Vatican Confirms SSPX Is Being Offered Personal Prelature

Catholic Press · #1 Jun 15, '12, 1:40 pm

The Vatican has confirmed that the traditionalist Society of St. Pius X is being offered the status of a personal prelature as part of a deal to heal the group’s 24-year rift with the Catholic Church.

More...

Big_Feet · #2 Jun 15, '12, 2:50 pm

Continuing to

and

malphono · #3 Jun 15, '12, 3:03 pm

Essentially similar to what was noted in whispers. (emphasis added)

Quote:

Thursday, June 14, 2012 ...
At the end of this long, two-hour interview, Bishop Fellay received a draft document proposing a Personal Prelature, in the case of a possible canonical recognition of the Society of Saint Pius X.

In any case, it would seem to be important to keep in mind that this is not yet a "done deal".

tabycat · #4 Jun 15, '12, 3:22 pm

:Just hoping

and praying

that it closes the riff,

justme · #5 Jun 15, '12, 3:52 pm

I can't help but see that as a reward for disobedience.

The founds of the Priestly Faternity of Saint Peter left the SSPX and returned to communion with Rome. They were allowed to form a priestly society.

The SSPX holds out for a number of years longer and evently are given a personal prelature.

How can it not be viewed as a reward for disobedience?

I pray to God to change my heart and mind on this but as it stands I can not accept this. Yes it will happen but I am unable to support or be happy about it.

Big_Feet · #6 Jun 15, '12, 4:01 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by justme

I can't help but see that as a reward for disobedience.
How can it not be viewed as a reward for disobedience?

I agree.

My prayer and hope, though, is that the souls having been lead astray, will now be re-united with His Church in complete fullness (in whatever form) so that they have a better chance for salvation.

I pray that our Lord in His compassionate nature has mercy on them, and that the souls in question are aware of and seek repentance for such disobediences.

**Holly3278** · #7 Jun 15, '12, 4:03 pm

I don't know if I see it as a reward for disobedience or not but I do believe that the Holy Father knows best and I trust his wisdom far more than I do my own. That said, I hope and pray that this rift will soon be ended.

RogerDeCourcy · #8 Jun 15, '12, 4:18 pm

The SSPX are simply trying to remain Catholic in a world where many people, including many Catholics, want to change what being Catholic means or think that the 60's and Vatican II changed doctrine. Many Catholics now either have no clue about key doctrines because they have been taught by these people or are still waiting for changes that, God willing, will never come.

We're long overdue a return to rigour which I hope the regularisation of the SSPX will help.

**ProVobis** · #9 Jun 15, '12, 4:41 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by justme

I can't help but see that as a reward for disobedience.

The founds of the Priestly Faternity of Saint Peter left the SSPX and returned to communion with Rome. They were allowed to form a priestly society.

The SSPX holds out for a number of years longer and evently are given a personal prelature.

How can it not be viewed as a reward for disobedience?

I pray to God to change my heart and mind on this but as it stands I can not accept this. Yes it will happen but I am unable to support or be happy about it.

There will still be some holdouts who hope for something even better.

But remember: Sic erunt novissimi primi, et primi novissimi. Multi enim sunt vocati, pauci vero electi. (So shall the last be first and the first last. For many are called but few chosen.) (Matthew 20:16)

MikeDunphy · #10 Jun 15, '12, 4:48 pm

The differing statuses accorded the FSSP and SSPX could be explained by the fact that they are different types of organizations. See Brother JR's comments here.

Quote:

Originally Posted by justme

The founds of the Priestly Faternity of Saint Peter left the SSPX and returned to communion with Rome. They were allowed to form a priestly society.

The SSPX holds out for a number of years longer and evently are given a personal prelature.

How can it not be viewed as a reward for disobedience?

justme · #11 Jun 15, '12, 5:00 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by RogerDeCourcy

We're long overdue a return to rigour which I hope the regularisation of the SSPX will help.

Really?

I do not think so. Even if all the SSPX priests were to come in there are only 511 of them world wide.

The United States has 39,466 priests. Worldwide there are 409,166.

So that means that the SSPX, again if all enter which I greatly doubt, amount to 0.125%.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeDunphy

The differing statuses accorded the FSSP and SSPX could be explained by the fact that they are different types of organizations. See Brother JR's comments here.

Both are societies of secular priests.

wasserfall · #12 Jun 15, '12, 5:14 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeDunphy

The differing statuses accorded the FSSP and SSPX could be explained by the fact that they are different types of organizations. See Brother JR's comments here.

At the time the founders of the FSSP left the SSPX, their intention was simply to continue the work of the SSPX. So, any differences in the "type of organization" is entirely a matter of historical development (especially regarding the limits placed on the FSSP by the Holy See which the SSPX did not have), and not a matter of the fundamental charism.

wasserfall · #13 Jun 15, '12, 5:17 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by justme

I do not think so. Even if all the SSPX priests were to come in there are only 511 of them world wide.

