Healing the schism with traditionalists [John Allen]

[Catholic_Press]

http://ncronline.org/files/bernard_fellay.jpg?1253287403

                                    Bishop Bernard Fellay, superior of the Society of St. Pius X, ordains a priest during a ceremony in Econe, Switzerland, June 29. (CNS/Reuters)

From a strictly demographic point of view, one could argue that the intense interest surrounding relations between the Vatican and the Society of St. Pius X, popularly known as the “Lefebvrites,” is terribly exaggerated. Worldwide, the society has a little under 500 priests, roughly the same number as the Diocese of Buffalo. It claims one million faithful, a number impossible to confirm but which, even if true, would represent less than one-tenth of one percent of the global Catholic population.

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[A.Pelliccio]

The numbers game is not of importance, the Holy See should and rightfully expends energy on healing the rift with the SSPX and the Orthodox world simply because they are the closest brethren we have. There may be close to 600-700 mil protestants, but reconciliation with the majority of that sect is unlikely. It is more important to concentrate on the million, or in the Orthodox’s case 300 million.

 

[JReducation]

I would love to be a fly on the wall. To witness a dialogue between the SSPX, the Dominicans, Jesuits and Opus Dei is quite an event. Then there is the Cardinal himself, a fomer Ratzinger student and scholar in his own right. I’m glad that we live in an age of modern technology where every word will be recorded for posterity. This is going to be quite a conversation. It’s a theologian’s dream to be able to witness or at least read the dialogue between such high powered men. God bless them all.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[Deacon_Ed_B]

I would love to be a fly on the wall. To witness a dialogue between the SSPX, the Dominicans, Jesuits and Opus Dei is quite an event. Then there is the Cardinal himself, a fomer Ratzinger student and scholar in his own right. I’m glad that we live in an age of modern technology where every word will be recorded for posterity. This is going to be quite a conversation. It’s a theologian’s dream to be able to witness or at least read the dialogue between such high powered men. God bless them all.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

JR, you expressed it perfectly. To be a fly on the wall would be to witness Church history in action. Please all, lets keep all in prayer for a just solution for all involved. With the Holy Spirit as the guide, there can be no other.

 

[Califman831]

God bless the SSPX and all others who fight against the sickness of modernism that is infecting our beloved church. Thanks to modern technology the truth is getting out and the society is lighting the path for millions of bewildered catholics who keep asking themselves what happened to the faith.

 

[JReducation]

God bless the SSPX and all others who fight against the sickness of modernism that is infecting our beloved church. Thanks to modern technology the truth is getting out and the society is lighting the path for millions of bewildered catholics who keep asking themselves what happened to the faith.

Let’s be balanced here. When we begin to look down on the so called sins of others, we then fail to acknowledge our own poverty. Our holy Father Francis always told his brothers and sisters that every Christian must see himself as the worst of sinners, not as defenders of the truth. So that in dealing with those who have made mistakes we can always remember that even if we have not done what they have done, we are quite capable of that and more. With such an attitude, we can approach the dialogue of fraternal reconciliation in spirit and in truth, each side bringing to the table his sins and his gifts.

The SSPX is not sinless either. And we must recognize that it does have gifts. The same applies to the other side. This is a meeting of equal sinners. Our prayer is not for the SSPX, but for reconciliation among brothers who have hurt each other and who have gifts for each other.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF