To any who want to come back, welcome back. That said, I'd be seriously surprised to see all four bishops return, given the rather strong comments of the one in the past. Even if he did return though, there are other "bishops" out there, and the traditionalist movements will continue. Too much pride and power for that not to be the case. The Church will welcome back any who want back, and we will be better off for it.
patent
Let us hope and pray for reconciliation.
Praying for reconcilliation. Praying that bishops like Williamson and Tissier have a change of heart.
Just a couple of quick thoughts on my lunch break here:
1) When we see epithets like "splinter-sect" and "renegade" we can very well wonder why the SSPX and its followers would want to return to full communion with such uncharitable, not to say hostile and judgmental people as Rocco and his ilk. Why, for that matter, would traditional Anglicans or others want to?
2) The supposed reluctance of Bishop Tissier is rather surprising, if true, given that he was (according to his own biography of Archbishop Lefebvre) in favor of the original 1988 deal with Rome.
3) Fr. Schmidberger is one of the very level-headed people at the SSPX and a man of great abilities and considerable charm, as I can personally attest. I think the answer to Rocco's question what does Rome gain, is simply that it gains the full (and more closely directed) application of the considerable missionary energies of people like Fr Schmidberger, Bishop Fellay and others. At its best the SSPX is an essentially missionary society that was modelled, I feel sure, by Archbishop Lefebvre after the Holy Ghost Fathers [now called "Spiritans"] for whom he was a dynanmic (and in many respects forward-looking) missionary priest in Africa in the 1930's and '40's, and whom he headed in the early 1960's. They were one of the truly great missionary congregations coming from France in the 19th century, re-founded by Ven. Francis Mary Liebermann, one of Israel's greatest gifts to Rome and to humanity.
We can only hope and pray for the reunion.
I have been praying for this for over six months non-stop and following these developments all day. For a more recent update, check Whispers in the Loggia again. Rocco has updated again about one hour ago. Also, check out Dom Bettinelli at http://bettnet.dyndns.org/blog/index.php He has at least 3 postings today. Amy Wellborn's blog has a good long thread going and there is a link on one of Dom's threads to another blogger who had this story yesterday.
In short, Bishop Williamson seems adamantly opposed. To those of us who love the Tridentine Mass, this is a key moment since all would be regularized under this agreement if I understand correctly including the ability to attend Mass at any SSPX chapel. In other words folks, the Vatican seems to be offering a Universal Indult.
Frank
Let us all please storm Heaven for this reconciliation to occur if it is His Will. As you all know, prayer is the greatest weapon against all that the evil one can throw at the Church. With all my heart and soul, I do believe that the Mother of God will certainly play an important role in bringing about the unity so many of us have desired for so long.
praying-this-happens bumpus ad summum