I’m not sure if the timing has anything to do with Pope Benedict’s U.S. trip, but the schismatic traditionalist Society of Saint Pius X chose this weekend to announce its disappointment in the pontiff and its decision not to seek closer ties to Rome now. SSPX leader Bishop Bernard Fellay wrote in a “Letter to Friends and Benefactors” (here in French) that Benedict had not budged in his support for the Second Vatican Council despite his decision last year to allow wider use of the old Tridentine rite Mass in Latin.
“The time for an agreement has not yet come,” Fellay wrote. The decree on the old Latin Mass was “not accompanied by logically co-related measures in the other areas of the life of the Church … Nothing has changed in Rome’s determination to follow the council’s orientation, despite 40 years of crisis, despite the deserted convents, abandoned rectories and empty churches.”
The letter is dated April 14 but was only published on Saturday by the SSPX information service DICI. Here’s our story and here’s a partial English translation of Fellay’s statement at Rorate Caeli (hat tip to Father Z for that).
Fellay signalled his continued estrangement from Rome in February when he accused the Vatican of caving in to “foreign pressures” when it issued a new wording of the Latin prayer on Good Friday. In a FaithWorld post on that statement, I wondered out loud whether any or many SSPX parishioners would drift away from their churches to attend Latin Masses in their local parishes. From scattered comments I’ve heard since then, it seems that few if any of the people attending the (admittedly also few) old Latin Masses now seem to have defected from the Lefebvrist ranks.
Fellay isn’t the only one who might feel let down by Benedict. Michael Sean Winter had an interesting piece on Slate about “How Pope Benedict has disappointed the Right.” He recalls how conservative Catholics welcomed his election in 2005, only to find he didn’t crack down the way they hoped he would.
What do you think? Has Benedict been as conservative as you expected him to be?
Trackback
99 comments so far
Previous | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | Next
As long as the present Pope and Neo-Catholic authorities in Rome continue to believe in and impose their errors, it is the God-given Roman Catholic duty of the SSPX bishops to protect and defend the Roman Catholic Priesthood, the priests and flock entrusted to their care by our one true God, Lord, and Saviour, the Eternal High Priest Jesus Christ. Roman Catholics of good will like myself and thousands of others, flock to SSPX centers because WE know that Archbishop Lefebvre and the bishops and priests of the Society of Saint Pius X have NEVER compromised the TRUE Roman Catholic Faith. Just yesterday, I was speaking to the daughter of a friend who sadly has placed her children in a local diocesan school. This poor girl, along with her other siblings have to sit in the nurse’s office to avoid the school’s mandated diocesan sex-ed classes!!! I was the first class under the reign of the heretical Cardinal Mahoney to undergo his sex-ed program in Los Angeles. Where did that get me? I lost my virginity at fourteen and led a promiscuous life before finding the Latin Mass. Vatican II, the New Mass, and all Novus Ordo trash can go to hell along with those who vehemently promote it and follow it! On the same day this pope released the Motu Propio, he sold out the persecuted underground Catholics to the Communist government!!!!!!!!!!!!! By their fruits, you shall know them!
- Posted by Z.N.The gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
The individual Bishops need to correct any abuses of Vatican 2 and he came here to show them how it should be done, St. Patrick’s Mass was a good example of that.
To all who post with anger, spiritual pride and a lack of humility, I would be careful. Those don’t seem like Christian virtues.
I believe the recent document on the Mass (a few years ago) said that the laity is responsible to point out abuses also.
I think Pope Benedict is fantastic and just who we need right now. Rome wasn’t built in a day folks…
- Posted by MaureenHello Everyone!!! It was NOT the Council that was at fault or caused all the convent/seminary desertions. It was the FALSE INTERPRETATION of the Council documents. Would somebody PLEAAAASSSSEEEE read the documents! The Council was called by the Holy Spirit and was a valid Ecumenical Council! It was the independent, self-centered, women’s lib fanatics that carried out the “spirit” of Vatican II which was never part of the Council! Benedict is leading the Church as a humble, obedient Pontiff. He is smarter than all of us put together. And yes, I LOVE the Latin, Tridentine Mass!
- Posted by MarySSPX “Catholics” need to realize they are branded as schismatics - a very negative title. If only they could see the error of continuing to rebel against what our Lord Jesus has instituted - His church founded on Him and led by St. Peter and all his successors for 2,000 years. Only satan is behind this schism - to even prevent the people from knowing Jesus’ current messages of Divine Mercy and the institution of the Feast day; the messages of Fatima, etc…
- Posted by ChristinaOnly satan is behind this!
May the veil of arrogance, pride and disobedience be lifted, so that the few souls of this small schismatic group, have the potential to be united to Jesus fully and completely, and be saved.
The 265th. successor of St. Peter on earth is the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI. No one else - no options!
Is the Pope still the Vicar even after Pope Paul VI handed over the tiara and now the Pope wears a miter just like the other Bishops? Why would he hand over such an item?
