SSPX- Bishop Williamson not welcome in Brazil

Source- Communique of the SSPX South American superior:

At the invitation of Dom Thomas, prior of the monastery of the Holy Cross of New Freiburg, Bishop Williamson came to confer the sacrament of confirmation and give some lectures.

I would like to clarify that this trip has been organized independently of the SSPX. Indeed, according to the directives left by our founder Archbishop Lefebvre, only the Superior General, Bishop Fellay in this case, gives the mandate to the auxiliary bishops to undertake a pastoral visit. This procedure has not been respected, which is a serious act against the virtue of obedience but also a more basic lack of courtesy. In addition, the District Superior's agreement has not been requested as required by the statutes of our Fraternity. The harmonious collaboration that existed between the SSPX and the Monastery of the Holy Cross has been broken by this act of great gravity, so the organizers must take responsibility before God. Indeed, some have been deceived and faithful attended the ceremonies and conferences announced believing that they had been organized by the SSPX.

After reading the article of Dom Tomas de Aquino "Honor and Glory to Mgr Williamson", I denounce firmly the indirect accusations which were made ​​suggesting that the SSPX would agree with modernism and cease fighting for the defense of Catholic Tradition .

Such insinuations are gratuitous, false, hurtful and injurious to our Superior General and to the members of the SSPX. I cannot remain silent. If Bishop Fellay has rejected the outstretched hand of Rome on June 13, it is for doctrinal reasons. And it is because we reject the modernism imbued Vatican II which is the main cause of the ruin of the Church today and we want to continue saying it, it is also because we reject the Novus Ordo Missae that departs from both Catholic doctrine "as a whole and in detail", that no practical agreement has been signed with Rome. This was the position of Archbishop Lefebvre yesterday and this is the position of Monsignor Fellay today. The General Chapter last July confirmed it. Any other assertion is nothing more than a manipulation or lie. Any prediction of a practical agreement reveals a morbid imagination.

At the beginning of December, Bishop de Galarreta will come to visit and confer the sacrament of Confirmation in Brazil and other countries in our district as our Superior General has planned for many months.

I invite the faithful of the Catholic tradition in Brazil not to pay attention to rumors, to continue to support their priests with their sacrifices, prayers and generosity and beg God to send numerous and ardent vocations to defend and extend the reign of Christ the King under the noble banner of the Catholic tradition and the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary. God bless you!

Leaked letter indicates problems in SSPX-Rome negotiations

Intégristes : Mgr Fellay suspend la réconciliation avec le Vatican - Catholicisme - La Vie

Bishop Fellay suspends reconciliation with the Vatican

A confidential letter from the secretary of the Superior General of Lefebvrists Bishop Fellay said that ultimately he did not intend to sign the final proposal of the Vatican as he considers it "clearly unacceptable". Strategic retreat or final throwing in of the sponge?

Are the internal divisions in the Society of St. Pius X about to get the better of the reconciliation process between the Lefebvrists and Rome? This is the question we can legitimately ask on reading this letter from the Secretary General, Father Christian Thouvenot. In a document classified as confidential that leaked onto the Internet within hours of its release, Father Thouvenot shared with the SSPX Superiors of different districts (also of seminaries and autonomous houses- Cathcon note) the most recent decisions of Bishop Fellay.

The first decision is the one not to sign the latest version of the famous Preamble doctrine , the essential document for reconciliation and has been in recent months been exchanged back and forth between the parties. Re-altered by Rome following the changes proposed by the SSPX, it was expected in its latest version, according to Father Pfluger (SSPX), to resolve doctrinal differences between Rome and church and Menzingen by using the following formula: "The criteria and guide for the understanding of the teachings of the Second Vatican Council are to be the whole Tradition of the Catholic Faith, which on its part makes clear certain aspects of the life and doctrine of the Church, which are not yet formulated, but implicitly present in it. The affirmations of the Second Vatican Council and of the Pontifical Magisterium of the past relative to the relationship between the Catholic Church and the non-Catholic Christian confessions are to be understood in light of all of Tradition.""

