Pope Francis: SSPX priests will licitly and validly absolve sins during Jubilee of Mercy [CWN]

[Hoosier_Daddy]

So just a recap of events over the past year.

1. SSPX is officially called “Catholic” by the Vatican and claims the priests as it’s own (Argentina)
2. The Vatican lets the SSPX handle the discipline of its own priest in a canonical case.
3. The status has changed from “no legitimate ministry” to a legitimate one at least with one sacrament.
4. A statement from the Pope HIMSELF giving authority to the SSPX. Pretty close to the idea of a personal prelature for those who were wondering how this will work with the other Bishops. Newsflash, the Pope outranks them.

This is bigger than the MP. This is bigger than when Fellay was hours from signing a document. This is the reality of the incremental inclusion of the SSPX.
They will come in all together not individually as many believed.

Now, should the SSPX be ungracious in this extreme show of mercy and humility by the Pope himself, then all bets are off. My gut tells me, it will be business as usual and they and the Vatican will marry in full communion quite quietly. With the Vatican saying “Good to have you back son” and the SSPX saying, “we never left you”

 

[Denise1957]

Now, should the SSPX be ungracious in this extreme show of mercy and humility by the Pope himself, then all bets are off. My gut tells me, it will be business as usual and they and the Vatican will marry in full communion quite quietly. With the Vatican saying “Good to have you back son” and the SSPX saying, “we never left you”

I’m not sure it’s a matter of being ungracious on the part of the SSPX. Does a Crisis still exist, or is it over? If there is no longer a Crisis in the Church, then there isn’t really any reason for the SSPX to not reconcile.

 

[johnnyc176]

And it does blow apart the position held by some that the SSPX are in schism. The Pope clearly (and rightly) sees the SSPX as part of the Roman Catholic Church (as indeed the SSPX do). The Pope would clearly not grant faculties to priests who were outside of the Church, he couldn’t do so even if he wanted to. It wouldn’t make sense.

One of God’s surprises.

 

[Lormar]

This is great news for me and solves all of my difficulties. Well, not all, but at least now I can return to Mass. As long as the SSPX can forgive my sins, there is no reason to avoid them.

I don’t like Pope Francis at all, but I am very grateful to him for this.

As for granting priests the authority to absolve the sin of abortion, I always thought that every priest already had the authority to do so and could obtain it from his bishop.

 

[Lormar]

And it does blow apart the position held by some that the SSPX are in schism.

It also blows apart the position held by some that the SSPX always had the authority to forgive sins. :tiphat:

 

[simple_soul]

What I rejoiced about when I read this is how Pope Francis truly does seem to be trying to meet the needs of so many people in so many irregular status’.
In short he seems to be trying to meet all of our needs and doing what he can toe sure they are met.

 

[Lormar]

By the way, when does this go into effect? Immediately?

 

[Tim_D]

This is great news for me and solves all of my difficulties. Well, not all, but at least now I can return to Mass. As long as the SSPX can forgive my sins, there is no reason to avoid them.
.

One must not forget the fact that masses celebrated by the sspx are still illicit, that is, against Canon law and against the authority of the pope. Pope Francis may have given faculties for confession but I did not read that he gave them for Mass or marriages.

 

[Megan7]

By the way, when does this go into effect? Immediately?

If I am not mistaken, it begins with the Year of Mercy. The Year of Mercy begins on December 8th, 2015. I will double check.
From what the Holy Father has stated, he does not seem to think that there is anything wrong if you attend an SSPX Chapel. If he is allowing people to go there for the Sacrament of Penance, then the Mass would be fine, I would think…

I am glad that this is helpful to you. Now you can be at peace. God bless you, Lormar

+PAX

 

[Tim_D]

I think that this is a very important point. Notice how Pope Francis only gave faculties for confession. SSPX Masses are still illicit, as are their presiding at marriages. As I said before, when the year runs out, then what? I agree that this is more of a gesture on Pope Francis’ part to increase the availability of confession during the year of mercy. It makes sense. He is a very generous man. But I think that the cheers of a settlement are greatly premature. There is a siege mentality in the SSPX that is not going to be easily broken.

 

[Lormar]

There is a siege mentality in the SSPX that is not going to be easily broken.

Whatever do you mean by “siege mentality”?

 

[Tim_D]

From what the Holy Father has stated, he does not seem to think that there is anything wrong if you attend an SSPX Chapel. If he is allowing people to go there for the Sacrament of Penance, then the Mass would be fine, I would think…

You are greatly reading into the Pope’s decision many things that he did not say.