Does the church still teach that the only way to salvation, as our Lord taught us in scripture, and as infallibly taught in the Council of Florence is through him (and his church?) or in the name of ecumenism are we now teaching that all faiths can achieve salvation, even those that worship pagan idols (Buddhism and Hindus) in violation of the 1st commandment. Did not John Paul II even participate in such worship? For that matter by participating in such, did not he excommunicate himself? Did not JPII place pagan idols on the very altar at Assissi where transubstantiation takes place?
One council can not re-teach something a prior council taught infallibly, and the church of Vatican II has made things just vague enough to appear to be holding the line, but really stand for nothing
Vatican II tried to reteach prior infallibly defined church teachings under the guise of a council, but it was clear that Pope John XXIII stated that the council was to be pastoral only in his opening address of the council
- Posted by FrankTo disagree with Benedict XVI is to distract attention from what he accomplished with his visit. He showed that the Catholic Church is One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. He showed that the Church adheres to a set of precepts on which human thinking has been directed by God to think. He showed that he is as human as the rest of us. He whowed that for this reason, he as Pope must adhere to these precepts. He was conciliatory for the errors committed by humans in the Church and that the guiding principles are not the ones that fail but the human in the Church. He showed that God is love.
The crisis that the scismatics have are of their own making. That crisis which gives human thought more value than God’s commandments, has sounded a “gong” that is heard by those of us who want to have our selfishness recognized as legitimate. Worst of all, that “gong” is the only instruction allowed for the ears of the unschooled. It is hard to hear the truth amid all that clanging.
- Posted by Elsy MonroyThis is nonsense that Benedict isn’t following the Lord. Liberal or conservative is not the question. The question is he leading as the Vicar of Christ. Christ said that He would be with us until the end of time. He gave to Peter the keys of the Kingdom. He said whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. So where has the Lord gone if He isn’t leading us through the Benedict. Who is the Vicar of Christ if Benedict isn’t? I pray that all those who have left the church whether liberal or conservative to come back. May God bless you all.
- Posted by B. TaylorAnyone who is in disagreement with His Holiness Benedict XVI’s visit to the USA and what he accomplished is just full of himself. Pope Benedict showed that the Church is One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. He showed that the people in it, including himself are human and subject to error. He showed that for this reason, he as the Pope must adhere to the dogma that is well proven by the Church. He was conciliatory, he was a light to a world in crisis in great part due to these “intellectuals” who seek to reconcile human weakness with misguided theories that just because we think as humans we are bearers of truth. Thought is not truth. Thought when not harnessed to a system of thinking; such as the Ten Commandments and what has been defined as articles of faith, is just debris in the panorama of our minds.
Wish these separatists would be less invested in their thinking and more in helping humanity learn how to think.
- Posted by Elsy MonroyI would not judge this pope harshly. If he came down too strong all at once, he would lose many. He wants to save souls so he has to work cautiously and slowly. I attend the fssp Latin Mass and it is a wonderful experience. All our sacraments are of the old rite. I cannot complain. There was a time not long ago when none of us had this. There is progress whether anyone sees it or not. We should pray for the pope and for the people who fight against the church. The far right, just like the far left are too impatient and judgemental. Many are very difficult to get along with and are almost like a cult. We have to be careful about that.
- Posted by Martha DancyMartha Dancy
What a suprise, the malcontents are disappointed in the pope. It’s their way or the highway, apparently. Spiritual pride leads to blindness, and that is what marks these schismatic groups. There is no other way to put it.
- Posted by Lucy FernandezThe Pope is the Vicar of Jesus on earth. If I happen to think the pope is misguiding the Church, then I am in the wrong and the pope is in the right. Jesus is guiding the pope who then guides me. Period. Christ guides His bride on earth, in Heaven, and purgatory. The SSPX is carrying on the PROUD protestant tradition of not trusting Christ to keep His promise to lead His Church.
