Sunday, February 15, 2009

SSPX "speedy resolution" still possible?

Brian Mershon, "SSPX update: Vatican insider projects speedy resolution" (Renew America, February 14, 2009), carries the subtitle: "Bishop Fellay 'confident' on doctrinal discussions; Pope expects to see full communion 'promptly realized'"; and the article carries a thoroughgoing summary under the following, occasionally provocative, headings:
  • Vatican Working on Stable Juridical Structure
  • France's Seminaries to be Over One-Third Traditionalist
  • Vatican II and All the Councils
  • Cardinal Ratzinger Recommends Bishops Examine their Consciences
  • Pope Benedict Urges Bishops to Pastoral Solicitude and Reconciliation
  • Vatican Will Not Demand SSPX Swallow the Council
Two observations. First, as to content, Mershon's analysis assumes a detailed acquaintance with the minutiae of the history of Vatican-SSPX relations. Hence, beware of overhasty generalizations based on first-hand impressions. Second, as to timetable, this article was first published on January 28, 2009, and the question looms as to how much damage the Bishop Williamson affair may have generated, much to the delight of many who would like to see Pope Benedict's project of reconciling the SSPX derailed.

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