In the letter to District Superors, whose authenticity is ensured, Father Thouvenot explains that the modified preamble presented on June 13 to Bishop Fellay by Cardinal Levada, now prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, in charge of the matter in Rome, is the "text lof ast April but amended so that it incorporates, in substance, the proposals of September 2011. Bishop Fellay immediately makes known that he could not sign this document, as it is clearly unacceptable".

The second decision is not a surprise : it concerns a disciplinary decision against Bishop Williamson, the most unmanageable of the bishops of the Society: " I inform all members of the chapter, under canon 2331 § 1 and 2, that the Superior General has deprived Bishop Williamson of capitular office for his positions calling for rebellion and disobedience which he has continually repeated. He also forbidden to go to Ecône for ordinations."

Clearly, Bishop Williamson will not participate in the General Chapter of the Society held in July, and which is to ratify or reject the agreement with Rome. There is no word however on the other two bishops, Msgrs Tissier de Mallerais and De Galarreta, who nevertheless clearly displayed their hostility to an agreement, and warned that they would not follow their Superior General in case of signing, but at least in recognition that he is formally isolated - alone against the three other bishops of the SSPX - Bishop Fellay could hardly exclude the other two.

The third decision demonstrates the fragility of the extreme position of Bishop Fellay within the SSPX. "Bishop Fellay has decided to postpone the ordinations for the Dominicans of Avrillé and the Capuchins of Morgon, which was scheduled Ecône on June 29. This delay in the ordinations was simply dictated by the need to ensure loyalty of these communities before the laying on of hands on their candidates. " The front of opponents of reconciliation with Rome therefore extends not only to the bishops, nor to the simple priests of whom have reacted rather violently to Bishop Fellay in recent weeks, but also to postulants and superiors of Lefebvrist religious communitiess: clearly- those who represent the future of the Fraternity.

Finally it is notable in that letter that the Superior General deals tactfully with the Pope and blames the failure of talks on Cardinal Levada, in charge of the case in Rome: " Our Superior General replied to the letter of March 16 from Cardinal Levada who tried to impose the doctrinal Preamble of September 14, 2011. [...] According to several sources, the new text appeared to satisfy the Supreme Pontiff. "

This formula seems to support the thesis that Bishop Fellay has not lost all hope of reaching an agreement, since Cardinal Levada will leave his post in the coming months, having reached the retirement age.  Putting the responsibility on hin for the end of the talks thus allows delay, to try to rally as many members of the SSPX to his position and to survive in the General Chapter in July without hurting Rome permanently. But let there be no mistake: this is a strong blow to the possibility of an agreement. Mortal blow or not? The future should reveal very quickly.

Bishop Fellay summoned to the Vatican

Mgr Fellay pourrait être réintégré dans l'Eglise catholique - rts.ch - info - monde

Bishop Fellay could be reinstated in the Catholic Church

The superior of the ultra-conservative SSPX, Bishop Bernard Fellay, could be reinstated in the Catholic Church. Benedict XVI summoned him on Wednesday to the Vatican.

The superior of the ultra-conservative SSPX, Bishop Bernard Fellay, was summoned to the Vatican on Wednesday and will receive an answer from Benedict XVI on his reinstatement in the Church, the news agency, Vatican I. media has learned.

The Pope's decision, whether positive or negative, is not likely to be communicated before Bishop Fellay has had a chance to study it and give his response. This may cause a delay before the decision of Benedict XVI is actually known.

Founded in 1970 by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre (d. 1991) and separated from Rome since 1988, the SSPX, who objected strenuously to the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965), has many priests (about 500), hundreds of seminarians, nuns and tens of thousands of faithful.

Benedict XVI's gesture
The pope had made a first move towards granting liberty for the Lefebvrists (Cathcon not a term I would use) in 2007 to use of liturgical books in Latin before the Council. Then he lifted the excommunication of four bishops of the Society, including that of British revisionist bishop Richard Williamson. Finally, he accepted the opening of doctrinal discussions.

