URGENT MATTER
The Pope defends himself;
cries against moral lynching of Traditionalists
UPDATED
LETTER OF HIS HOLINESS
BENEDICT XVI
TO THE BISHOPS OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
ON THE REMISSION OF THE EXCOMMUNICATION
OF THE FOUR BISHOPS CONSECRATED BY ARCHBISHOP LEFEBVRE
LETTER OF HIS HOLINESS
BENEDICT XVI
TO THE BISHOPS OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
ON THE REMISSION OF THE EXCOMMUNICATION
OF THE FOUR BISHOPS CONSECRATED BY ARCHBISHOP LEFEBVRE
A letter of Pope Benedict XVI to all Bishops of the world on the removal of the excommunication of the Bishops of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X (FSSPX / SSPX) and on all aspects involving the subsequent problems related to Bishop Richard Williamson is set to be released tomorrow (Thursday). Several Italian news sources provide some excerpts of the letter this morning, and we will provide a translation as soon as possible.
Excerpts:
The letter will announce that the Pontifical Commission "Ecclesia Dei" will be placed under the authority of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (though, as of this moment, it is not clear if only regarding doctrinal matters). The Pope makes clear for Traditionalists that it is not possible to "freeze" the Magisterial authority of the Church in 1962 - but he also chides those who proclaim themselves to be "great defenders of the Council" but who do not wish to understand that Vatican II carries with it "the entire doctrinal history of the Church".
The Pope is frank with those who proclaim ecumenism, but who do not wish to follow through with it with the Fraternity: "May we consign to utter indifference a community in which there are 491 priests, 215 seminarians, ... 117 brothers, 164 sisters, and thousands of faithful? Should we truly let them drift away from the Church? Are we allowed to simply exclude them, as representatives of a radical and marginal group, from the search for unity and reconciliation?"...
...
"A mishap unpredictable to me was the fact that the Williamson affair was placed above the remission of the excommunication. The discreet gesture of mercy towards the four Bishops, ordained validly but not licitly, appeared unexpectedly as a completely different matter: as a denial of the reconciliation of Christians and Jews, and thus as a repeal of that which the Council had clarified for the path of the Church regarding this matter."
...
"I am saddened by the fact that even Catholics, who in the end should have known better how things stand, considered having to assail me with a hostility ready for attack. For this, I thank even more the Jewish friends who have helped to promptly remove the misunderstanding and to reestablish an atmosphere of friendship and trust."
Some of the concluding words are strong: "The impression is often given that our society feels the need for at least one group to which no tolerance is to be granted; which one may perfectly abuse with hatred. And if anyone - in this case the Pope - dares to approach them, he also loses his right to tolerance and he also may be treated with hatred, with no fears or reservations."
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3 comments:
Tim,
The full letter is out now in a rough translation.
http://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2009/03/papal-letter-about-lifting-of-sspx.html
Two interesting facts: He's hooking the Ecclesia Dei Commission to the Congrg. for the Doctrine of the Faith.
He's also saying the what inhibits full communion with the SSPX is doctrine not discipline.
The boss is really getting down to brass tacks now.
WOW: I CAN'T BELIEVE IT !!!
I did not think I'd live to hear and see such things.
Imagine it: A pope vigorously defending Catholic Traditionalists!
A few years ago Patrick Madrid and Pete Vere wrote a really one-sided and superficial book savagely denouncing Traditionalists, especially the SSPX.
Their book constantly referred to the SSPX bishops, priests and attached laity as "schismatics," as immoral persons worthy of no respect.
Their book was titled "More Catholic Than The Pope." It is still for sale at Pauline Books and Media on Watson Road.
Now, in light of what Benedict XVI has said and done, people like Mr. Madrid and Mr. Vere are "less Catholic than the pope" unless they revise their teachings.
What a blessing to have a pope who fearlessly loves God above everything and everyone else !!!
Pope Benedict well knows that now the super-liberal cardinals and bishops are now going to do everything in their power to try to discredit and destroy his papacy.
The "war" that broke out during the Second Vatican Council between the progressives and the traditionalists is not over yet. (This is divide during that Council is well recounted in the book "The Rhine Flows Into The Tiber," by Fr. Wiltgen)
JESUS OUR LORD said:
"Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; a man's enemies will be the members of his own household." (Matthew 10:34-36)
God, let the Glorious Restoration continue!
Javier
Javier said:
"(This is divide during that Council is well recounted in the book "The Rhine Flows Into The Tiber," by Fr. Wiltgen)
a GREAT book!
RIGHTEOUS
THUNDER
Five times banished,
Exiled seventeen,
Excommunicated champions,
God puts at each scene.
Saint Athanasius,
Feast day of worth
On the second of May
The month of great mirth.
Out in the deserts –
As history has charted –
You preserved the true Mass,
Great lion-hearted.
Now Lefebvre,
And the sixties egalitarians,
Like Athanasius,
His time his Arians.
For He who abolished
Death by death
Sent him to absolve
Sin width and breadth.
And yes the same moon
The same sun we're all under…
We venal rain - but Lefebvre
Righteous thunder!!
Merci Marcel!
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