2012
The SSPX Falsely Accused: Resistance to What? Regina Caeli Report

Comments

The myth of the Hermeneutic of Continuity - Rorate Caeli

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A Look Back: Archbishop Lefebvre’s Prophetic Address to The Remnant, 1976

+ JMJ Looking back is important to understand why we are where we are in this crisis. Courtesy of RemnantNewsPaper P^3 FOR THE FIRST TIME ONLINE: Archbishop Lefebvre’s Prophetic Address to The Remnant, 1976 Written by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre Introduction by Michael J. Matt More than forty years ago—during the disastrous reign of Pope Paul VI, the latest candidate for a Vatican-issued Halo Award, by the way—my father, Walter L. Matt, organized the first large scale public reception in the U.S. for the late Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. It was held at the Radisson South Hotel, Minneapolis, on Tuesday, May 12, 1976, and its stated purpose was to assist the Archbishop in gaining a stronger foothold for the Society of St. Pius X in the States during the unprecedented crisis Blessed Pope Paul had helped unleash on the Church. On that occasion Archbishop Lefebvre delivered ...

Of the Church and the Pope - Fr. Calmel O.P.

+ JMJ Once again, looking back to see if the 'Traditional Catholics' in the early days of this crisis of the Church had a sufficient view to realize the roots of the crisis. The root: The Pope Hence when the Pope is 'righted' the Church will be 'righted'. P^3 Courtesy of SSPXasia Fr. Roger Calmel, O.P. This essay by Fr. Roger Calmel, O.P. (1914-75) helps us in these difficult times to preserve our love of the Church. More than 30 years after its first publication, this article retains all its relevance, so much so that it even seems to have been written for our time, in which the crisis in the Church deepens at an unprecedented pace. This essay will help the reader to think clearly, keep the Faith, and maintain serenity in the troubled times we are navigating. “My country has hurt m e,”wrote a young poet in 1944 during the purge 1 when the head of state [Charles De Gaulle] implacably pursued the sinister job that had been in the wo...

Canonical Mission and State of Emergency - A Response to Mr. John Salza - Part B

+ JMJ I was trying to think of a way to map out the time course I discussed in Part A of this article. Early this morning it came to me that this is more about obedience and duty than canon law. As is my wont, I mapped out my thoughts (see image) to draw linkages between the core concepts. My conclusion is that, at least subjectively, Archbishop Lefebvre had sufficient information to make good decisions concerning whether or not he was obliged to obey. I know that the Jesuits, some Sedevacantists and the priests that left over the years will not agree with my thoughts. So be it. The core pieces of information include: Attacks against the SSPX were launched because they kept the Tridentine Mass and the pre-conciliar understanding of the Truths of the Faith. The authorities in the Church were willing to go against the laws of the Church. The same authorities encouraged the various dangers to the Faith embedded in popular interpretations of ambiguo...

Validity of new rite of episcopal consecrations - Courtesy of SSPX.org

+ JMJ In the blogosphere there are number of responses to this crisis in the Catholic Church that lead to conclusions that run counter to Catholic Doctrine and Dogmas - if taken to their logical conclusion. The validity of the New Rite of Episcopal consecrations is one such hotspot within more extreme sections of the 'traditionalist' culture. Validity of new rite of episcopal consecrations Courtesy of SSPX.org Why the new rite of episcopal consecration is valid Introduction This comprehensive study was compiled to settle a debate that has been circulating in traditional Catholic circles. Some writers have examined the new rite of episcopal consecration and concluded that it must be invalid. Since this would cause manifest problems if it were true and due to the heightened awareness of such a theory, we present a study of this question concluding that it is valid. Following the Council, in 1968 a new rite for the ordination of bishops was promulg...

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