What Unity Is Being Offered to the Society of St. Pius X?
On October 20, 2014, in an interview granted to the French weekly Famille chrétienne, Archbishop Guido Pozzo (in the picture), secretary of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei, explained – after the meeting between Cardinal Müller and Bishop Fellay (September 23) – the subjects of discord between Rome and the Society of St. Pius X: “The controversial aspects have to do partly with the assessment of the ecclesial situation since Vatican Council II and the causes that produced a certain theological and pastoral tumult in the post-council period, and, more generally, in the modern context. And partly, they have to do with specific questions related to ecumenism, dialogue with the religions of the world and the question of religious liberty.”
To the question, “Is there any way to dissociate a juridical agreement from a doctrinal discussion? To set up a personal prelature, while still pursuing the discussions on the controversial theological points, on a more long-term scale?”, the Roman prelate answered: “The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has always considered overcoming the doctrinal problems as the indispensible and necessary condition for proceeding with a canonical recognition of the Society.” And he added: “Allow me, however, to point out that overcoming the doctrinal difficulties does not mean that the SSPX’s reservations or positions on certain aspects that are not in the domain of the Faith, but rather concern pastoral themes or the prudential teaching of the Magisterium, would absolutely have to be withdrawn or cancelled by the Society. The desire to pursue the discussion and a deeper study of such subjects as are a problem for the SSPX, in view of ulterior specifications and clarifications, is not only still possible, but – at least in my opinion (we added the italics) – desirable and to be encouraged. Consequently, we do not ask them to be less demanding on a certain number of themes.”
A little further on, Archbishop Pozzo stated: “It is not true to say that the Holy See wishes to force the SSPX to capitulate. On the contrary, they are invited to place themselves at its side, in a common context of doctrinal principles necessary to guarantee a common adherence to the Faith and to the Catholic Doctrine on the Magisterium and Tradition, while still leaving room for studying and exploring the reservations raised on certain aspects and formulations of Vatican Council II’s documents, and on certain reforms that followed but that do not concern dogmatic or doctrinally indisputable matters. There is no doubt that the teachings of Vatican II have an extremely variable degree of authority and compelling character.”
Commentary: In this interview, Archbishop Pozzo did not say whether he was speaking in his own name – except when he specified “at least in my opinion” – or in the name of his superiors. Nor do we know whether we should consider these openings towards the Society of St. Pius X as similar to those Pope Francis has recently made towards the charismatics. In a speech delivered to the members of the Catholic Fraternity of Charismatic Communities and Associations of the Alliance, on October 31, 2014, the pope strongly insisted upon the notion “of unity in diversity”. “Unity is not uniformity, it does mean necessarily doing everything together, or thinking the same way, or losing one’s identity,” he explained. “Unity is in diversity, it is exactly the opposite, it is recognizing and accepting with joy the differences that the Holy Spirit grants to each person and placing them at the service of everyone in the Church.” And he asked his audience “not to forget that the Charismatic Renewal is by its very nature ecumenical.” In such a broadly “ecumenical” context, the doctrinal questions mentioned by Archbishop Pozzo are certainly of a very relative importance.
(Sources: Famille chrétienne/Apic – DICI no.304 Nov. 7, 2014)
Also read:
Bishop Fellay: The pastoral must necessarily follow the doctrine (DICI no.302 October. 10, 2014)
