In an absolutely stunning development, according to the graciousness of His Holiness Benedict XVI, there no longer exists the cloud of schism hanging over the SSPX. While this is only the beginning of the reconciliation, and does not approve of the 1988 consecrations of Archbishop Lefebvre, it entirely changes the face of the Traditional movement in the Church. And further, although this doesn't grant any faculties or authority to the bishops and priests, it eases the consciences of those attending their Masses, who need no longer fear joining in schism.
The text of the decree is taken from the Rorate Caeli blog. At the same website there is also a gracious letter from Bishop Fellay, SSPX.
Decree of the Congregation for Bishops
By way of a letter of December 15, 2008 addressed to His Eminence Cardinal Dario Castrillón Hoyos, President of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei, Mons. Bernard Fellay, also in the name of the other three Bishops consecrated on June 30, 1988, requested anew the removal of the latae sententiae excommunication formally declared with the Decree of the Prefect of this Congregation on July 1, 1988. In the aforementioned letter, Mons. Fellay affirms, among other things: "We are always firmly determined in our will to remain Catholic and to place all our efforts at the service of the Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ, which is the Roman Catholic Church. We accept its teachings with filial disposition. We believe firmly in the Primacy of Peter and in its prerogatives, and for this the current situation makes us suffer so much."
His Holiness Benedict XVI - paternally sensitive to the spiritual unease manifested by the interested party due to the sanction of excommunication and trusting in the effort expressed by them in the aforementioned letter of not sparing any effort to deepen the necessary discussions with the Authority of the Holy See in the still open matters, so as to achieve shortly a full and satisfactory solution of the problem posed in the origin - decided to reconsider the canonical situation of Bishops Bernard Fellay, Bernard Tissier de Mallerais, Richard Williamson, and Alfonso de Galarreta, arisen with their episcopal consecration.
With this act, it is desired to consolidate the reciprocal relations of confidence and to intensify and grant stability to the relationship of the Fraternity of Saint Pius X with this Apostolic See. This gift of peace, at the end of the Christmas celebrations, is also intended to be a sign to promote unity in the charity of the universal Church and to try to vanquish the scandal of division.
It is hoped that this step be followed by the prompt accomplishment of full communion with the Church of the entire Fraternity of Saint Pius X, thus testifying true fidelity and true recognition of the Magisterium and of the authority of the Pope with the proof of visible unity.
Based in the faculty expressly granted to me by the Holy Father Benedict XVI, in virtue of the present Decree, I remit to Bishops Bernard Fellay, Bernard Tissier de Mallerais, Richard Williamson, and Alfonso de Galarreta the censure of latae sententiae excommunication declared by this Congregation on July 1, 1988, while I declare deprived of any juridical effect, from the present date, the Decree emanated at that time.
Rome, from the Congregation for Bishops, January 21, 2009.
Card. Giovanni Battista Re
Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops
This is a generous and courageous offering from the Holy Father. He first filled the valley by freeing the Mass, and now has leveled the mountain. I pray that the bishops act in kind, cease the inflammatory "Modernist Rome" rhetoric, and start the reconciliation with a humble apology for the 1988 denial of papal jurisdiction, and an affirmation that it will never be repeated. Then they should go on to a discussion of Modernism in the Church.
Wonderful news!
I wish the wording were a little less ambiguous as to whether the excommunication was lifted or annulled. Hopefully this will put to rest all controversies regarding SSPX status, present and past.
This is good, yes. The way I read the statement, it first affirms the 1988 excommunications, then remits them. That is, the excommunications were truly in effect. It could be no other way, because the pope has final jurisdiction in episcopal consecrations.
Cyprian wrote:
"I pray that the bishops act in kind, cease the inflammatory "Modernist Rome" rhetoric,"
Coming from you this made me smile.
My pleasure, Mary. How about twice in one day?
