Vatican talks with SSPX concluded; both sides silent on next step

CWN - June 17, 2011

Doctrinal discussions between the Vatican and the traditionalist Society of St. Pius X have concluded, and participants in the talks have been unusually reticent about the next steps in the effort to bring the SSPX back into communion with the Holy See. The silence is raising expectations that the talks may have reached a crucial stage, and an agreement ending the 23-year split could be within reach.

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  • Posted by: jimgrum697380 - Jun. 19, 2011 8:48 AM ET USA

    The politics are fascinating. Anyone who believes this discussion involves principally a schismatic group against a unanimous episcopacy is naive. The issue has always been fundamentally about doctrine. The SSPX has had surrepticious allies within the Vatican for years, and there are remarkable things happening behind the scenes that we will likely never know. The Pope's actions to date have been unprecedented and shocking in their political incorrectness. God bless him on this Father's Day.

  • Posted by: Anselm - Jun. 18, 2011 12:14 AM ET USA

    Good thought skladach, however, as a certain German Theologian (Ratzinger)once put it: "To reject the part or whole of one document of a Council is rejecting the whole Council. To reject a Council is rejecting all of them."

  • Posted by: garedawg - Jun. 17, 2011 11:07 PM ET USA

    It is wonderful to see the Anglicans coming back home, and I hope that this other Protestant group will do the same.

  • Posted by: GymK - Jun. 17, 2011 6:59 PM ET USA

    Praise the Lord! If this is true, there will be more "new" orthodox Catholics in the Church's ranks from this arrangement than from all the years of talks with the Anglicans. Please Lord, bring our SSPX brothers and sisters home!

  • Posted by: skladach - Jun. 17, 2011 6:33 PM ET USA

    That was an opinion piece from Le Figaro, not a news item. The doctrinal talks ended in April! Obedience is surely an issue when you want to consecrate a bishop, but not when you want to clarify how certain teachings of Vatican II can be considered compatible with centuries of Catholic Tradition. Even in the preconciliar days, a theologian was allowed to entertain a doubt about a non-fallible Church teaching. The SSPX challenges the belief that "Vatican II always teaches infallibly".

  • Posted by: AgnesDay - Jun. 17, 2011 5:29 PM ET USA

    Would to God this were true. Obedience is such a rare thing.

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