Originally Posted by numealinesimpet
The canonical position of Bp Fellay & the SSPX, based on leading Canonists in Rome, is that the suspensions were automatically lifted along with the decrees of excommunication. It is a principle of law that the remitting of a higher penalty automatically nullifies lesser penalties that depended upon it. Please note that Pope Benedict, in his letter, did not say “the SSPX are still suspended” – he merely said ‘they have no canonical mandate’ in the Church. But that was always the case. The bishops were ordained on an emergency basis, as is actually provided for in Canon Law. The SSPX have argued (successfully, as far as I can see) that they were indemnified against penalties by Canon Law canons 1323, 1324 +1321 (New Code) which cover emergency situations. Mgr Lefebvre was very careful not to usurp jurisdiction of other bishops when he (& Archbp. de Castro Meyer) consecrated the four SSPX bishops *‘sine locus, pro tem’ *– without a diocese, for the duration (of the emergency). They have gone round the world supplying the spiritual needs that are being denied to laypeople by the ‘mainstream’ clergy, for whatever reason. Now they are in theological discussions with the Vatican on the doctrinal meaning of Vatican II. This is something that the other religious orders, and diocesan bishops, ought to have been asking for 40 years ago. The SSPX have been an inestimable boon to the Church during an extraordinarily difficult time.
Why aren’t you attending the “Extraordinary” or Tridentine rite? My son’s parish in Irving Texas (near Dallas) is a Tridentine community in union with Rome.
The SSPX
are in union with Rome. Any doubt was removed with the lifting of the decree of excommunication – which the SSPX (and many quiet supporters) will always maintain were null and void from the beginning. There are a couple of CAF threads that deal with this. What you are asking (and it is a fair question) is…
Why aren’t you attending the “Extraordinary” or Tridentine rite in a parish in good standing with the diocesan bishop and with the Vatican?
It is because, without the courage of the SSPX all these years, the traditional liturgy, and much else besides, would have died out forever. The history of the FSSP and other religious congregations now keeping the TLM (EF) is that they all started up as a reaction to the SSPX. The Vatican most certainly would not have established them without the ‘threat’ of the SSPX drawing away priests and parishoners from the “Renewal” which was being illegally imposed. For many many years the SSPX organisation has helped my family and others when nobody else would listen. I would feel like a turncoat and coward to desert them now. And their full regularisation now seems only a matter of time. This, of course, is my personal opinion, since you
asked. I have been glad that I have remained friends with many Catholics of many different flavours – Opus Dei, FSSP, Focolare – and just plain parish Catholics – even though we have been unable to convince each other. Interestingly, the only people who have ‘fallen out’ with us have been the Sedevacs. 4 out of the 5 I have known well have simply broken off communication (since we are certainly damned for recognising the Pope, apparently).
I understand that there are some parishes in Ireland that offer the Tridentine Mass. I would imagine that those parishes which have the Tridentine Mass would be more traditional than the rest of the parishes. I’ll be in Ireland in three weeks. Will have to check out those parishes.
Many parishes in Ireland do offer a reverent form of Mass – but you’ll be able to judge for yourself. The young, however, lapse in droves. My wife & I decided that the ‘now usual’ way of forming the young doesn’t work. The problem with FSSP parishes etc is that there is no guarantee of continuity. The father of a family needs to be able to pick his job and house in a place where he has a ‘reasonable’ assurance that the parish will be there while his family grows up. I salute the bravery of priests who try one-off reforms; but when they go, so does the TLM and catechism (if they give it) from that parish. What the SSPX have done is to organise. They have refused to be pushed into the ‘divide and conquer’ trap. Our own family owe them a debt of gratitude.
N.B. it is typical that the sedevac website promotes the “two Sr Lucy” theory, while the SSPX give quiet support to the views of Fr Gruner, Antonio Socci et al. And it was Bp Fellay, Superior of the SSPX, who asked for 12 million Rosaries that the Pope will carry out the collegial consecration of Russia – and got 18 million.
