While I was enjoying the always interesting discussion and questions from my Carthusian students at Parkminster today, various news items were exploding far away from the peaceful environment of the massive cloister and gardens glorious in one of our better English summer days. We're doing eschatology at the moment and have just got to heaven.
There has been another serious leak (breach of trust) from someone within the SSPX wanting to make things difficult for Bishop Fellay. The letter is out on the internet - Rorate Caeli, after a delay, have included it on their blog since it is now in the public domain: For the record Confidentiality: like water through a sieve. The document, marked "Confidential" and "Internal" refers to the 13 June meeting and the revised preamble which Bishop Fellay was unable to sign (see also my post Nail-biting SSPX developments.)
The letter also contains this paragraph:
Furthermore, I inform all members of the Chapter that, in virtue of Canon 2331 § 1 and 2 (nc 1373), the Superior General has deprived Bp. Williamson from the position of capitulary due to his stand calling to rebellion and for continually repeated disobedience. He has also been forbidden to come to Écône for the ordinations.Bishop Fellay has also postponed the ordinations of some religious associated with the Society in order to ensure the loyalty of the communities to which they belong.
While this is going on, Archbishop di Noia has been moved from the CDW to take up a new post as Vice-President of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei (the president ex officio is the Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, so Archbishop di Noia will effectively head the day to day work of the Commission.) The Vatican Information Service has posted the text of a Note from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith which affirms:
The appointment of a high-ranking prelate to this position is a sign of the Holy Father’s pastoral solicitude for traditionalist Catholics in communion with the Holy See and his strong desire for the reconciliation of those traditionalist communities not in union with the See of Peter.This seems a clear indication that the Holy See at least has not kicked the negotiations into the long grass. I do hope that Archbishop di Noia and Bishop Fellay can bring about a result.
3 comments:
'Quelle histoire!', as they say in France. This will be a fascinating episode of Church history for historians to dig through, and, let's hope this will be D-Day at last as opposed to the Dieppe of 1988.
To be absolutely honest, I sometimes wonder how skilled and committed the Vatican negotiators are. I have been involved in negotiations at a much more modest level, and it seems obvious to me that behind-the-scenes talks would be essential in between the official meetings. One senses that Bishop Fellay has not been invited to sit down and really thrash things out in good faith, taking as much time as needed. A roadmap (sorry, ghastly expression!) should have been planned out and an understanding reached months ago as to both sides' bottom lines. This would have saved us all from this apparent 13 June volte-face by Cardinal Levada. If it is true that the CDF essentially reversed its position and went back to a previous version of the Doctrinal Preamble, this would be flouting a basic principle in negotiations. Good faith demands that you proceed with what is agreed, even if not formally signed up to.
Another problem is being alluded to by a lot of commentators on the net: who really represents the Holy See? We've seen the scandal of Vatileaks indicating severe disunity in the Vatican, and now it would seem some elements in the CDF (including Cardinal Levada) and the German episcopate have tried to scupper any possibility of agreement. It would be a huge scandal if Cardinal Levada were trying to frustrate the will of the Pope.
The appointment of Archbishop di Noia would seem to confirm that this is actually happening. The Pope seems to be bringing in someone more reliable and committed to carrying out his will.
How much longer will this agony last? Pray for the Pope! 'Non tradat in animam inimicorum eius'.
But what about the appointment of (Arch)bishop Arthur Roche as Secretary to the Congregation for Divine Worship?
I guess even schismatics have schismatics, huh?
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