No. According to the relevant section of *the Summa *I referenced in my last post in this thread, the Pope certainly can grant those faculties; indeed, the Saint even produces reasons, and examples, for when such a thing could or should be done.
Well, I’m sorry to tell you this but Canon Law trumps the Summa. The Summa certainly has great theological foundations for our time, but it does
not have the force of law. If you read back to see Fr. Z’s post, you’ll see the relevant canons:
Can. 966 §1 For the valid absolution of sins, it is required that, in addition to the power of order, the minister has the faculty to exercise that power in respect of the faithful to whom he gives absolution.
§2 A priest can be given this faculty either by the law itself, or by a concession issued by the competent authority in accordance with can. 969.
Cannon 966(1) is what maters here. No faculties means no valid absolution.
Practically speaking, except in extraordinary circumstances the Pope never gets involved in local diocese, especially regarding faculties (I know for example there was a blanket faculty to absolve excommunications from abortion at World Youth Day last year in Spain, I don’t know if that was a Papal permission or if the local bishop issued that). The Pope doesn’t micro-manage. Also, as I said in my last post it would be seen as rewarding disobedience.
The obligation on the layman is to confess to his own priest. It would be an odd arrangement if the laity of the SSPX were not allowed to consider their present pastors as also their own priests; indeed, I suspect many already do, in spite of the lack of recognition of faculties from the Vatican or the local ordinaries.
Ok, several points here.
#1, you can confess to any priest you want. Maybe it’s “traditional” to confess your your priest, but there’s no obligation to. I go to the local Cathedral for confession, which means I’ll usually see 1 of 3 priests, whoever happens to be in the confessional that day. It doesn’t make any difference, the absolution is still valid.
#2, there is no such thing as SSPX laity. The laity are attached to a diocese and are under the jurisdiction of the local bishop. The speculated personal prelature applies only to the SSPX, which
only includes the priests.
#3, the position of Pastor is a canonical appointment that has specific responsibilities. Appointment as a pastor comes with the Faculties (
here’s an example). Since no SSPX has faculties, none of them would have been appointed as a Pastor either.
Again, if the SSPX were to agree to something that made it necessary for each of their laymen to seek permission from the local ordinary (in order to Confess to their SSPX priest), then I imagine such a reconciliation will never come about; not, that is (at the very least) without certain guarantees.
Ok, I think you’ve misunderstood here.
The priests of the SSPX will require faculties from the local bishop, just like any other priest. Once (if) that happens, any lay person will be able to go to them for confession, no extra paperwork needed.
p) of needing faculties from the local diocesan bishop to hear confessions. Sure, they’ll be able to get faculties to hear confessions for people who belong to the prelature (which may only include the priest of the SSPX for all we know), but that doesn’t include the laity of the diocese, who are still under the jurisdiction of the bishop. Only the bishop can give you permission with respect to sacraments needing jurisdiction (confession, marriage, orders) for the laity.