Posted on 09/17/2005 6:24:38 AM PDT by NYer
Sep. 15 (CWNews.com) - A bishop of the schismatic Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) has warned traditionalist Catholics the "heresy of neo-modernism" which, he says, now controls the Vatican.
In an email message to his supporters, Bishop Richard Williamson, an English-born prelate who now serves the SSPX in Argentina, said that there are enormous differences "between Catholic Tradition and the position's of today's Rome." He continued: "Between these positions, any reconciliation is impossible."
Bishop Williamson conceded that some traditionalists might accept an offer of reconciliation with the Vatican, but "the conciliar positions of today's Rome would still be as false as 2 and 2 are 5, while the Traditional positions would still be as true as 2 and 2 are 4."
The Lefebvrist bishop wrote his email message to explain why he had said-- prior to the September 1 meeting between Pope Benedict XVI (bio - news) and Bishop Bernard Fellay, the head of the SSPX-- that traditionalists would not be reconciled with the Vatican. He explained that if some traditionalists were to reach an agreement with the Vatican, others would resist-- "that if the Society [of St. Pius X] were to rejoin Rome, the resistance of Catholic Tradition would carry on without it."
Bishop Williamson, the most outspoken figure in the SSPX, is one of the four bishops consecrated by the late Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre in June 1988, in defiance of an order from the Vatican, prompting Pope John Paul II (bio - news) to announce the excommunication of the traditionalist leaders.
It would seem that there is a budding schism among the SSPX. That's certainly ironic.
As I've posted previously, I'm in favor of reunification with SSPX on very generous terms. Including establishment of a sui iuris church.
Although I view the SSPX schism as primarily an issue for the western (Roman Catholic) church to resolve, the schism has caused a scandal for the universal Catholic church as a whole.
Inviting these clowns into the Church, unrepentant, bearing tons of noxious antisemitic and heretical theology and general lunacy will only halt the reform within that is well underway.
Let the sspx dead bury the dead williamson. Who cares..
"I'm in favor of the Pope making it crystal clear these guys are excommunicated schismatics and that anyone who attends their Liturgies or in any way supports their schism is automatically excommunicated."
"Our way or the highway" hasn't worked yet. I don't expect it will anytime soon.
The problem with schismatics is that over time, the reasons for their schisms have often been vindicated. The SSPX is no exception. The obnoxious ones who are schismatic for the sake of being schismatic will remain in schism. So I don't worry much about them. I see no reason not to welcome the rest back.
"I'm in favor of the Pope making it crystal clear these guys are excommunicated schismatics and that anyone who attends their Liturgies or in any way supports their schism is automatically excommunicated."
"Our way or the highway" hasn't worked yet. I don't expect it will anytime soon.
The problem with schismatics is that over time, the reasons for their schisms have often been vindicated. The SSPX is no exception. The obnoxious ones who are schismatic for the sake of being schismatic will remain in schism. So I don't worry much about them. I see no reason not to welcome the rest back.
There's a big difference. The bishops didn't leave the church.
I agree that SSPX should be welcomed back on full and generous terms. Universal Indult and recognition of their clergy. However, it appears, that some members of the SSPX do not want a reunion, but want to continue in schism (Williamson). I hope and truly believe that Bishop Fellay is far more reasonable and hope lies in that direction.
Really? Like what? Gnosticism? Arianism? Calvinism?
Heresy is never vindicated, so if a schism is due to heresy, which SSPX has largely embraced, SSPX will never be vindicated. If the form of the liturgy is their only gripe, that, indeed, may be "vindicated", if only by universal indult. But SSPX claims that the so-called Novus Ordo canon is not valid and is, therefore, idolatry, is heretical. Many are sedevacantists. Neither of these reasons will ever be vindicated.
What Church do you suppose the men who are now Bishops were Baptized in? The Methodists?
Not really, it wouldn't even be the first such schism. When you are born of a particular sin, you tend to repeat it, and the SSPX as we know it today was born of a schismatic act, the Consecration of the four Bishops.
patent
>>> Let the sspx dead bury the dead williamson. Who cares..
I know quite a few good people in the SSPX, and I'll not write them off, personally. I tend to think that writing any one off is an entirely unchristian attitude, and contrary to the Gospel.
patent
JP II was in charge in 1988 when he excommunicated the SSPX leaders and adherents and declared SSPX a schism. He remained in charge until his death, earlier this year. Benedict XVI is now in charge. Neither JP II nor B XVI have changed the status of SSPX or its leaders or its adherents, who have, in any event, yet to prostrate themselves, sinful and sorrowful, before the pope. Hence no change seems justified.
There are still Nestorian heretics out there after many centuries. There are still Arian heretics out there. There are Utrecht's Old "Catholics" who started with a problem with Vatican I's definition of the doctrine of papal infallibility and now have the full gamut of exotic ecclesiastical flora and fauna. There are "retired" bishops who pass make-believe Holy Orders to dissident feminazis. There are those who believe that anal intercourse is the eighth "sacrament." There are those who adhere to the heresies crystallized in the 16th century. And there are the stiff-necked SSPX rebels who would grind papal authority under their fancy little heels in order to advance the cause of their offended liturgical tastes almighty or their ongoing rebellion against Vatican II.
As to all of the immediate prior paragraphs denizens, the Roman Catholic Church got along very well before it met them and will get along very well without them since 1988, now and forever if they choose not to knuckle under to papal authority. In their present posture, if they are ever readmitted to the Church, it will be too soon. If they want to crawl on their bellies in total humiliation, repudiating everything that is the SSPX schism and its leaders, and their respective "works and pomps" as it were, publicly pleading for forgiveness and renouncing Marcel the Malignant once and for all, then maybe, just maybe, with enough public penance as a precondition, the pope should consider readmitting them on an individual basis, each according to his public humiliation.
Until then, tooooo baaaaad, sooooo sadddd!
Study up on the Marxist notion of the Hegelian dialectic deserves your attention far more than does SSPX. Thesis (the Church as it was in 1988 under JP II), Antithesis (the nasty little revolution launched by Marcel in which Marcel and not the pope would decide whom Marcel would consecrate as bishops); Synthesis (Oh, well, who cares? The important thing is that we perceive some "progress" in the form of Fr. Recruiting Sergeant claiming that he has brought the unrepentant SSPX back to Rome with Rome ligitimating the excommunicated bishops and maybe raising old Marcel to the honors of the altar as the "patron saint" of those who despise the papacy and rebel against it). I'll pass. You should too. Most importantly Benedict XVI ought to pas as well as all of his successors.
What is it about the Americanist mentality that demands a complete resolution of all issues in a half hour or maybe an hour, less time for commercials, or we should be bored by whatever it is and accept anything in order to get it over with so we can move on to the next program, err, controversy?
The chances of SSPX ever being vindicated are none and less than none.
Sackcloth, ashes, peanut, nose!
>>>Are you saying all CPA "bishops" are in the Church?
I think the safest statement is that you and I don't actually know the answer to that question. We know at least some are, but that's all that we know publicly.
The CPA is an unusual situation, and drawing conclusions from it to apply to other groups is difficult, if best.
patent
Uh no. Contrary to the hopes of the enemies of tradition, Bishop Fellay and Bishop Williamson are on exactly the same page. Here is a statementment from Bishop Fellay, (pdf file)
Compare that to the full statement by Bishop Williamson posted above in post #7.
"We" know quite the contrary. It is not morally possible to support and comply with the Chinese Communist baby killing (among other things) government and be a Catholic bishop.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.