Cardinal Schönborn predicts tough Vatican stand in doctrinal talks with SSPX

September 14, 2009

In doctrinal talks with the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX), the Vatican will insist that the traditionalist group must accept the validity of Vatican II statements on religious freedom and relations with other faiths, according to Cardinal Christoph Schönborn of Vienna. "It's not the case that Rome will let the Lefebvrists off easy," the Austrian cardinal told the German-language daily Passauer Neue Presse. He said that the Vatican would make it clear that some doctrinal statements are not negotiable.

Cardinal Schönborn said that the doctrinal talks between the SSPX and the Vatican, scheduled to begin this week, are not intended to encourage reconsideration of Church teachings. Rather, he said, they are an extraordinary effort "to get a group of Catholics who have been separated from the Church back on board."

Although he is not directly involved in the talks-- which will be handled by a few designated representatives of the Holy See and the SSPX-- Cardinal Schönborn's view has special importance because he is a close associate (and former doctoral student) of Pope Benedict XVI. His name is often mentioned in Rome as a likely future prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Vatican office supervising the talks with the SSPX.

 

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Further information:

• Vatican commission to draw red lines for ultra-traditionalists (Earth Times)
• Vatican to insist rebels respect Jews, other faiths (Reuters)