The United States has 39,466 priests. Worldwide there are 409,166.

So that means that the SSPX, again if all enter which I greatly doubt, amount to 0.125%.

However, the SSPX already has influence that far outstrips their numbers.
Furthermore, the SSPX is a growing society, many others are shrinking.
The average age of SSPX priests is less than 40.

JReducation · #14 Jun 15, '12, 5:20 pm

Obviously, most posters here are not exactly sure what a prelature is or does. Let's work on that, because the other stuff is going to take from days to years. By the other stuff, I mean the regularization. This is not as close to a conclusion as the press makes it sound. Remember, it said that they received a "draft". If the press is correct, a draft is never the final offer. As to Fr. Lombardi's statements, . . . well I wish he would not comment on this. He only confuses people. His statement "The ball is in their court now" makes it sound as if this is the pope's final offer. If this document is a draft, then it's not final. If it is the pope's final offer, then don't call it a draft. Either way, of course the ball is in their court. Even if it's a draft, it's now the SSPX's turn to serve the ball. Duh!!!!

Now, getting back to a prelature. A prelature is not a reward. Do you really know the circumstances of a prelature? I would rather be an FSSP than belong to a prelature.

A prelature is governed directly by the pope. The FSSP is not governed by the pope. They have their own superior general

The prelature will have statutes and constitutions handed to it by the Vatican. Prelatures do not get to write their own statutes, as do societies of apostolic life and religious communities. The statutes are written at the Vatican, given to the prelate to comment, edited, if the prelate has something good to contribute and then sent to the pope for final approval. He issues the constitution of the prelature. The FSSP writers its own statutes, votes on them and sends a copy to the Sacred Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. The Sacred Congregation reviews the constitution to ensure that it meets all the requirements of Canon Law and that there is no doctrinal error in it. The Sacred Congregation does not care if the constitution says that you will dance around the altar for morning and evening prayer, since such an action does not violate canon law, dogma or morals. They sign off on it and send it back to the Superior General of the FSSP. The SSPX will be in a closer relationship with the Holy Father, but it also has to make sure to cross its tees and dot its eyes.

The FSSP gets to elect its superior general. A prelature does not get to elect the prelate. The prelate is appointed by the pope. Remember the word, "personal prelature". The personal refers to the pope. You're stuck with the prelate that the pope appoints. He can appoint any bishop, not just an SSPX bishop.

The FSSP does not have to own property; therefore, it does not have to raise funds to maintain and insure their property. The FSSP hires itself out to a diocese or a religious community who provide the property. If the collection plate is not enough to fix the leaky rood, the owner of the proper, usually the diocese, will bail them out with a loan or just pick up the tab. The prelature owns all of its buildings and is financially responsible for them. It gets so financial support from the diocese. If it needs to borrow from a bank, the diocese does not serve as its cosigner.

The prelature can have its own seminary. So can the FSSP. No difference there.

The FSSP has to ask for permission to enter a diocese, so does the prelature.

The FSSP does not have ordinary jurisdiction over those who attend their mass or belong to their parish. That jurisdiction belongs to the bishop where the person resides. This is a good thing. The FSSP is not responsible for the salvation of their souls. If these folks follow the wide road, because the priest suggested it, the person goes to heaven, regardless of what he did, because he was obeying. The priest may not be so lucky and neither will the bishop for allowing it to happen, provided he knows. However, the FSSP is not accountable, only the priest involved. The prelature has ordinary authority over the laity. Guess who is morally responsible for the laity . . . bingo! The prelature, not the local bishop, not the FSSP.

The FSSP is a society of Pontifical Right. This means that it has the same right of exemption as I do. Bishops cannot discipline a member of the FSSP. The laity has no right to comment or voice an opinion on anything that happens with the FSSP, unless it directly affects them. Remotely does not count. Directly we mean that the FSSP priest is being ugly to you. If the FSSP priests decide to have happy hour every day, that does not directly affect the laity, even though it may be shocked. That's a problem for the superior of the FSSP. If the SSPX decides to have a happy hour and there are complaints, the prelate has to deal with them and he has to inform the pope. The superior general of the FSSP does not have to report to the pope, unless the pope calls him in.

A prelature is like a diocese without physical boundaries. It certainly has many other boundaries and a lot more oversight from the Vatican.

The key here is that if Pope Benedict truly did say that this is the only way to come back into the Church and the SSPX rejects it, we may be facing a schism, depending on how the Holy Father takes the rejection.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, FFV

Marie5890 · #15 Jun 15, '12, 5:30 pm

Thanks for the explanation, Bro. JR.