Caveat: The report posted on Rorate has NOT been confirmed.
Via Rorate word that the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX) will inform Rome tomorrow that they are declining the Pope's offer of a personal prelature in exchange for the their reintegration into the Catholic Church. Long time readers of this blog will know that I have been skeptical about the likelihood of the SSPX ever submitting to Rome. They have been separated for too long and have developed a very strong schismatic mindset. That said, if this report is true then I am saddened and disappointed. It was a very close thing.
If true, what does this portend for the future?
It probably means that a de-facto schism will to some degree become more formal and hardened. The Pope is in his 80's and it is most unlikely that anyone who might be elected to succeed him will treat with the SSPX on such generous terms. Benedict felt keenly the pain of the events of 1988 in which he was a significant player and he wanted to end the breach if it was at all possible. But it is looking increasingly unlikely that this will happen.
Nor can I envision the circumstances under which the SSPX would get terms more favorable than what they have been offered, and have reportedly rejected. A more likely scenario is that the Society will drift into formal schism and for all intent and purposes become their own little church. It is not at all beyond the realm of possibility that the Holy See may respond with formal sanctions, perhaps even reinstating the excommunications of the four bishops.
This is a great loss for the Roman Church. But in the end it is the Society's hardened heart that has set the course.
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6 comments:
Maybe they can finance a spaceship and go where they want to and be the True Church.
Anonymous,
Your comments are starting to sound trollish. That's a no-no here. If you have something to add to a discussion fine. But If your just coming here looking to post obnoxious or inane comments that's a different story.
Perhaps if Benedict XVI hadn't appointed such a liberal bishop to such a prominent position at the Vatican the SSPX wouldn't have had to choose between real Roman Catholicism and submission to papal jurisdiction. (Ironically enough :-).)
Honest question: why is reunion with Rome which is herself in schism and heresy really a desirable thing for these folks, I mean, what difference does it really make? Shouldn't our prayers be that they come to Orthodoxy?
As a Roman Catholic, I can say that it's a shame but far from a surprise. I honestly don't believe that SSPX can reconcile with the Pope and they'll go the way of the Polish National Catholic Church or the Old Catholics.
John, as a former SSPX'er I'd be curious to hear your viewpoint. Do you see any room for reconciliation?
THE SOCIETY OF ST.PIUS X HAS ACCEPTED VATICAN COUNCIL II IN ACCORD WITH TRADITION AND HAS REJECTED THE LIBERAL VERSION
The Society of St.Pius X (SSPX) has accepted Vatican Council II in accord with the literal interpretation of the dogma extra ecclesiam nulla salus (1) in harmony with Ad Gentes 7, Vatican Council II. They have endorsed Vatican Council II according to Sacred Tradition. They can also cite reference texts from Vatican Council II to support their doctrinal position.
They have rejected, as in the past, the liberal version of Vatican Council (2) whose adherents cannot cite any texts to support their interpretation which is a break, a rupture with tradition and magisterial documents.
The SSPX is finally in a position to point out to their adversaries that there can be only one interpretation of the Council which can be supported by tradition.In this one interpretation AG 7 supports the dogma on exclusive salvation and LG 16 and LG 8 etc are not known exceptions to the dogma.
The SSPX has stated clearly that they have ‘ faith in the Roman Catholic Church, the only Church founded by Our Lord Jesus Christ, outside of which there is no salvation and no possibility of finding the means that lead to it’.
There is no salvation outside the Church (Cantate Domino, Council of Florence 1441, Vatican Council II (AG 7) etc) and that outside the Church there is even ‘no possibility of finding the means that lead to it’ i.e those saved in invincible ignorance , a good conscience etc are accepted as possibilities known only to God and not possibilities which contradict the dogma on salvation,since these possibilities are not explicit for us. They are unknown to us humans.
As for the liberal interpretation of Vatican Council II which is a rupture from the past the SSPX rejects ‘all the novelties of the Second Vatican Council that remain tainted with errors’ e.g theology of religions etc which are opposed by Vatican Council II (AG 7).
They accept the Council and ‘the Society can only continue to abide by the statements and teachings of the constant Magisterium of the Church;’ which is in agreement with the Council and in accord with Tradition. It carries the hermeneutic of continuity. The SSPX ‘ finds its guide in this uninterrupted Magisterium which, by its act of teaching, transmits the revealed deposit in perfect harmony with all that the whole Church has always believed, in every place’ and which is in agreement with Vatican Council II.--Lionel Andrades
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1.
This is why its seems to us opportune to reaffirm our faith in the Roman Catholic Church, the only Church founded by Our Lord Jesus Christ, outside of which there is no salvation and no possibility of finding the means that lead to it; in its monarchical constitution, willed by Our Lord, which means that the supreme power of governance over the whole Church belongs to the pope alone, the Vicar of Christ on earth; in the universal kingship of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the creator of the natural and supernatural order, to whom every human being and all society must submit.
2.
As for all the novelties of the Second Vatican Council that remain tainted with errors, and as for the reforms that have resulted from them, the Society can only continue to abide by the statements and teachings of the constant Magisterium of the Church; it finds its guide in this uninterrupted Magisterium which, by its act of teaching, transmits the revealed deposit in perfect harmony with all that the whole Church has always believed, in every place.
-Rome-SSPX: Declaration of the General Chapter of the Society of Saint Pius X sent to the Holy See
As announced in the press communiqué of the Society of St. Pius X’s General House on July 14, 2012, the members of the General Chapter sent a common statement to Rome. It has been published today.
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