Fellay: Pope "Deeply Attached to...Vatican II"

I find our outreach to the SSPX mind-boggling. They are far from the mainstream of Catholic thought and practice (I once attended, at the invitation of a former colleague, what they call ''the true Mass'' at their chapel in CT and have spoken with some of their clergy). I think the notion of reconciliation with them is Quixotic at best. From what I gather from reading their comments on the lifting of the excommunication, the SSPX thinks that they have won. They dug in their heels and the rest of us have finally given in. I think that just recently Fellay said they would never accept notions such as religious liberty, salvation outside the church or the compatibilty of the seperation of church and state with Catholic doctrine. What are we trying to accomplish by reaching out to them? Why don't we work for reconciliation with those still in communion with us who are in some way ''separated'' or not completely welcome at the table, like those divorced and remarried, those who are gay, priests who resigned to marry, et al. Attempts at reconciliation these people is more likely to bear fruit and strengthen the unity of the Church. Fooling around with the SSPX is tilting at windmills.

The operative condition for unity is truth. Rome will not reconcile with groups unless they are willing to accept the fullness of truth. If we do not believe the same thing, we cannot be united. God admits to no division. This is probably why other groups are not being invited to reconcile; they have showed little interest in reconciling with the Church. As Fr Gerhard Wagner said recently (before he resigned his episcopal appointment for the sake of unity, for the good of the Church), “Those who dissent should consider whether it is not really they who are being divisive.” Groups whose identities are centered on opposing Church teaching—be it theological dissent, women’s ordination, opposition to social teaching, religious indifferentism, or a desire to restructure Church authority—are unlikely to be invited to discussion so long as they stubbornly persist in error. Yes, there are SSPX members, perhaps Bp Fellay himself, who are being stubborn, and these people will be a stumbling block for reconciliation. Such people may even derail it entirely, and that would be unfortunate. The traditionalists will need to affirm the validity of Vatican II and the modern Mass, period. However, unlike other groups, their leadership seems willing to at least discuss an arrangement such that they can keep their identity and traditions so far as is possible. The SSPX is also in an unique position since they are not in a complete schism, they are merely stuck in the past. Their unique position is why they are being treated differently in the reconciliation process than many other groups.

It is very interesting to read how so many people have opinions on this but have no real, clear knowledge or understanding. The Doctrine of the Faith can never change. Period. Those who do try to change it, through various liturgical abuses, are the one who have left the Faith. It is not being able to see the forest for the trees.