Splintering: The SSPX Dilemma

By Dr. Jeff Mirus ( bio - articles - email ) | May 17, 2012

Let me say again that I hope the reconciliation of the Society of St. Pius X to the Church is swift and complete. Sadly, however, current information suggests there is real danger of a split within the organization if SSPX head Bernard Fellay signs an accord with Rome. This should not be surprising, and it underlines what has been wrong about the SSPX from the first.

The SSPX has no real authority principle. To claim adherence to tradition is not an authority principle. Even to claim acceptance of papal authority while refusing to obey the ecclesiastical decisions of the current pope is not an authority principle. Those who have no authority principle have no recourse other than private judgment, because these are the only two possibilities. Either you accept some authority, or you decide for yourself.

Thus traditionalist organizations are as plagued by separatism over time as is Protestantism. Separatism in religious history is the principle of separating off into one’s own special church when disagreements arise over the content of Christian faith or morals, or even sometimes devotional and disciplinary issues. Separatism is what Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre precipitated when he began to speak for “real” Catholics around the world and ultimately broke from Rome by ordaining his own bishops without authorization. In years past, we have seen the Society of St. Pius V spin off from the SSPX because of conflicts over the proper interpretation of Tradition (for Tradition always requires interpretation, just like Scripture; it is not the authoritative guide to its own meaning). We have also seen a portion of the Society return to the Church as the Fraternity of St. Peter, while many more refused to do so. Although we hope this will not be the case now, we may well see more separatism if Bishop Fellay agrees, in his official capacity, to restore full communion with the Church.

The evidence and the rumors suggest that three of the four SSPX bishops may bolt, even though in theory the final decision concerning reunion belongs to Bishop Fellay, the Superior General of the Society. (I am choosing the word “reunion” very carefully here, as it is a myth that there has been no breach. Self-evidently, there would be no basis for negotiations if a breach had not occurred.) In this connection, the noble effort of the District Superior in the United States to preserve unity is telling. Lamenting reports of internal conflict, and lamenting even more that evidence of the conflict was leaked to the press, Fr. Arnaud Rostand has advised American members of the Society that the decision belongs to Bishop Fellay, and that all members should be prepared to follow it.

But why? There is no true authority principle in the SSPX, and Bishop Fellay has no more of a Divine right to determine the path and duty of these souls than Joe Palooka. That’s what happens when you don’t have an authority principle. Everything is based on makeshift alliances. Enemies of enemies may be friends, but if enmity disappear among some, it will increase among others. For every split that is overcome, more splits will occur. In the end, each man is his own judge of the Tradition; each man is his own judge of the Truth.

It will be wonderful indeed if all or most members of the SSPX actually deeply regret having let themselves be hardened into a breach with Rome, so that while still unwilling to overcome that breach personally, they fully intend to jump at any opportunity to do so corporately. All of us should pray that they will both receive and accept a fresh opportunity to grasp the authority principle which the Church alone possesses and hang on to it once and for all, until they die. Ideally, getting caught up in the passion of these divisions will be remembered at some point as a bad dream.

Right now, however, it looks like many members of the Society intend to exchange any remaining misunderstanding for an ever stronger conviction that the Faith is not what the Magisterium of the Catholic Church defines it to be. Therefore as this unfolds we must be prepared to understand a most important point: In the last analysis, where there really is no authority principle, unity exists only if it pleases me.