A complex process

"Far from us the idea of establishing a parallel Church, of exercising a parallel magisterium!" But at the same time, "We cannot keep silent when facing the rampant loss of faith, the staggering fall of the number of vocations, and the decrease of religious practice. We cannot refrain from speaking when confronted with the ‘silent apostasy’ and its causes. Doctrinal mutism is not the answer to this ‘silent apostasy’ which even John Paul II denounced already in 2003". These are the two main aspects of the position of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X as regards relations with the Catholic Church in the words of Bishop Bernard Fellay, General Superior of the Lefebrvians, in an interview published on the bulletin of the Fraternity (DICI.org), upon the conclusion of the General Chapter held a few days ago in Econe. Time and content. On the occasion of the General Chapter in Econe, the members of the Fraternity addressed the question of the doctrinal preamble that Cardinal William Levada, prefect Emeritus of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, presented in the final statement to bishop Fellay past June 13. Thus the Chapter is "soon" due to send a joint statement to Rome, which will then be made public. The General Superior doesn’t mention the content of the answer that the Lefebvrians are ready to give to the Holy See. However, he clarifies a set of important points. The first relates to the atmosphere among the capitulars ensuing internal polemics and news leaks. "We went to the very heart of the issues, and all the capitularies were able to study the complete file. Nothing was left aside and there were no taboos among us". The second clarification regards the agenda: "Very soon we will convey to Rome the position of the Chapter, which has been the occasion to specify our road map insisting upon the conservation of our identity". As regards the "battle for the Tradition" pursued by the Fraternity, Msgr. Fellay said: "it would be unrealistic to deny that there is a modernist and liberal influence in the Church since the Second Vatican Council and its subsequent reforms". The Holy See awaiting an answer. At the end of the Econe meeting the members of the General Chapter of the Priestly Fraternity Saint Pius X released a Statement that addresses the question of eventual canonical normalization between the Fraternity and the Holy See. The statement announces that an extraordinary Chapter with deliberative vote will be convened and reiterates that "the paramount duty of the Society, in the service which it intends to offer to the Church, is to continue, with God’s help, to profess the Catholic Faith in all its purity and integrity, with a determination matching the intensity of the constant attacks to which this very Faith is subjected nowadays". The Holy See has taken note of this Declaration, but awaits the forthcoming official Communication of the Priestly Fraternity as their dialogue with the Pontifical Commission ‘Ecclesia Dei’ "continues". The value of the Council. Thus the process continues. In Frascati on Sunday 15 July – the day that marked the conclusion of the General Chapter – during his 30th Pastoral Visit to Italy Benedict XVI reiterated the importance and the value of the Council. The Holy Father said that "the documents of the Second Vatican Council contain an enormous wealth for the formation of the new generations of Christians. So read it, read the Catechism of the of the Catholic Church and rediscover the beauty of being Christians". The major themes of the Second Vatican Council (religious freedom, interreligious dialogue, commitment of the laity…) represent the main obstacles in the meetings between the Lefebvrians and the Holy See in recent years. These meetings gained momentum after 2009. Since then, there was a return to the Mass in Latin according to the rite of Saint Pius V, i.e. the pre-Council liturgy, followed by the revocation of the excommunication of four bishops illicitly ordained in 1988 by Msgr. Marcel Lefebvre. After which the encounters were set in motion. The Holy See gave two indications: the acceptance of a doctrinal preamble and the possibility of a personal prelature in view of a "possible recognition" of the Fraternity. The last meeting took place past June 13. On that occasion, states the communiqué released by the Holy See Press Office on June 14, was presented "the Holy See’s evaluation of the text submitted in April by the Society of St. Pius X in response to the Doctrinal Preamble which the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith had presented to the Society on 14 September 2011. The subsequent discussion offered an opportunity to provide the appropriate explanations and clarifications. For his part, Bishop Fellay illustrated the current situation of the Society of St. Pius X and promised to make his response known within a reasonable lapse of time. (…) At the end of the meeting the hope was expressed that this additional opportunity for reflection would also contribute to reaching full communion between the Society of St. Pius X and the Apostolic See".