First meeting between Holy See and Lefebvrists to take place October 26

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Fr. Federico Lombardi

Vatican City, Oct 15, 2009 / 12:40 pm (CNA).- Several months after Pope Benedict lifted the excommunications of four Society of St. Pius X bishops, the Director of the Holy See's press office, Father Federico Lombardi, announced today that the first meeting with representatives of the society will take place in Rome on Monday, October 26.

The meeting will be attended by a number of individuals, including Archbishop Guido Pozzo, secretary of the Ecclesia Dei Pontifical Commission; Archbishop Luis Ladaria Ferrer, secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF); Dominican Father Charles Morerod, secretary of the International Theological Commission and consultor with the CDF; Archbishop Fernando Ocariz, Vicar General of Opus Dei and consultor with the CDF; and Jesuit Father Karl Josef Becker, also a CDF consultor.

According to Father Lombardi, the meeting will take place at the Palace of the Holy Office, which is where the CDF is housed. “The conversations will focus on open doctrinal questions and will remain confidential. A statement will be released at the conclusion of the meeting,” Lombardi explained.

After Pope Benedict XVI lifted the excommunications of the four Lefebvrist bishops, the Vatican Secretary State issued a statement on February 4, 2009, explaining a series of demands that the Lefebvrists must meet including “full recognition of the Second Vatican Council” and of the magisteriums of all the Popes since Pius XII.

On March 10, the Holy See released a letter from Pope Benedict XVI to the bishops of world in which he explained the reasons for lifting the excommunication, noting that “until the doctrinal questions are clarified, the Society has no canonical status in the Church, and its ministers – even though they have been freed of the ecclesiastical penalty – do not legitimately exercise any ministry in the Church.”

Despite this clear warning, the Lefebvrist bishops ordained a group of priests at the end of June, which prompted a statement from the Holy See’s Press Office reiterating what the Pope said in his letter to the world's bishops.

Comments: 9

Subscriber comments:

Published by: Jack
NY 10/17/2009 07:20 AM EST

I'm only 30, but I love the Traditional Latin Mass. I like devotions that are next to never being promoted anymore. Mike Johnson makes a point about feeling Protestant because the priests of today don't encourage confession or rich Catholic traditions anymore. There's indifference, confusion, and denial of truths of the faith. I cannot stand it. I CANNOT NOT!!!!!! Do most priests and bishops have courage anymore? Why do they remain silent about things that need action? I'm so tried and sick of this bending over backwards for the Jews and other religions. Get it through your heads: the Jews are responsible for Christ's death. See 1 Thess 2:14-15 on that. It clearly states they are responsible. God is the author of the Bible and so, He says so. There are no statues in the parishes hardly. The parish churches (except for the remaining older ones) are absolutelt horrible in design. They look like Protestant and like temples for esoteric practices. No one mentions the devil anymore. There's a silence on hell. what is going on? This business about the Traditional Latin Mass not being used anymore by priests, who are virtually sheltering themselves in the priesthood, is herrendous. It's as if the devil has grasped onto the Church and to the faithful. It's terrible. The homilies of today are dreadful. It's all this false feel-good, everyone is going to heaven. They talk about sacrifice. Why don't some the priests practice it themselves, by offering the Traditional Latin Mass?

Published by: Jerome
Los Alamos, NM 10/16/2009 10:10 PM EST

It seems the reason for the existence of SSPX is the yearning for the return to the “good old pre-Vatican II days” when we knew what was right and wrong. Documents found on the SSPX web site give a sense of what SSPX thinks about right and wrong. I cite 2 examples. An article titled “Defense of the Inquisition” by Jean-Claude Dupuis says 1) OK, so people were tortured during the Inquisition – it wasn’t as bad as what the Gestapo or KGB did; 2) yes, people were put to death, but it was for the good of the church and of society. And besides, they weren’t all burned alive – if they showed a certain repentance they were suffocated before being thrown on the pyre. The article, “Rhythm: the Unhappy Compromise” by Fr. Hugh Calkins, states that the Rhythm method is really only approved by the church if three conditions are met: 1) sufficiently serious reason for a couple to use the method, 2) both parties agree to it, and 3) it does not cause mortal sins against chastity. The breakdown of any of those factors makes use of the method sinful. He maintains that people are using the method for purely selfish reasons, and thus it is wrong. And he mentions hidden costs, one of which is infidelity. He says “men not living a properly satisfactory sexual life with wives are easy victims to feminine wiles outside the home.” I fear for the Church if the Pope ignores this sect’s recalcitrance and brings them back into the fold. We will certainly have a leaner, meaner church in that case.

