The SSPX and Ecclesia Dei
Last
week Fr Morgan celebrated his thirtieth anniversary as a Priest,
congratulations to him from all. One wonders what he thinks of his
birthplace and the current trajectory of the SSPX there?
The
closing of the Oxford Mass center, (which was founded by Fr Wrighton
in the chapel of East Hendred House, home of the Eyston family who
are descendants of St Thomas More) is apparently due to a failure to
grow!? I thought the SSPX had supplied jurisdiction due to its laity
being unprepared to risk their faith by going elsewhere? How can one
justify closing a Mass centre that had weekly Mass?
Easily, when one
reads the latest copy of its magazine ‘Ite Missa Est’
To
quote Fr Brucciani
..”The
Ecclesia Dei commission was erected in opposition to
the Society and the moment the Society disappears or is neutralised,
it will be open season on the Fraternity of St. Peter, the Institute
of Christ the King and all the rest. It is indeed a blessing that we
have not fallen into Satan's trap of making these communities, who
are closest to us, our worst enemies as is often the case for groups
who exist on the periphery. They are good and holy people and, for
the most part, our differences are not in the domain of faith, but of
prudence and fortitude.”
Okay,
fair enough in part. To demonize those who attend Ecclesia Dei as liberals is not fair. However,
historically the SSPX has made it very clear, to its own detriment in
the eyes of trad-ecumenists, that one risks his faith by regularly
attending these groups without
even taking Communicatio
in sacris
into
the equation.
This
editorial appears to be part of an ever increasing softness on behalf of the
SSPX towards Ecclesia Dei groups whilst hardening towards those who
have left the SSPX over such issues. For example, one may recall Fr
Brucciani’s comments when laity rightly raised objections regarding
the SSPX magazine ‘Flying Squirrel’
Quote
“Unfortunately,
I did not foresee the scurrilous campaign of the dishonourable
priests who have the effrontery of calling themselves the
"Resistance"
Well
thank goodness he did not fall into Satan’s trap of
of making these communities, who are closest to us, our worst
enemies!!
But
then perhaps that is the point. That the new SSPX actually do feel
closer to the various Ecclesia Dei groups than the likes of Fr
Morgan, Chazal etc.
Also in the UK, Fr Pazat in Preston decided to use a recent article on liberalism
in the traditional movement to say
“..So
often we see so called Catholic traditional people who do not
hesitate to refuse the judgement of our General Superior, because it
is not according their opinion, their reason or their perception of
the common good.” (Context here)
Whenever
I hear SSPX priest's cite obedience in an argument I cringe, as it
truly is the one virtue that we cannot use without turning it on
ourselves from the viewpoint of a conservative catholic. I have heard
that the issue of obedience is now voiced to such an extent in the UK,
whether on a retreat or day of recollection etc, that it is almost a
caricature. How long before wags start to take bets on how long passes
before it is mentioned?!
If the Superior General was consistent there would be no need for such lectures. See here for Bishop Fellay's latest.
As
Sean Johnson points out in this shocking article, which is essential reading (for if he is correct) for the first time an SSPX priest may
become bi-ritual with permission of his superior.
The SSPX is rapidly
revising its opposition to Ecclesia Dei. Perhaps this also explains
the following change in the well known SSPX published book “Christian
Warfare”?
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| 2006 version |
