cappie Posted June 17, 2009 Share Posted June 17, 2009 The Vatican warned the Society of St Pius X on Wednesday not to go ahead with plans to ordain new priests this month, saying the move could incur disciplinary action. The warning was contained in a communique issued by the Holy See Press Office yesterday. "In response to the frequent questions that have been raised over recent days concerning the priestly ordinations by the Fraternity of St Pius X, scheduled to take place at the end of June," the communique said, "suffice it to refer to what the Holy Father wrote in his Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on March 10 this year: 'As long as the Society (of St Pius X) does not have a canonical status in the Church, its ministers do not exercise legitimate ministries in the Church. ... Until the doctrinal questions are clarified, the Society has no canonical status in the Church, and its ministers ... do not legitimately exercise any ministry in the Church'." VIS 090617 (230) "In the same Letter, the Pope also announced his intention to change the status of the Commission 'Ecclesia Dei', making it part of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. "There is reason to believe that the definition of this new status is imminent. This constitutes a premise for launching dialogue with the leaders of the Fraternity of St Pius X, with a view to clarifying the doctrinal questions, and consequently the disciplinary questions, which remain unresolved." The SSPX plans to hold the ordination of the traditionalists priests in Germany, Switzerland and the United States, Swissinfo says. Catholic bishops, included Bishop Gerhard Ludwig Mller of Regensburg, Germany, had urged the Vatican to warn the SSPX not to go through with the ordinations, a plan seen as the SSPX's latest attempt to challenge Vatican authority. The Vatican has made several concessions to the SSPX, the biggest being the lifting in January of the 1988 excommunications of its four bishops. This meant they were back in good standing as Catholics, but they had no official function as bishops and therefore should not use their episcopal privileges without Vatican permission. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goldenchild17 Posted June 17, 2009 Share Posted June 17, 2009 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nihil Obstat Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 I think that's a legitimate request, especially if there's some kind of dialogue happening. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatholicCid Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 It would be nice if they were to listen to the Vatican's request and refrain. Talk and actions come best when both sides show signs of good will. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Bone _ Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 If they don't refrain, it will show that they still have a problem with obedience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatholicCid Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 And possibly a step backwards. Would anyone know what the canonical penalty would be if they do go through with the ordinations? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resurrexi Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 No-one complains that the Eastern Orthodox bishops continue to ordain priests (and even bishops) even though they are engaged in dialogue with the Catholic Church. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatholicCid Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 They should possibly refrain as well. There, someone complained. Back to the issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OraProMe Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 ugh "Lets lift the excommunication on them just to threaten excommunication again". This is sad, I feel so sorry for these poor seminarians. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resurrexi Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 [quote name='OraProMe' post='1894768' date='Jun 17 2009, 09:04 PM']ugh "Lets lift the excommunication on them just to threaten excommunication again". This is sad, I feel so sorry for these poor seminarians.[/quote] It would have been nice if the SSPX bishops could have been given temporary faculties to ordain priests. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 [quote name='Resurrexi' post='1894744' date='Jun 17 2009, 09:36 PM']No-one complains that the Eastern Orthodox bishops continue to ordain priests (and even bishops) even though they are engaged in dialogue with the Catholic Church.[/quote] The Eastern Orthodox are still schismatic though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatholicCid Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 [quote name='OraProMe' post='1894768' date='Jun 17 2009, 09:04 PM']ugh "Lets lift the excommunication on them just to threaten excommunication again". This is sad, I feel so sorry for these poor seminarians.[/quote] The simple solution would be to avoid breaking the canonical laws. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deus te Amat Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 I go to school with siblings of two of the SSPX seminarians in Winona. I'm pretty sure that the ordinations are going to happen, regardless.... My friends don't seem to think there was ever any reason for them to be excommunicated in the first place. Their priests tell them that RC's are in the wrong. It's weird trying to talk theology with them, because both parties think the other is completely wrong -- no give or take on either side. *shrug* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kafka Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 the simple truth is that SSPX are the ones who need to repent of their errors. Them, them, them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resurrexi Posted June 18, 2009 Share Posted June 18, 2009 (edited) So no-one feels sympathy for those men who have studied years to be ordained and now will either have to put off their ordination for perhaps several more years or be ordained with everyone telling them how diabolical they are? I personally think that temporary faculties should be given to the Bishops of the SSPX, but that is just my opinion. We should all pray that the SSPX will be completely reunited with the Holy See, and soon! N.B., My feeling sympathy for the young men does not mean that I approve of the illicit ordinations. Edited June 18, 2009 by Resurrexi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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