Posted on 02/03/2004 5:59:39 AM PST by NYer
ROME, FEB. 2, 2004 (Zenit.org).- The Society of St. Pius X founded by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre claims the Church is in "crisis" because of the ecumenical dialogue promoted after the Second Vatican Council.
The priestly fraternity made that point in a letter dated Jan. 6 and sent to several cardinals. Signed by Bishop Bernard Fellay, superior general of the fraternity, and by four other bishops of the group, the letter was presented today during a press conference in Rome.
The letter presents a 47-page document entitled "From Ecumenism to Silent Apostasy: 25 Years of Pontificate" ("De l’oecuménisme à l’apostasie silencieuse, 25 ans de pontificat").
Even though John Paul II is keeping daily public engagements, the letter's signatories explain that "because of the aggravated state of health of the Holy Father, we have not written to him directly."
The document interprets the position of John Paul II and other Church figures on ecumenism as a sign of the loss of the Catholic Church's own identity by putting it on the same level with Christian denominations of other confessions.
No mention is made of the 2000 declaration "Dominus Iesus" on "The Uniqueness and Salvific Universality of Jesus Christ and the Church," or of John Paul II's repeated rejection of this faulty view of ecumenism.
In a letter sent to Bishop Fellay on April 5, 2002, by Cardinal Darío Castrillón Hoyos, prefect of the Congregation for Clergy and president of the Pontifical Commission "Ecclesia Dei," following contacts to overcome the fraternity's rupture with Rome, the cardinal referred to the "frontal attack" implied in the accusation addressed to the Pope of "having abandoned Tradition."
"It constitutes, in fact, a dangerous presumption to also judge the Supreme Authority" and, quoting Vatican Council I, the cardinal added that in these types of questions "we believe that no one can arrogate to himself the right to judge the Holy See."
In his 1988 apostolic letter "Ecclesia Dei," John Paul II stressed the "unlawful" ordination of bishops within the fraternity on the part of Archbishop Lefebvre, which constituted "a schismatic act." The archbishop died in 1991.
1. The Lord Jesus, before ascending into heaven, commanded his disciples to proclaim the Gospel to the whole world and to baptize all nations: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mk 16:15-16); “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the world” (Mt 28:18-20; cf. Lk 24:46-48; Jn 17:18,20,21; Acts 1:8).
"DOMINUS IESUS"
DECLARATION ON THE UNICITY AND SALVIFIC UNIVERSALITY OF JESUS CHRIST AND THE CHURCH
Don't be surprised if the next Pope cuts them loose...permanently.
At least these folks have the courtesy of being straight forward in their beliefs. They are wrong, but they do not hide their convictions. The AmChurch dissenters should follow their lead and openly state their dissent and heresy instead of pretending to be loyal Catholics.
Also encouraging was the attack on Cardinal Kasper. Hopefully, those cardinals who consider Kasper a candidate to be the next pope will wake up after reading this letter.
No mention is made of the 2000 declaration "Dominus Iesus" on "The Uniqueness and Salvific Universality of Jesus Christ and the Church,"
Maybe they missed the encyclical? < /sarcasm>
First, the very title of this letter shows that the SSPXers are accusing the Pope of apostasy, which in essence is the same as a charge of heresy, which they claim they are not doing. Second, it is unjust and ridiculous to charge someone with "silent" apostasy. If one does not have any teaching of heresy and any overt evidence of apostasy, then it is simply a slanderous smear to charge someone with this.
The document interprets the position of John Paul II and other Church figures on ecumenism as a sign of the loss of the Catholic Church's own identity by putting it on the same level with Christian denominations of other confessions.
No mention is made of the 2000 declaration "Dominus Iesus" on "The Uniqueness and Salvific Universality of Jesus Christ and the Church," or of John Paul II's repeated rejection of this faulty view of ecumenism.
Precisely so. Thus the SSPX continues its total and malicious mischaraterization of the Pope's ecumenical actions, treating ecumenism per se as wrong as opposed to mistaken understandings of it.
In his 1988 apostolic letter "Ecclesia Dei," John Paul II stressed the "unlawful" ordination of bishops within the fraternity on the part of Archbishop Lefebvre, which constituted "a schismatic act."
And yet we are told again and again on this forum that SSPX is not in schism, and that the Vatican does not hold them to be such. And we are told again and again that it is "necessary" for the faith to be disobedient to the "unorthodox" Pope because some disciplinary matters relating to the liturgy have changed since the Vatican II Council.
In what way has the Pope breached any irreformable teaching of dogmatic definitions of Popes or Ecumenical Councils or of the ordinary and universal magisterium of the Church, as opposed to reformable teachings of the ordinary magisterium or disciplinary matters? Only the former are Apostolic Tradition. The latter are at most tradition with a small "t".
Do you have a link where we can read it on line?
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