Published by: Julie Johnson
Martinez Ga 10/15/2009 08:51 PM EST

I was raised a Prodestant and converted to Catholicism before marriage to my husband, who is Catholic.The year was 1970,and being Catholic was not much different than the Presbyterian church. The Blessed Mother was never mentioned, and no rosaries were said by me, nor my husband, and our four Parocial schooled children. It saddens me to now know since joining SSPX the true Catholic faith, and the knowledge of the Saints,and their devotion to the True Church, and Our Heavenly Blessed Mother, that we (our family)missed out in knowing The Holy Catholic and Apolistic Church. There is such Truth in The Church that when known, miracles and a desire to true Christianity where worship, devotion, confession,and the sacredness of His teachings, and Passion can be found for an eternity in the presence of the Holy Trinity!!!How else can I try to hope every one of God's children can come to find the answer to their salvation in the Church that Jesus said unto Peter, upon this rock I build My Church,and whatever you bind on earth is bound in Heaven. Peter is our first Pope named by Jesus Christ, and how can the Church bury the Trust Our Lord said so plainly to Peter and gave us all the keys to His Kingdom as He spoke those WORDS to build His Church???

Published by: Mike Johnson
Martinez, GA USA 10/15/2009 07:06 PM EST

I was born in 1947 and raised a Catholic. I thought I was obeying the Church with all the changes from VII. After 39 years I found myself like a protestant. I thought I didn't need to go to confession, I could decide what I wanted to believe and not to believe. I didn't have to go to Mass on Sunday if it wan't convenient. I thought I was a good Catholic. Then I found an SSPX church and the Latin Mass. I now am on my way to salvation. Regular confession. Good examination of conscience. I'm closer to my Lord than at any time in my life. And his Blessed Mother, Mary. Miracles are happening. When will the Church return to God? 2000 years of the teaching Magisterium of the Church - the Holy Spirit inspired writers and saints. Where is all that? Not in post Vatican II churches, that's for sure.

Published by: Stephen
San Jose, Costa Rica 10/15/2009 06:07 PM EST

Reconciliation between the SSPX and the Vatican can occur as long as that reconciliation does not demand that the SSPX accepts the latitudinarian catholicism which now rules in the Catholic Chruch.

Published by: Ryan
Austin, MN 10/15/2009 05:38 PM EST

This will be interesting to see what happens. SSPX will never except V2 because there very existence is based on not excepting V2. Thankfully.

Published by: Lynn
Duluth/GA/USA 10/15/2009 04:22 PM EST

You often hear people say, "We cannot go back." My question is, "Why not." If you are on a journey and take a wrong turn that leads to consequences never intended, except by a few, then don't you go back to where you took the wrong turn? When thousands have lost their faith because of that wrong turn it would be the very least the leaders of the church can do. I have no doubt that Bishop Fellay and SSPX will be most happy to help them since they have never deviated from the path and have not lost their way. Having returned to the Church after 38 years away as a casualty of Vatican II, I have found my faith in radient splendor in a SSPX chapel.

Published by: Jack
Wantagh, NY 10/15/2009 01:58 PM EST

I am glad to see that meeting will be coming about on October 26, 2009. I do hope to see the return of the Latin Mass in the church and to go back they way things used to be. Everything has gotten out of hand and feel like the Church is goin alon the path of the Protestant way. When receiving Communion we should be kneeling and not standing. The hand shake has to go at Mass and beleive only the priests should distribute Communion. At times I feel like I am at a play instead of a Mass. May Christ Listen to my prayers. Jack

Published by: Francis
Wareham MA 10/15/2009 12:52 PM EST

Let us pray that these discussions are fruitful and lead to a return(albeit it will be a slow return) to Catholic orthodoxy and tradition. I have no doubt that Bishop Fellay and the SSPX will stand firm against any acceptance of the Vatican II novelties. The more traditional Catholics and Bishops there are, the more traditional Cardinals there will be in the future. Then eventually there will be a traditionalist Pope and Curia. It will take a long time, and the modernist liberals inside and outside of the Church will wage an all out war against returning to tradition, but in the end, Our Lord and his true Church will stand victorious.

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