I am astonished by the points Tsuwano raises. Let’s go back to the beginning: Apb. Lefebvre, Bp. de Castro Mayer and four newly appointed Society bishops were “excommunicated” because Pope John Paul II deemed that the Archbishop had acted in disobedience to the Holy See. None of these bishops was "excommunicated " For his views on the alleged gassing of six million jews, or his views on a woman’s role in society, or for any government conspiracy theory he might have held privately. Are you suggesting that these bishops should have been vetted for personal secular opinions which they might then have held upon a whole range of issues, none of which would have violated Church or Canon law, none of which were contrary to Catholic dogma and teaching?
The issues are unrelated. The SSPX leadership was excommunicated because of a disobedient ordination. Benedict wishes to extend to them an olive branch by lifting the excommunications.
Good point, to do so would be to play politics instead of tending to the flock itself…
Forgiveness
What was the statement “on the Orthodox Churches”?
I’m not suggesting that the excommunications of Williamson and others should not have been lifted or that the Pope had no right to do so. He had every right for whatever reason he deems fit. I’m simply expressing surprise that the Pope (if reports are true) would do so without considering the ramifications for the Church on both a spiritual and political level. Whether we like it or not, all decisions by the Pope because of his worldly stature are, on some level, political, and the Church certainly needs to deal with the issues either before or, as in the present situation, after the decisions have been made. Again, according to the reports which I have only read in my local newspaper, it seems that the Pope made his decision without prior consultation with those who would know what those ramifications are and how best to avoid various pitfalls in making certain decisions. This certainly strikes me as unwise, even if it is the Pope’s perogative to make his decisions however he pleases. After all, the reason any leader has a beauracracy is to help him make wise decisions for the betterment of his people. Why shoud that beauracracy be ignored?
You say this, but what would be the alternative. I only see two choices here; lift the excommunication or don’t.
It seems he was placing the spiritual before the political. The flock before the world so to speak.
They have though. Clarfications and apologies have been made by both the Vatican and the SSPX. I don’t see what else they could do, except retract their generous offer to the SSPX.
This strikes me as really strange. Just who should have he contacted? Certainly not an expert on Jewish relations because that would just be irrelevant to the issue at hand, that issue beeing the returning of fellow Catholics to the flock.
This is a huge assumption. Put yourself in the shoes of His Holiness. You are working hard for unity, trying to repair the net that is full of tares. Some bishops have been oradianed illicity, they are excommunicated but relationships are very icy because of some doctrinal stances. You lift the excommunication in hope that the organization will meet you half way. Then while this process is going on, one of those bishops runs his mouth. What should he have done at this point? Stop all efforts because of the stupid comments of one man? Let 150,000 other catholics and clergymen suffer? That would seem quite unjust.
Not exactly… other issues need be resolved before relations are normalized. This act was simply an offering of an olive branch.
Not quite the same. Williamson has apologized, the SSPX has gaged him, and the Vatican and the SSPX have both made it abudently clear that his opinions do not reflect the Church at all. Everyone’s done all they can to try to fix the problem, what more would you ask? To keep the excommunications would be gravely unjust to everyone else. I don’t see anyother alternatives either, but you talk as though there are alternatives or other courses of action that should be made. .
He has and is being chastized. What more can we ask?
The title of the thread is “What message is Rome (Pope and the Vatican) sending with the lifting of the excommunications of the SSPX Bishops?” My point is that it doesn’t seem that any particular message was being sent through this action. I base my point on the reports that the Pope did not consult with his advisors in the Vatican, especially those responsible for Christian - Jewish relations, before he made his decision to lift the excommunication of Bishop Williamson in particular. His action seems to have been ad hoc, so to speak, and eminated more from his heart than from his head. Now, I’m not saying this is a bad thing or that the Pope should have done something different. What I’m saying is that such an action, without due reflection (both spiritually and politically, because, after all, the Pope is the head of a political entity as well as a spiritual community) does not lead me to believe that any message (except perhaps as one bright poster suggested, forgiveness) was intended in the action. If Williamson has been chastized for his ignorant opinions concerning the holocaust I, for one, think that is good and marks the first step on the part of the Vatican in it’s journey to restore those bonds between Christians and Jews that have been strained in this entire incident. If Williamson has been silenced, well then, let’s enjoy the peace while we can, but he has certainly left a nasty mess for others to clean up, hasn’t he?Didn’t John Paul II beg forgiveness for the just Crusades?