Cardinal Kasper sees troubles in talks with SSPX
May 07, 2010
Cardinal Walter Kasper said that Vatican talks with the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) can produce an accord only if the traditionalist group accepts Vatican II.
"Dialogue with them is not easy," the president of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity-- who is not directly involved in the private talks with the SSPX-- told a Paris news conference. He said that the SSPX must move away from a "petrified" tradition in order to be regularized.
Meanwhile the head of the SSPX, Bishop Bernard Fellay, said in a letter to supporters that the worldwide clamor of criticism against Pope Benedict XVI is motivated by liberal fears of the Pope's support for Catholic tradition. He wrote: Even though people in our circles rightly think that these [papal] efforts are still insufficient to stop the decay and the crisis of the Church—especially in view of certain acts along the regrettable line of his predecessor, such as the visits to the synagogue and the Protestant church—in Modernist circles however, the hour has come to report to their battle stations!
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Further information:
- Vatican talks with splinter group difficult-cardinal (Reuters)
- Letter to Friends and Benefactors no. 76 (DICI)
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Posted by: koinonia -
May. 08, 2010 11:32 AM ET USA
In looking at the career of Cardinal Kasper one recognizes in short order that much of what he promotes is in opposition to what was taught for centuries by Holy Mother Church regarding relations with non-Catholics. Contradiction is problematic in Western thought. The SSPX admits the talks will be challenging. Many, but certainly not all, have turned away from traditional Church doctrine, and they resist any retreat. Bishop Fellay's point regarding "battle stations" is a valid one.
