Yes, the best thing would of course be if the Pope were to give the Society of St. Pius X a canonical form. Even if it perhaps only provisional at the moment. CERTAMEN presents Bishop Athanasius Schneider The Catholic Tradition A hopeful way out of the crisis
Part 6 Solution to the conflict between the Vatican and the FSSPX Yes, it would be desirable. I have also in this direction. Pope Francis had asked me and other bishops, including Bishop Huonder, about 7 years ago to visit the the Society of St. Pius X and meet with Bishop
Fellay and with some theologians and to attend some seminars, which I did. And I had a good impression. I also had a positive report to Rome and made a concrete proposal. At that time, so I think, that was 7 years ago. I specifically wrote to the Holy See, the Pope.
I also explained this to Cardinal Müller, who was responsible for the Ecclesia Dei Commission at the time, that from the experience of church history with a community that for certain reasons has difficulties with Rome,for pastoral reasons shows great concessions. It’s also about the faithful and the
Salvation of souls. And that here wide-minded and not narrow-minded. Yes, it was always specifically about certain points that were controversial. That means the Council as such as such, then the new mass, the so-called new mass, and the new creed. According to my memory, these were the three points that were difficult to resolve.
Rome always insisted on its position and wanted the maximum. I said: Why demand the demand the maximum? Be satisfied, if the Society of St. Pius X already accepts something and later you can solve things even further. When the Society of St. Pius X is is fully integrated under canon law,
Then we can continue the discussion. But give them this status in the church also as a trust to build mutual trust. And I had a suggestion about the mass. suggestion. They’ve always asked until now, that the Society of St. Pius X recognize the Mass as valid and so-called legitimate.
Under this expression legitimate is basically also that the new fair is in order. And it is not in order. It has its flaws, also theological flaws, liturgical flaws. It is clear that the Society of St. Pius X cannot sign such a text.
I have proposed to the Holy See: Be satisfied if the Society of St. Pius X confesses: We recognize the validity of the new Mass and of all the sacraments according to the authentic Holy See editions of the Editio Typica,
I.e. not necessarily the translation, but the Latin text according to the Holy See. And the archbishop has always recognized the new Mass, according to the text itself. And I said said that that would be enough.
Later you can still discuss the legitimacy or about the shortcomings and so on. And then the Council. The Society of St. Pius X says yes, that the Council is recognized as such. It is simply a fact. It was a legitimately convened council of
A legitimate pope and was legitimately ended By a legitimate pope. And nobody can deny that, apart apart from perhaps a few sedisvacantists, who deny it, but the Pius X does not deny it. That was a council in the life of the Catholic Church. A
General, therefore also called ecumenical council as such. And I said: That will be enough. And then that we have all the statements of the council, which are in complete agreement with the tradition of the Church.
The Society of St. Pius X will have no problem will do that. And then that on those points, that seem more difficult to reconcile with the tradition of the Church, to make suggestions in this regard proposals in this regard – amendment,
Suggestions for improvements to these formulations. And that, in my opinion, would be legitimate, because the texts, the texts or statements of the Society of St. Pius X objectionable texts or statements of the Council, are not ex cathedra decisions.
They are not definitive statements of the magisterium, but more of a pastoral nature, which is also what the Council said. And so it is quite legitimate that one should not make definitive statements of the teaching authority and even improvements.
Corrections, why not. And that would solve the problem with the council would have been solved. It was a legitimate council. Everything that clearly agrees with the tradition we naturally accept
Happily. One statement or the other, which are open and which clearly agree with the principle of the tradition may be interpreted and the third part, those that are clearly difficult and clearly in breach, so to speak, with the
Statements of the constant doctrine – and therefore the change-, Suggestions for improvement, corrections. And then the other point, the new formulation of the creed, to which the Holy See has always insisted on with the Society of St. Pius X I have suggested: Why the
The Society of St. Pius X the profession of faith what the Council Fathers did? And that is the so-called Tridentine Vatican Creed, which all priests and bishops had to make until 1967. It was still valid two years after the Council.
And this form is clear and detailed – this professio fidei, this profession of faith. And if it was valid until 67 and all the Council Fathers have made it, why is the Society of St. Pius X not be allowed to make the same profession of faith?
Why do you now have to force them to new profession of faith? Well, because the faith has not changed. And the Vatican always said: No, the faith has not changed. So if it has
Hasn’t changed, then you can also use the creed that was valid until 67. That’s what I suggested, these three points. Yes, those were the most important, I think. I think. And if that had been accepted, then you would have found a canonical solution, a canonical solution.
But unfortunately, what I proposed at the time was not accepted, and Bishop Fellay would also have to accept these points. It is quite clear that you can accept that. Yes, that is unfortunately did not happen, was not possible.
But I am convinced that in the future it will be possible to improve the situation of of the Society of St. Pius X. Pope Francis has already settled it in part, thank God.
He has given the priests of the Society of St. Pius X the general permission to confess and thus the permission to confess is a form of the jurisdiction of a priest. And that is also a sign that a schismatic priest is not a
Exercise jurisdiction. That would be would be a contradiction in terms. And thus also this fact that all priests of the Society of St. Pius X may exercise the ordinary power of confession is a sign that they cannot be schismatic cannot be schismatic, in forum externum.
It is impossible to know what disposition each priest has in his soul cannot be known. And the church does not judge in conscience. That means that the church cannot cannot look into what someone
But outwards, in the forum externum. And then also by granting it from the pope, the permission, the possibility to assist in canonical marriages. And this is also done. Many bishops and priests give the marriage license to the priests of the Society of St. Pius X.
It is also already part of the exercise of jurisdiction, also in this case. And to my knowledge, I have also heard heard that Bishop Fellay once said, that the Holy See would not allow him, or the bishops of the Society of St. Pius X who
Permission to confer the ordinations. I know that. I haven’t seen it myself. I didn’t see it myself, the text, but I heard it. If that’s the case case, that’s already a further step in the regularization of the situation of the Society of St. Pius X.
After I had fulfilled the mission the Holy Father Pope Francis in in a letter of his own that he all priests of the Society of St. Pius X permission to legitimately celebrate to celebrate Holy Mass and thus
The problem would be de facto solved, because now it was only about the mass. And I asked him, because if he had already already given them permission to confess – that is connected with the Holy Mass, the sacrament of confession and the Eucharist –
This would be obvious for the faithful and also as a sign of trust and a building up of trust by the Holy Father step by step the canonical regularization. Or about the Superior General of the Society of St. Pius X,
Perhaps through the exhibition of the Celebret – that the pope has Superior General of the Society of St. Pius X to issue a celebret to all priests. That means that he could validly celebrate Mass, therefore legitimate not just valid,
But legitimately, with the permission of the rector of the church where you are. And that would be a big step towards towards building the trust of both sides, from the Vatican and from the Society of St. Pius X. And a big step towards a later
Canonical regularization. I hope that maybe it can happen. If I had another opportunity to be with the Pope again, I would ask him to do it again. And yes, of course the best thing would be if the Pope were to give the Pius Brotherhood a
Canonical form, even if it were perhaps only provisional at the moment. There are different forms, that are possible, that the that the Society of St. Pius X would have canonical permission to exist and to work pastorally. Certamen – The good fight
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