Here is the seed of rebellion that Pope Benedict has chosen to confront on Church soil. It is from a speech of M. Lefebvre of Oct. 4, 1987 (I think), on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHIFMsxlksk&NR=1
"In just a few words, I informed Cardinal Ratzinger, you understand, ...`Even though you give us a Bishop, even though you allow us a certain autonomy regarding the Bishops, even though you give us All of the 1962 liturgy, and you permit us to continue our Seminaries as we presently have them ... We will NOT be able to collaborate (with you) ... It is IMPOSSIBLE! IMPOSSIBLE! ... Because we are working in Diametrically OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS ... You are working for the DE-Christianization of Society, of the human Soul (person) ... of the Church, ... whereas we work FOR Christianization ... (Under such circumstances), we CANNOT come to any mutual Agreement.'
"Rome has Lost the Faith, my dear friends ... Rome has Apostacized! ... Rome is in Apostacy! These words (of Warning) are Not to be taken lightly ... it is the TRUTH! Rome is in Apostacy! ... We can no longer have confidence in (nor trust) those people (in Rome). They have left the Church! They have left the Church! They have left the Church! ...For sure ... for sure ... for sure ..."
It sure seems that Bishop Williamson wants to throw a monkey wrench into the works by giving an interview to Swedish TV in which he expounds his views on the "Holocaust." On the same day that the excommunications were lifted, Bishop Fellay sent a letter to the Television Station saying that Williamson speaks for himself.
http://www.remnantnewspaper.com/Archives/2009-0123-bishop_fellay.htm
This is how BBC reported the momentous lifting of censures: “Pope move ignites Holocaust row.” Do you think there will be any serious dealing with Williamson? He is probably upset with the Pope for lifting his excommunication and this is how he gets back at him.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7849226.stm
Does this great news mean that you will be posting the times and places of the Masses celebrated by the FSSPX priests in the USA?
(:-)
Dear Elizabeth,
Good question! We've been discussing that, and have decided to wait and see what happens. In the meantime, folks can find SSPX Masses at http://www.sspx.org/chapels.htm
I just read in the Hermeneutic of Continuity that the Swedish tv interview was given in November of last year.
quoting:
"In the enthusiasm to wreck the good news of the possible reconciliation of the SSPX, there is a little error of fact. Gledhill says that the Bishop "gave an interview to Swedish TV this week". No - it was given on 1 November last year. It has been splashed all over the internet this week."
It will be interesting to see how this all plays out.
Thanks Mary, for picking that up. It gives Bishop Williamson a little slack. Yet, at the time of the interview he should have know that the interviewer was baiting him. True to form he took the bait and ran with it. If the Vatican is smart, Bishop Williamson will probably end up assigned to a little unknown diocese in South America somewhere.
With the lifting of the excommunications comes speculation of an eventual canonization of Apb. Lefebvre. I don't see how canonization is possible, given his words above and the subsequent consecrations. Thoughts?
Cyprian,
Remember, even JPII noted that the Church was undergoing a "Silent Apostacy". Why should you be surprised that the archbishop was more vociferous about it? This is no secret even today.
Hi Elizabeth. Glad to see this thread is still going.
I can't imaging a Saint who, among his monumental acts, declared that Rome has lost the Faith (including the pope?) and proceeded to deny the jurisdiction of the pope in consecrating bishops. Both acts militate against the de fide teaching of the Church at Vatican I.
Didnt Saint Athanasius repudiate the Holy Pontiff who espoused Arianism for a period of time in the fourth century?
"I can't imaging a Saint who, among his monumental acts, declared that Rome has lost the Faith (including the pope?) and proceeded to deny the jurisdiction of the pope in consecrating bishops. Both acts militate against the de fide teaching of the Church at Vatican I."
Cyprian,
Then why did the Holy Father, unilaterally, abolish the excommunications?
Does His Holiness know something about the injustice of the Societys case,
or, is he just being nice?
Dan,
I found the following in the Catholic Encyclopedia: "St. Athanasius, writing apparently at the end of 357, says: "Liberius, having been exiled, gave in after two years, and, in fear of the death with which he was threatened, signed", i.e. the condemnation of Athanasius himself (Hist. Ar., xli); and again: "If he did not endure the tribulation to the end yet he remained in his exile for two years knowing the conspiracy against me."
The author sums up the article, "It should be carefully noted that the question of the fall of Liberius is one that has been and can be freely debated among Catholics. No one pretends that, if Liberius signed the most Arian formulæ in exile, he did it freely; so that no question of his infallibility is involved."
