from NLM:
http://thenewliturgicalmovement.blogspot.com/
Following up on the Tornielli piece regarding a Vatican offer for regualrization to the SSPX on which the NLM reported earlier today, Fr Alain-Marc Nély, second assistant of Bishop Fellay, the superior of the Society of St. Pius X, has confirmed to the Swiss Catholic news agency KIPA (French APIC) that such an offer indeed exists. Here is the relevant part of the KIPA item (see here in German or here in French) in an NLM translation:
Confirmation of the offer, but no indication of the response
Menzingen, 23 June 2008 (Apic) The Vatican has proposed an agreement to the Priestly Society of St. Pius X to end the schism, reported on 23 June 2008 the Italian daily “Il Giornale.” Asked Monday by Apic, Father Alain-Marc Nély, second assistant of Bishop Bernard Fellay, the superior of the Society of St. Pius X in Menzingen (canton of Zug), has indeed confirmed the existence of proposals on the part of the Vatican.
Not wanting to go into further details, Fr Nély, however, confirmed that a proposal of an agreement was made at the beginnig of this month. With conditions. The answer will be given by June 28 “God willing”, and will then be made public, he said. But the number three of the schismatic fraternity did not want to indicate in what direction the response of Bishop Fellay would go.
KIPA/APIC also reports that another news agency, I.MEDIA, has asked the Holy See for confirmation, which has neither confirmed nor denied the information. A sojourn of Bishop Fellay in Rome a fee weeks ago has, however, been confirmed to I.MEDIA, according to KIPA/APIC.
See http://wdtprs.com/blog/2008/06/countdown-accord-between-holy-see-and-sspx/
The very reliable Andrea Tornielli of the Italian daily Il Giornale is reporting that
My translation of the blog post with my emphases and comments.
Countdown: accord between Holy See and SSPX
The countdown has started for an accord between the Society of St. Pius X, founded by the French [archbishop] Marcel Lefebvre, and the Holy See, as I write in Il Giornale today. The Lefebvrites, who asked for the revocation of the excommunication, must respond by 28 June to the proposals presented on behalf of Benedict XVI by Dario Card. Castrillon Hoyos, President of the Pontifical Commission “Ecclesia Dei”. At issue are five points to be signed off on, which once clarified the SSPX can enter again into full communion with Rome. It is an one time offer (irrepetibile): for quite a while the Lefevbrites were asking for the derestriction of the old Missa, and Pope Ratzinger gave full citizenship back to the pre-Conciliar rite with the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum cura, and the recent “catechesis” coming from Papal Masses, with the recovery of some traditonal elements, can’t be denied. The Society must accept the Second Vatican Council and the full validity of the post-Conciliar liturgical rite (both these points were already accepted by the same [Archbishop] Lefebvre in 1988), and concerning its canonical arrangement, it could be set up as a “prelature”. It is known, however, that there is internal resistance: Bishop Bernard Fellay, Superior of the SSPX, will have to seek to overcome this in the upcoming days, on the occasion of the General Chapter. Now that the old Missal has been derestricted – even though there were many difficulties and noisy disobedience – many faithful traditionalists don’t understand why the SSPX will not enter into an accord with Rome, returning fully into Catholic communion. In all probablity such favorable conditions will not come again.
The longer article in Il Giornale adds that a few days ago Bp. Fellay and some other SSPX members met with Card. Castrillon but doesn’t say much more that new than this brief blog entry.
I would point out that, if this story is accurate in its details, they are talking about perhaps setting up a canonical structure for the SSPX along the lines of what Opus Dei enjoys, a “personal prelature”. Think of a “personal parish” in a diocese, fully a parish but without geographical boundaries, such that it overlaps other territorial parishes, designed for the needs of, say, German speaking immigrants or, as Summorum Pontificum provides for, people who want the older forms of Mass and sacraments. Extend that model out to a “personal diocese”, much like that of the aforementioned Opus Dei or, perhaps, diocesses for military personnel and their families. This would not give absolute autonomy from local bishops, but it would provide great freedom to work and a structure for administration and, most importanly faculties to marry and hear confessions, say Mass licitly, etc.
As I have been saying all along, the issue of the excommunications and the canonical structure are relatively easily resolved. I think they will even be likely to sign off on the affirmation that the Novus Ordo is valid. They aren’t, after all, being told they have to like the Novus Ordo. They won’t be told they have to celebrate it. They just will have to say it is valid.
After that, the theological issues will have to be hammered out. The Council’s document on Religious Liberty and probably on the Church in the Modern World (Gaudium et spes) will provoke tough discussions.
However, I don’t see why those can’t take place over time after an accord. After all, the Church’s teaching on religious liberty is not a dogma of faith like the Holy Trinity or the two natures of Christ.
I am very happy to read about this. I trust that you, together with me, will pray in a special way for the positive outcome of the SSPX General Chapter. I will especially invoke their guardian angels to help them in their deliberations, St. Peter and St. Paul to guide all they do concerning the unity of the Roman Church and the Roman Rite.
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