Bishop Robert C. Molrino of Madison and the SSPX

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JMJ

Bishop Molrino of Madison has issued a warning concerning the SSPX (warning of Bishop Molrino).

The letter is of interest because it provides a perspective on the SSPX that misses some key points.

The 50 years since the close of the Second Vatican Council have been tumultuous for the Church. Forces both inside and outside of the Church tried to distort and exploit the council and the post-conciliar liturgical reforms to create a new Church after their own image.

From my perspective, they have largely succeeded.

Too many of us endured years of sloppy or irreverent liturgy and mushy or even unorthodox preaching and catechesis. Too often when we voiced our concerns we were ignored.

Right, His Excellency neglects to mention the persecution of those who weren't 'on board' with the new program.

Most of the faithful Catholics who saw this happening fought hard for a “reform of the reform.” Sadly, others decided that the only way forward was to work outside of -- and sometimes against -- the hierarchical Church and its structures.

Here we have the question: Is working against those who are destroying the Church a valid method, even if it required in the 70's, 80's, 90's, and most of the 00's to obtain recognition that the desire for the Tridentine Mass was not schismatic?

This was the choice made by the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX), a worldwide society of priests best known for its strong opposition to the post-conciliar reform of the Mass. The Masses that they celebrate in their own chapels according to the 1962 Missal have attracted sizeable communities of the lay faithful, even here in the Diocese of Madison.

It is interesting that His Excellency states that it was a 'choice' made by the SSPX.  I guess there was a choice to not compromise the Faith, method of formation of Priests, and liturgy.  This is after all, the reason for the attacks on the SSPX and why some successfully sought for the destruction of the SSPX.

We should always be cordial, respectful, and welcoming to them as brothers and sisters in Christ. Yet, their relationship with the Church is complex and developing. Moreover, the situation of SSPX bishops, of SSPX priests, of the faithful who formally align themselves with the SSPX, and of the faithful who occasionally or informally attend Mass with the SSPX, are all different in important ways. It would be inaccurate to call it a schismatic group in a strict sense, and we should all pray that it may someday be fully reconciled with the Church.

Well this is a breath of fresh air.  Treat us nice and at least don't call us schismatic. Then His Excellency launches into the heart of the matter.

Having said that, all is not well with the SSPX, and my advice, my plea to the traditionally-minded faithful of the diocese is to have nothing to do with them. As Pope Benedict XVI made clear, the SSPX “does not possess a canonical status in the Church” and its ministers “do not legitimately exercise any ministry in the Church” (March 10, 2009, Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church).

The priests of the SSPX are validly ordained priests, but because for the most part they were ordained illicitly (i.e., by a bishop who had no jurisdiction over them and no permission to ordain), they are suspended ipso facto from the moment of their ordination (c. 1383); that is to say, even though they are ordained, they have no permission from the Church, which is necessary, to exercise priestly ministry.

Their Masses are valid but are illegitimately celebrated. The same is true, in most cases, with their baptisms, their conferral of the anointing of the sick, and provided it is administered by a bishop, their confirmations. Thus, Catholics should not frequent SSPX chapels or seek sacraments from the priests of the SSPX.

But there are two other, serious, sacramental problems that must be understood by everyone who may wish to attend SSPX chapels. If you take nothing else away from this letter, at least hear this -- the SSPX’s marriages and absolutions are invalid because their priests lack the necessary faculties.

I suspected that this would come up and I suspect that Fr. Zed will jump on this one as well.  His Excellency does give a nod to the 'supplied jurisdiction' issue and seems to have passed over one possible solution for those people seeking the Sacraments from the SSPX.

He could give them jurisdiction with the stroke of a pen.  Of course this would be a brave action ... one requiring him to reach out to the SSPX. But hey, if the Argentinians can do it ... why not the Diocese of Madison?

His excellency then makes this statement:

As interest in the Traditional Latin Mass grows, these opportunities will increase. Already, there are very few people in the Diocese of Madison who could get to an SSPX chapel on Sunday without passing by a legitimate parish in which the Traditional Latin Mass is celebrated. If you’re knowingly doing that, it’s time to take a good hard look at your motives.

Here's the link for the extraordinary form masses in madison: Madison Catholic Herald and LatinMassMadison.  Out of the 8 Churches only three list a Mass on Sunday.  The breakdown of the Mass schedules is interesting.

Church	Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
St. Clement			08:15:00		08:15:00		08:15:00
St. Mary (Pine Bluff)	07:30:00
Bishop O'Connor	No regularly scheduled Tridentine Masses
St. Barnabas							08:00:00
St. Mary (Merrimac)					19:00:00 (1st wk)
St. Augustine	08:00:00	06:30:00	06:30:00	12:00:00	12:00:00	06:30:00
St. Mary (Platteville)							08:00:00
St. Norbert	11:00:00	06:30:00	06:30:00	06:30:00	06:30:00	06:30:00

I must say that this Diocese is better than most you'll find in Canada. However, here we find some interesting points.

First, there is no daily Tridentine Mass said anywhere in the diocese.  So, as usual, "Trads" have to Church hop if they want to attend daily Mass. All of these parishes are 'bi-ritual', interestingly the university chapel actually had the Triduum mostly according to the 1962 rite.

That said, if I was looking for a Mass that was within the confines of canon obligation, I'm guessing that only the St. Norbert Mass would qualify as an alternative if I was further away than an hour or so.

I think Bishop Molrino could do a lot to pave the way if he just gave the SSPX jurisdiction in his Diocese. Then the problems that he is concerned with would simple vanish.

Afterall, why shun the SSPX?

P^3