Nothing is changed. 2012 is no different than 1988 except the new bishops are 24 years closer to consecrating more bishops as SSPX vocations continue to grow. The ceremonies on Feb. 2 were beautiful. Bp. Fellay said nothing that anyone who is informed about the Society didn’t know. The Society isn’t biting on some Henry Clay plan where one side compromises and then the other side compromises. The Society has a position. It is clearly outlined. If Rome wants the Society, the Society is waiting. If Rome doesn’t want the Society, the Society is still waiting. Maybe it will take 500 years and many dozens more bishops?
If you don’t agree with the Society’s position on obedience to Rome, I don’t see why you are praying for reconciliation. The Society is not coming hat in hand saying it is sorry. The Society believes it is right.
If there are any more episcopal consecrations, that will be “justification” enough, I would think. The SSPX does not exactly have a lot of time on its side; the four bishops won’t live forever.
In canon law, does consecrating Bishops without permission incur schism? I was under the impression that it does not and that that was why they were never actually in schism in the first place…
If the SSPX bishops were to ordain more bishops there would be two major problems that can be fatal for the SSPX and its aherents.
The first is that they would be excommunicated, the ordaining bishops and the newly ordained bishops.
The second is worse, they can be declared in schism. The act of ordaining a bishop without the papal mandate is a schismatic act. The first time around, the act itself was judged to be schismatic. Archbishop and the newly ordained bishops were not considered schismatic, because it was assumed that the ordinations were an impulsive action on the part of Archbishop Lefebvre.
Now, after more than two decades of excommunication and after having asked for re-communication, for these bishops to go out and ordain more bishops, would not be considered an impulsive act. It would be considered to be grave sin.
The matter is grave.
There is full knowledge of what they are doing, because they’ve been there before.
There is full consent, because it’s not the case of an old man who is dying and pushes the panic button.
There is more to it than a violation of Canon Law. There is an intentional break with the Primacy of Peter. That can place them in schism along with anyone who supports their actions. It would be a repetition of the Orthodox scenario. They will be taking matters into their own hands with full knowledge and deliberation.
Let’s not even contemplate such a horrible thought.
Let’s just hope that Bishop Fellay becomes more prudent in his manner of speaking and that the Holy See will continue to be patient. You have to give the Holy See credit for its patience.
Don’t be too confident about throwing anything under the bus. At the end of the day it will not be the pope who makes that call. It will be the Prefect for the Congregation of the Faith. He will simply inform the pope that “It’s over.” The pope will then have two choices. Accept that it’s over or find another means of communicating with the SSPX. So far, they did not do well with Cardinal Ratzinger. They did not do well with Ecclesia Dei when it was an independent office. If they push the envelop with the CDF, whom else can the pope ask to cover this case? He’s not going to get personally involved. It’s not his job to resole every problem and deal with everyone who is unhappy. That’s why we have subsidiarity. It may not be the pope to throw this under the bus.
I do believe that the CDF will be patient. I have no reason to believe the contrary, unless they try to ordain more bishops. That would blow the lid off of the volcano.
Fraternally,
Br. JR, OSF