- Posted by ThomasThis “Bickering” amomgst Catholics must STOP! After years of attending the New Mass, I have started attending the Tridentine Mass. I find more respect for the Eucharist there and can pray in a deeper way. The Liturgy in the New Mass has become somewhat disorganized, in some diocsees because the Layity has tried to take the control away from the priests. Where I am at now, the Fraternity of the Priests of St. Peter, have complete control of the Liturgy, they have a dress code and there is more order. In both Liturgies, God’s rules are still the same. At one time I read that the Communists were planning to destroy the Catholic Church from WITHIN. Please don’t allow this to happen because of all the Bickering! Sincerely, Magdalen Mauldin
- Posted by Magdalen MauldinA Heretic is a baptized person who rejects an authoritative teaching of the Roman Catholic Church. A schismatic is a person who refuses communion with a true Pope or refuses communion with true Catholics. An apostate is a person who rejects the Christian faith completely. All heretics, schismatics and apostates sever themselves from the Catholic Church automatically (Pius XII, Mystici Corporis, June 29, 1943). Therefore, if one is a heretic he is not a Catholic (Pope Leo XIII, Satis Cognitum, June 29, 1896). And most heretics convince themselves that they are not denying any dogma when they actually are - I think the author of the story has the schismatic/heretic label on the wrong group -
- Posted by MichaelI find it amusing that those that hold fast to faith and tradition as scripture told us to, and as defined by past councils, are labeled “rebels”, and because they dont want to Change, they are called “fundamentalists” or other nasty words
This is what one does when you refuse to go along with something you know is bad for you, (smoking, drugs, etc), they try to throw names at you, like the secular press and the church of Vatican II has done to the traditionalists
The Pope can not reverse Vatican II no matter how bad of a council this was, as it was a travesty of a council and has created huge gaps in credibility. How can something be correct for 1965 years and then all of a sudden it is changed. The mass, the sacraments, the customs, the translations of the bible, everything has changed over 40 years
It is a new religion, it is not Catholic anymore
Hold fast SSPX
- Posted by JackWe are overlooking one important aspect of our present Pope and that is he cannot correct a spiritual problem or problems.The loss of Faith,lack of vocations,decrease in mass attendance the immorality of abortion,homosexual marriages etc.The Pope has given us the extraordinary form of worship and there lies the key the spiritual problems he cannot change and these problems may not end up being changed in a spiritual sense.That is GOD may punishes not only spiritually but in a physical sense with a purification like the flood which left Noah and his family the only descendants Adam and Eve to plant the tree of Jesse.I would suggest to procure a Missal that was used pre 1960 and sit down and read the English translation of the Mass ,you will soon see that the prayers that the Priest says in Latin when translated are begging for GODS mercy for us poor sinners and asks for the forgiveness of our sins and the salvation of our souls,its is very humbling.I served Mass in the 40s and 50s and was not aware of the English translation .In 1941 the pope wished that faithful used their missals and become familiar with the English translation of the Mass.
- Posted by Michael O'LearyAll of the major breaks from the church come from the right.
I have come from a very large family where our sister had broken away from the true church and went to the X and since she and her family have moved to the V.
The Mass come through the Priest. It has seemed to me that the X and the V movements are more about PRIDE than LOVE.
I have looked at the X and the V and they lack Love. For all that have been FAITHFUL to Rome and Love our Church out of obedience to it will be rewarded through the next generation. THE HOLY SPIRIT ALWAYS STANDS UP.
So to all of you X —– Are you doing your will or Gods will?
The Truth is simple and always Black and White.
- Posted by PhilipI dig the pope a lot, but I really wish the errors that came with Vatican II could be rectified. A smaller, better church is MUCH better than a large, anything-goes church.
- Posted by Zeebus[...] (Robert Winnett, Telegraph) Apparently society really is moving backwards… (The Token Feminist) SSPX Catholic rebels disappointed by Benedict (Tom Heneghan, FaithWorld) Feminist, resistance fighter, anthropologist Germaine Tillion dies age [...]
- Posted by Sunday Night, Monday Morning « The Daily TerrorBenedict has indeed been the conservative that I expected, but this is defined by what it is that he is “conserving.” For Benedict, the Church is bound to certain biblical, conciliar, and papal decrees that have been infallibly enjoined on all the faithful of the Church — apart from these dogmas, however, there is room for a variety of conceptual schemes and even re-casting of the Church’s dogmas. Contra this, Traditionalists operate in a rather fundamentalist mode, where the temporal and non-essential is given eternal and necessary status. It is a paralyzing position, not to mention a-historical and invariably sectarian. Pope Benedict will have nothing of this — for the sake of both the Church and truth.
- Posted by Kevin D.I cannot say that I’m dissapionted by Benedict’s real colors. I have always felt in my heart that this man was never a traditionalist, in the proper sense of the word, as I have read some of his most important books. In all of them he clearly comes as a pure liberal, although not an ultra-liberal. He is a liberal in that he believes that the Catholic Church does not have the right to compel clerics and religious to be bounded by a certain belief. And at the heart of all the quarrels between traditionalists and liberals in the Church is around the extend to which the Church has the right to compel a cleric to believe or practice something, particularly when this belief or practice is in tune with the practice and beliefs as held and understood before the II Vatican Council. Now in what I am dissapointed by Benedict XVI is that I seen a purpose by this man to mislead people and to raise vain hopes. The changes in the prayer of the Jews was a mortal, and unnecessary act by Benedict XVI which only hurt a lot of people and did nothing positive. Added to his flop in the Regensburg address, it is clear to me that this man is acting in ways to propagate discord. So I definetly have change my opinion of him from being midly positive to negative. I am convinced that in the long run, he will do more harm than benefit to the Catholic Church, as the Church will continue in its decandent path.
- Posted by Humboldt