Rome, SSPX and Pope Francis

JMJ

I apply Catholic principles in my evaluation of any regularization of the SSPX. This is simple and clear.

A Future Canonical Regularization of the SSPX

If there is only a remote occasion of sin, then the SSPX would be obliged to obey and submit to a canonical regularization of their situation within the Church.

Here's a refresher on Proximate and Remote occasions of sin:

Proximate occasion (De poenit. disp. 14, n. 149) as one in which men of like caliber for the most part fall into mortal sin, or one in which experience points to the same result from the special weakness of a particular person.
Remote occasion lacks these elements. Tradicat Article

In the case of a regularization what constitutes a 'proximate' occasion of sin?

If one compromises doctrine - ie accepting V2 and the New Mass without reservation / distinctions - probably a mortal sin against the Faith. This is just my opinion and not one that I've researched in great depth.

This is where all the Ecclesia Dei communities differ from the SSPX. They compromised in one way or another on these two principles.

With regards to the SSPX, I fail to understand how a "no-compromise / continue exactly as you are but with ordinary jurisdiction regularization" constitutes an immediate or proximate mortal sin.

I am not blind to the risks in accepting such a regularization, but I am equally not blind to the risks of remaining in the current situation. The doctrinal aberrations of the Sedevacantists and "Resistance" make that clear.

So, I agree with St. Thomas Aquinas. If after examining the details the leader of the SSPX cannot detect a compromise (immediate or proximate) in the points mentioned - I believe that they would be obliged to obey and accept a canonical regularization.

However, I likewise have noted that the "no-compromise / continue exactly as you are but with ordinary jurisdiction regularization" has not materialized.

As recently as two weeks ago, Bishop Fellay sat down with both Cardinal Mueller and Archbishop Pozzo. He pointed out the contradiction between their two public statements. The contradiction remains. In addition, the requirement of having the local ordinaries permission for new foundations has been reintroduced.

So we have:

Lack of clarity concerning acceptance of the New Mass and V2
Submission to local ordinaries for new foundations

These two elements alone are what I would call 'deal breakers' as they represent compromises in Church Doctrine (ie Faith) and being unable to respond to the needs of the Faithful when under attack by wicked prelates.

So don't look for the SSPX to accept any agreement with that kind of compromise.

Fundamentally, I've been told, this is about doctrine. The barrier is about accepting the Second Vatican Council and the Liturgy that embodies the documents of the Council.

Until Rome accepts unequivocally that the SSPX does not have to accept without reservations that Second Vatican Council, New Mass and various post-council shenanigans (which I would posit is a doctrinal agreement), there will be no deal.

The Pope - A Source of Confusion

With regards to the Pope, to quote Jane Austen "I hear such different accounts of you as puzzle me exceedingly".

Why offer the SSPX such an agreement that appears to contradict his intentions / beliefs?

For example we have this ditty:

Pope, in interview, laments ‘rigidity’ of youth who prefer Latin Mass
...
He also discussed the sacred liturgy. Crux reported:
Asked about the liturgy, Pope Francis insisted the Mass reformed after the Second Vatican Council is here to stay and “to speak of a ‘reform of the reform’ is an error.”
In authorizing regular use of the older Mass, now referred to as the “extraordinary form,” now-retired Pope Benedict XVI was “magnanimous” toward those attached to the old liturgy, he said. “But it is an exception.”
Pope Francis told Father Spadaro he wonders why some young people, who were not raised with the old Latin Mass, nevertheless prefer it.
“And I ask myself: Why so much rigidity? Dig, dig, this rigidity always hides something, insecurity or even something else. Rigidity is defensive. True love is not rigid.”

Source: Catholic Culture / Catholic World News

Perhaps the Pope is just as confused about the SSPX as they are about him?

Possible.

More likely is that there are people within the SSPX that are trying to fix this situation with the SSPX because "they only believe what the Church has taught authoritatively".

Somehow they are working to convince the Pope to be merciful to the SSPX.

I've heard other theories - but don't have time to delve into them now ... as I am retired!

Use I'm a Re-Trad (humour)!

Conclusion

We have a long way to go ... all we have to do is work to save our souls by following the teaching of the Church.

P^3

The myth of the Hermeneutic of Continuity - Rorate Caeli

+ JMJ Interestingly the complete acceptance of the Second Vatican Council (without reservations) is required of the SSPX. Just when people are starting to wonder how it came to this! Courtesy of Rorate Caeli P^3

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...

Tradicat

Search This Blog