Unless you have other sources, this hardly sounds like Bishop Lefebvre: "Rome has apostacized....Rome is in Apostacy."
Hi Dan,
Good point on the unilateral lifting, although it wasn't completely so. The statement quotes Bp. Fellay, saying, "We believe firmly in the Primacy of Peter and in its prerogatives, ..." The quote was deliberately included to show this act of fealty, if not repentance, from Bp. Fellay.
Re St. Athanasius: I know some who defend Lefebvre using the argument that St. A. continued consecrating bishops after being excommunicated by Liberius. There are two problems, though. 1) After the "excom", St. A. fled to the desert because the letter was used to depose him. It's not clear that he was making bishops at the time. 2) St. A., as a Patriarch, had authority almost equal to the pope himself, beyond what any cardinal has today. He had the office of creating bishops without review from Rome. Further, knowing that the decree was likely dubious, he would have continued to exercise his prerogatives until he could obtain verification. In contrast, Lefebvre had verification of the pope's orders.
Damage control from Bp. Fellay:
We attained knowledge of an interview, that bishop Richard Williamson, a member of our fraternity, gave to Swedish television. In this interview, he expresses himself on historic questions, especially to the murder of Jews by the Nazis. It is obvious that a bishop can speak only to questions of the Faith and Morals with religious authority. Our fraternity claims no authority at all over historic or other secular questions.
The mission of the priestly fraternity is the distribution and restoration of the authentic Catholic teaching and how it is laid down in the dogmas. For that we are well known worldwide, accepted and appreciated.
We see with great concern how the infringement of this order adds heavy damage by a member of our religious fraternity. We apologize to the holy father and all persons of good will for the annoyance evoked through it.
At the same time must be clear that these remarks in no manner represent the views of our fraternity. Therefore I prohibited bishop Williamson until further notice from speaking in public on political or historic questions.
The proposed accusations against our fraternity serve obviously to discredit our mission. We will not allow that, but rather continue to announce the Catholic teaching and to administer the sacraments in its venerable form.
Menzingen, the 27th of January 2009
+Bishop Bernard Fellay
General Superior
A Pleasant Surprise:
Apology Letter of Bishop Richard Williamson
To His Eminence Cardinal Castrillón Hoyos
Your Eminence
Amidst this tremendous media storm stirred up by imprudent remarks of mine on Swedish television, I beg of you to accept, only as is properly respectful, my sincere regrets for having caused to yourself and to the Holy Father so much unnecessary distress and problems.
For me, all that matters is the Truth Incarnate, and the interests of His one true Church, through which alone we can save our souls and give eternal glory, in our little way, to Almighty God. So I have only one comment, from the prophet Jonas, I, 12:
"Take me up and throw me into the sea; then the sea will quiet down for you; for I know it is because of me that this great tempest has come upon you."
Please also accept, and convey to the Holy Father, my sincere personal thanks for the document signed last Wednesday and made public on Saturday. Most humbly I will offer a Mass for both of you.
Sincerely yours in Christ
+Richard Williamson
Feb 4: The Vatican is now requiring profession of the holocaust for bishops:
http://rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/2009/02/nota-della-segreteria-di-stato-seguito.html
The Ancient Traditional Mass has over
two thousand years of TRUTH with THE HOLY
SACRIFICE. The Mass of the Martyrs, Saints,
Angels,Apostles,Saintly Popes, and Faithful,
cannot be given or taken away. The Mass is
our Holy Right! The Precious Blood was given to us by ALMIGHTY GOD!Our First Mass was
celebrated at Calvary. The Mass was not a
modernist event(no ecumenism) ALLOWED.
Bishop williamson is a true Prince of
The Holy Roman Catholic Church. The Bishop
is under attack by the enemies of Jesus Christ. We, must defend this Soldier Of Christ with our lives if needed. No Judas
goats need apply.
Some additional information from Bishop Richard Williamson on the interview.
http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,606323,00.html
Thanks PetrusVI. What a nasty reporter. I'm surprised that the bishop decided to give an interview to that jerk.