The agreement was mentioned in a communiqué that was read out in churches in the German District of the Society of St. Pius X.The “communiqué” which was read out in churches and chapels within the German District of the Society of St. Pius X, bears the signature of Fr. Franz Schmidberger.
He was appointed first successor of Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre and he is known for always adopting a path of dialogue with the Vatican leadership.
He was appointed first successor of Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre and he is known for always adopting a path of dialogue with the Vatican leadership.
Schmidberger recalled how last 16 March, in Rome, the Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal William Levada, delivered “a letter” to the Superior General of the Fraternity, Bishop Bernard Fellay, “containing explanations, asking us in a conclusive manner to provide a more positive answer than the ones given so far to the doctrinal preamble of 14 September 2011.”
The final deadline for a response is 15 April 2012.
The final deadline for a response is 15 April 2012.
Schmidberger commented on Rome’s response saying that “Despite the unpleasant tone used in the letter, there is good reason to hope for a satisfactory solution.”
As stated, during the interview with Levada, Mgr. Fellay himself had said that there were no real difficulties in terms of the acceptance of “the profession of the faith” and of the whole preamble, which states that the Second Vatican Council is to be interpreted according to the hermeneutics proposed by Benedict XVI.
Fellay had added, however, that it was not the principles that were the problem, but their application; that is, the fact that today’s Church lack faith in the Magisterium.
As stated, during the interview with Levada, Mgr. Fellay himself had said that there were no real difficulties in terms of the acceptance of “the profession of the faith” and of the whole preamble, which states that the Second Vatican Council is to be interpreted according to the hermeneutics proposed by Benedict XVI.
Fellay had added, however, that it was not the principles that were the problem, but their application; that is, the fact that today’s Church lack faith in the Magisterium.
Now Schmidberger is talking about “having good reason to hope” that reconciliation is just around the corner.
“If reconciliation is achieved, all the strengths of the Church’s tradition would be given a significant boost; if not, they would become weaker and discouraged. In the latter case, not only would the Fraternity be at risk but the wellbeing of the entire Church.”