The lightning rod of the SSPX is getting hit from various angles these days. Michael Voris thinks the Society is still schismatic, but Bishop Athanasius Schneider believes there is nothing seriously preventing the SSPX from being fully reconciled. In the middle, Bishop Morlino states there is very good reason why the Society finds itself in an ambiguous situation: they are not excommunicated but they have no ministry because they have chosen “to work outside of—and sometimes against—the hierarchical Church and its structures.”
The members of the SSPX are not being prevented from believing what they want about Vatican II and the new Mass. They remain without a ministry because their own definition their ministry is to expose the Council of Freemasons, Modernists and Jews and oppose the New Mass, which they believe is valid but evil.
Bishop Schneider thinks that both the Society and the Holy See overestimate the importance of Vatican II and regard it in isolation from the other Councils of the Church. But is not the solution he proposes a hermeneutic of continuity, and is this not what other traditionalists priests like those of the Fraternity of St. Peter have agreed to in order to have a ministry?
It seems to me the matter is not simply a question of charity and of stopping the infighting. With all due respect to Bishop Schneider, no matter how Bishop Fellay phrases himself the Holy See is very unlikely to give him a ministry to oppose the Council and the New Mass. And it is very unlikely that Bishop Fellay, a moderate in the Society, will agree to anything less.
Even if there were no doctrinal preamble to sign, in order to give a wider allowance for personal conscience, the Holy See would assure that the Society’s rules reflect the same kind of agreement made by the Ecclesia Dei communities. But the preamble helps to assure that members of the Society know clearly that their personal opinions and what they are permitted to do with the Church’s sanction are two different things.
And lets be Frank. The Holy See has every reason to believe that a mandate given to the SSPX ministry on a “as they are” basis would be considered a blessing on the Society’s mission to oppose Vatican II and the New Mass.
Mary Victrix 
Some folks worship faith instead of God, even if God says, “Stop that!” via a new order of Mass. If only that benefitted someone.
I think it would set a bad precedent. Like rewarding a child who disobeys and runs away. Vatican II is legit, Tradies, live with it! It’s the least of our worries these days, quite frankly….
This whole controversy, a necessary discussion, I grant, is also taking focus away from, and delaying… a huge mission, which surrounds Our Lady, and her purpose in support of her Son, before He comes again.
This delights the devil…..as we are sucked into his dark design, which undermines the foundation of our Church.
C’mon, let’s love and forgive each other, and get it together, time is wasting!
Well said. Hopefully, most all of us feel that way.
I agree as well. Let us all work together.
“This delights the devil…..as we are sucked into his dark design, which undermines the foundation of our Church.”
Susan,
I feel as though there is a much greater issue at hand that delays our Lady’s mission of seeing her Son reign in the hearts of all people. That issue is our lack of trust in God’s eternal love for us. And that, Susan, is what caused Adam and Eve to fall. The evil one planted seeds of doubt in their minds by questioning God’s plan, “Did God really say…?” It is the reason the SSPX are in the position that they are in at present. And the reason for the many atrocities throughout the world, causing men to abuse/kill/offend other men.
Trusting COMPLETELY in the Lord, in ALL things unites us intimately with God, and thus brings us unending joy. Trusting in our heavenly Father, that He has our very best interest at heart, is love.
This is everyone’s perfection; the reason for ‘working together ‘. (Remember, even the devils have the ability to ‘work together’….they are where they are because they were the first to not trust God’s eternal plan…”I will not serve’.)
Ave Maria!
“The What’s and Why’s of Vatican II”- “Pope John and Vatican II” Interview with Dr. Alan Shreck
http://www.thedivinemercy.org/news/story.php?NID=5670&title=Pope-John-XXIII-and-Vatican-II
Ah, Father: but in the M. Voris article to which you link, he is quoting Abp Schneider clarifying that he only said, “”To my knowledge there are no weighty reasons … .” From many interactions with the SSPX crowd and reading/listening to where they stand I wouldn’t be surprised to see Bishop – or ‘bishop’? – Fellay called a ‘modernist’ by his own at some point, the way this is going. It would be very much surprising if they were made ‘legit’ as is.
We recall the poignant words of Saint John XXIII when, opening the Council, he indicated the path to follow: “Now the Bride of Christ wishes to use the medicine of mercy rather than taking up arms of severity… The Catholic Church, as she holds high the torch of Catholic truth at this Ecumenical Council, wants to show herself a loving mother to all; patient, kind, moved by compassion and goodness toward her separated children”.[2] Blessed Paul VI spoke in a similar vein at the closing of the Council: “We prefer to point out how charity has been the principal religious feature of this Council… the old story of the Good Samaritan has been the model of the spirituality of the Council… a wave of affection and admiration flowed from the Council over the modern world of humanity. Errors were condemned, indeed, because charity demanded this no less than did truth, but for individuals themselves there was only admonition, respect and love. Instead of depressing diagnoses, encouraging remedies; instead of direful predictions, messages of trust issued from the Council to the present-day world. The modern world’s values were not only respected but honoured, its efforts approved, its aspirations purified and blessed… Another point we must stress is this: all this rich teaching is channelled in one direction, the service of mankind, of every condition, in every weakness and need”.[3]
Pope Francis!!!!!!! Looking forward to the Extraordinary Jubilee of the Year of Mercy!!!
Read the last words in the Magnificat:
“He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he has REMEMBERED HIS PROMISE OF MERCY,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children FOREVER!!!!!
There are so many other groups in the Church that do so much more against Church teaching, Vatican II and the New Mass that it is simply foolish to stand in severe judgment or have great reservations about what the SSPX would do if it were accepted in full.
Do you not read about the German Church? Do you think that they should excommunicated for all the sinful things they do and the public scandal they cause? Maybe you would think that because they accept Vatican II and the New Mass, then whatever they do, it is fine for them.
This is utterly ridiculous! (and I am not a supporter of the SSPX at all).
The Church Fathers understood Peter’s successors to share his special authority of primacy.
In a variety of ways , the Fathres attest to the fact that the church of Rome was the central authorative church. [They rely on Rome for advice, for mediations of disputes, and on guidance of doctrinal issues]. [emphasis mine] They note, as St. Ignatius of Antioch does, that Rome holds “the presidency” among the other churches, and that, as St. Irenaeus of Lyons explains, “because of its superior origin all the churches must agree” with Rome. They are also clear on the fact that it is communion with Rome and the bishop of Rome that causes one to be in communion with the Catholic Church. This displays a recognition that, as St Cyprian of Carthage puts it, Rome is “the prinicpal church, in which sacerdotal unity has its source.”
Most significant are passages in which the popes themselves, by their statements or actions, reveal an awarness of their unique role, such as when Pope St. Victor I excommunicated the churches of Asia Minor as a group, after which the other bishops sought to change his mind but did not say that he lacked the abiiiy to do this.
From “The Fathers Know Best ~ Your Essential Guide To The Teachings Of The Early Church Fathers” by Jimmy Akin
The Authority of the Pope pg 212