"And I beheld, and heard the voice of one eagle flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice: Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth.... [Apocalypse (Revelation) 8:13]
On May 10th the French district of the Society of Saint Pius X relieved
eight priests from their function as deans. They have recently signed a statement critical of the Society's position on a diocesan recognition of the marriages celebrated by SSPX priests.
Among
the priests is Father Patrick de la Rocque who since 2014 has been
running Saint Nicolas du Chardonnet, arguably the biggest parish of the
Society of Saint Pius X, which is located in the center of Paris.
Father Christian Bouchacourt, the District Superior of the Society of St
Pius X in France (SSPX), condemned a letter by ten French SSPX
superiors who questioned the recognition of SSPX marriages by the local
dioceses.
Bouchacourt criticises that the ten prepared their
letter secretly without submitting it to their superiors. He suggests
that they consider their view as the only true one and believes that God
will not bless such an initiative that - as he puts it - produces
internal quarrel and division.
Bouchacourt asks the priests of
France to ignore the letter and announces that the theologians of the
SSPX are about to prepare an answer.
There is still no date for a reconciliation between the Vatican and the
Society of St. Pius X, archbishop Guido Pozzo told romereports.com on
May 11. The Holy See presented the SSPX general superior, bishop Bernard
Fellay, with a „doctrinal declaration“ that needs to be signed as a
„necessary condition“ for a reconciliation.
The key problem is
the understanding of the Second Vatican Council. The different
(contradicting) points of view should according to Pozzo lead to a mutual enrichment“.
Pozzo realises that it is a "priority" for
the Society to be recognized by the Holy See. Before this happens, the
Vatican will consult the episcopal conferences in those countries where
the SSPX works.