The priests of the SSPX are still suspended and their Masses are still illicit. Pope Francis has granted faculties for confession for the Year of Mercy that begins on December 8th, so it is safe to say that any confessions heard before then are still as they always were, illicit and invalid. And if the faculties are only granted during the year, then afterwards, they will again be illicit.

 

[johnnyc176]

From what the Holy Father has stated, he does not seem to think that there is anything wrong if you attend an SSPX Chapel. If he is allowing people to go there for the Sacrament of Penance, then the Mass would be fine, I would think…

Would seem to make sense.

 

[Tim_D]

Whatever do you mean by “siege mentality”?

It is no secret that many in the sspx and the people who support them see themselves as the “true” faithful of the Catholic Church. Even a cursory reading of the things on their website easily illustrates this. They denounce Mass according to the Missal of Pope Paul VI and decry modern priestly formation as being against “tradition.” They have been openly hostile to every pope since John XXIII, labeling them “modernist.” They act in disobedience to the Pope and Canon law. There are many who do not want to be reunited with Rome. Part of the fear for those who support the SSPX is that if an agreement were to be signed with the Pope, then many priests and laity would go their own way.

 

[Megan7]

Would seem to make sense.

Thanks:thumbsup:

It sounds odd to me, that you would go to the SSPX Chapel, confess your sins, get absolved, but RUN out in a hurry before Mass starts

But, of course, instead of people being happy that the Holy Father has done something truly Merciful toward our fellow Catholic brethren, they find something to complain about…

We should REJOICE!!

God bless you!

PAX+

 

[Lormar]

It is no secret that many in the sspx and the people who support them see themselves as the “true” faithful of the Catholic Church. Even a cursory reading of the things on their website easily illustrates this. They denounce Mass according to the Missal of Pope Paul VI and decry modern priestly formation as being against “tradition.” They have been openly hostile to every pope since John XXIII, labeling them “modernist.” They act in disobedience to the Pope and Canon law. There are many who do not want to be reunited with Rome. Part of the fear for those who support the SSPX is that if an agreement were to be signed with the Pope, then many priests and laity would go their own way.

I think there are many in the Church who don’t want them around.

This announcement from Pope Francis is a cause for rejoicing, not an opportunity to throw a wet blanket over it.

 

[Walking_Home]

It is no secret that many in the sspx and the people who support them see themselves as the “true” faithful of the Catholic Church. Even a cursory reading of the things on their website easily illustrates this. They denounce Mass according to the Missal of Pope Paul VI and decry modern priestly formation as being against “tradition.” They have been openly hostile to every pope since John XXIII, labeling them “modernist.” They act in disobedience to the Pope and Canon law. There are many who do not want to be reunited with Rome. Part of the fear for those who support the SSPX is that if an agreement were to be signed with the Pope, then many priests and laity would go their own way.

---

Ditto.

 

[giuseppeTO]

It also blows apart the position held by some that the SSPX always had the authority to forgive sins. :tiphat:

The SSPX has maintained that it has Supplied Jurisdiction to hear Confession and the Pope has been silent on that - choosing never to clarify, one way or the other. I believe at some point, the Pope would have to cast his lot one way or the other. With this gesture, he takes the question off of the table and has supplied an Ordinary Jurisdiction from his seat, superseding the diocese, so to speak.

My take on the situation is that in the end, the Pope will not go the route of the doctrinal preamble and swearing an oath over the documents of Vatican II. Rather, it will be a slower course of gradual acceptance as the Society exists with an eventual determination of canonical structure. I wouldn’t look for that to happen soon because with this change, the status quo, for the time being, appears to be comfortable for both the Vatican and the Society of St. Pius X, and perhaps for more laity now.

 

[Lormar]

Thanks:thumbsup:

It sounds odd to me, that you would go to the SSPX Chapel, confess your sins, get absolved, but RUN out in a hurry before Mass starts

But, of course, instead of people being happy that the Holy Father has done something truly Merciful toward our fellow Catholic brethren, they find something to complain about…

God bless you!

PAX+

Dear Megan, I just said the same thing - more or less.

 

[Megan7]

Dear Megan, I just said the same thing - more or less.

Dear Lormar, thank you:thumbsup:

Rejoice, my friend!:dancing: A lot can happen in the Year of Mercy, the Holy Father has said that God is full of surprises. And not afraid of new things (or something to that effect), it can work for all camps, right?

God bless you!

PAX+