Mid-May, the Vatican has stressed that the positions of three other bishops fundamentalists, Mgrs of Alfonso Galarreta, Bernard Tissier de Mallerais and Richard Williamson, more "ultra" that Bishop Fellay would be "treated as separate and unique".

SSPX Bishops' Letter to Pope

: : : DICI : : : - one would wish that such filial devotion could be found in other parts of the Catholic Church.

Most Holy Father,

In sentiments of thanksgiving we wish to express our deep gratitude for Your act of paternal kindness and for the apostolic courage by which You rendered ineffective the measure which imposed upon us twenty years ago as a consequence of our episcopal consecrations. Your decree dated January 21, 2009 restores in some way the reputation of the venerated founder of our priestly Society, His Grace Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. It also procures a great good to the Church, so it seems to us, by doing justice to the priests and faithful worldwide who, attached to the Tradition of the Church, will no longer be unjustly stigmatized for having kept the Faith of their fathers.

Because of this combat for the Faith, we assure Your Holiness, according to the wish You expressed, that we “will spare no effort in exploring as yet unresolved questions through requisite discussions with the authorities of the Holy See.” Indeed we desire to begin, as soon as possible, exchanges with representatives of Your Holiness concerning doctrines opposed to the Magisterium of all time.

By following this path still necessary, mentioned by Your Holiness, we hope to help the Holy See to bring the appropriate remedy to the loss of the Faith inside the Church.

The Immaculate Virgin Mary has clearly guided the steps of Your Holiness toward us, She will continue Her gracious intercession in His favor. With this assurance, we filially ask the Universal Pastor to bless four of His sons most attached to the Successor of Peter and to His charge of feeding the lambs and the sheep of the Lord.

Menzingen, January 29, 2009
on the feast of Saint Francis de Sales

+Bernard Fellay

+Richard Williamson

+Bernard Tissier de Mallerais

+Alfonso de Galarreta

News from the Argentine on Bishop Williamson

En el seminario de La Reja ya piensan en un sucesor - lanacion.com

Yesterday morning an unusual movement of soutanes caught the attention of the faithful who usually attend Mass in Latin at the 11.30 Mass in the Seminary of La Reja, Moreno, which Williamson has headed for five years.

Priests came from different parts of the country. "Obviously, there will be an important announcement which should be reported in person," concluded one participant.

But the reason for this extraordinary meeting did not go beyond the walls.....

Followed by speculation that Bishop de Galarreta will succeed Bishop Williamson.

Caveat- Spanish is not a language that I usually translate.

Cathcon understands that Bishop Williamson has been sacked as Seminary Rector by Bishop Fellay.  As yet, he continues in his functions.

Pope has revoked the excommunications of the SSPX bishops

Report from the official Italian news agency here.

A very swift translation

Pope Benedict XVI, as announced by the press in recent days, has lifted the excommunication' latae sententiae ' of the four schismatic bishops ordained in 1988 by Msgr. Lefebvre.

According to the revocation of the excommunication, which was signed by the Prefect of the Congregation of Bishops on January 21, the Pontiff being ''paternally sensible to the spiritual discomfort expressed by those involved in the sanction of excommunication from the commitment and confident in what they expressed in the aforementioned letter to spare no effort to investigate the necessary discussions with the authorities' of the Holy See of the outstanding questions, so 'that we can soon reach a full and satisfactory solution to the problem at its source, has decided to reconsider the canonical situation of Bishops Bernard Fellay, Bernard Tissier de Mallerais, Richard Williamson and Alfonso de Galarreta''.

''With this act – according to the decree – he wishes to consolidate the relations of mutual trust and to intensify and give stability to the relationship of the Society of St. Pius X with the Apostolic See. This gift of peace, after the Christmas celebrations, will also be a sign of promoting the unity 'in love' of the universal Church and of removing the scandal of division''