No capitulation but what unity? Pozzo interview

We offer to our readers a translation of a recent interview of Archbishop Guido Pozzo, secretary for the Ecclesia Dei Commission and a DICI editorial about it.

What unity is being offered to the SSPX?

DICI editorial

On October 20, 2014, in an interview granted to the French weekly Famille chretienne, Archbishop Guido Pozzo (in the picture), secretary of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei, explained—after the meeting between Cardinal Muller and Bishop Fellay (September 23)—the subjects of discord between Rome and the Society of St. Pius X:

The controversial aspects have to do partly with the assessment of the ecclesial situation since Vatican Council II and the causes that produced a certain theological and pastoral tumult in the post-council period, and, more generally, in the modern context. And partly, they have to do with specific questions related to ecumenism, dialogue with the religions of the world and the question of religious liberty.”

To the question, “Is there any way to dissociate a juridical agreement from a doctrinal discussion? To set up a personal prelature, while still pursuing the discussions on the controversial theological points, on a more long-term scale?”, the Roman prelate answered: “The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has always considered overcoming the doctrinal problems as the indispensible and necessary condition for proceeding with a canonical recognition of the Society.” And he added:

Allow me, however, to point out that overcoming the doctrinal difficulties does not mean that the SSPX’s reservations or positions on certain aspects that are not in the domain of the Faith, but rather concern pastoral themes or the prudential teaching of the Magisterium, would absolutely have to be withdrawn or cancelled by the Society. The desire to pursue the discussion and a deeper study of such subjects as are a problem for the SSPX, in view of ulterior specifications and clarifications, is not only still possible, but—at least in my opinion [we added the italics]—desirable and to be encouraged. Consequently, we do not ask them to be less demanding on a certain number of themes.”

A little further on, Archbishop Pozzo stated:

It is not true to say that the Holy See wishes to force the SSPX to capitulate. On the contrary, they are invited to place themselves at its side, in a common context of doctrinal principles necessary to guarantee a common adherence to the Faith and to the Catholic Doctrine on the Magisterium and Tradition, while still leaving room for studying and exploring the reservations raised on certain aspects and formulations of Vatican Council II’s documents, and on certain reforms that followed but that do not concern dogmatic or doctrinally indisputable matters. There is no doubt that the teachings of Vatican II have an extremely variable degree of authority and compelling character.”

Commentary

In this interview, Archbishop Pozzo did not say whether he was speaking in his own name—except when he specified “at least in my opinion”—or in the name of his superiors. Nor do we know whether we should consider these openings towards the Society of St. Pius X as similar to those Pope Francis has recently made towards the charismatics. In a speech delivered to the members of the Catholic Fraternity of Charismatic Communities and Associations of the Alliance, on October 31, 2014, the pope strongly insisted upon the notion “of unity in diversity”. “Unity is not uniformity, it does mean necessarily doing everything together, or thinking the same way, or losing one’s identity,” he explained. “Unity is in diversity, it is exactly the opposite, it is recognizing and accepting with joy the differences that the Holy Spirit grants to each person and placing them at the service of everyone in the Church.” And he asked his audience “not to forget that the Charismatic Renewal is by its very nature ecumenical.” In such a broadly “ecumenical” context, the doctrinal questions mentioned by Archbishop Pozzo are certainly of a very relative importance.

(Sources: Famille chretienne/Apic—DICI no.304, 11-7-2014)

Interview of Archbishop Guido Pozzo

The discussions between Rome and the Society of St. Pius X continue, in view of a full reconciliation. An update with the secretary of the pontifical commission Ecclesia Dei, in charge of this file at the Vatican, by Jean-Marie Dumont, of Famille Chretienne.fr.

Reference dates

• July 2, 2012: Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Muller is named prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
• March 13, 2013: Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio is elected pope.
• December 13, 2013: In Rome to meet with the heads of the Ecclesia Dei commission, Bishop Bernard Fellay, superior of the SSPX, is briefly presented to Pope Francis in the dining room of St. Martha’s Home. The Holy Father asks him to pray for him.
• September 23, 2014: Bishop Fellay meets with Cardinal Muller, in the presence of several others, including Archbishop Guido Pozzo.

Famille Chretienne: What is the state of the relations between Rome and the Priestly Society of St. Pius X?

Archbishop Pozzo: In order to help get past any fracture and division in the Church, and to heal a wound painfully felt in the life of the Church, Benedict XVI decided in 2009 to lift the excommunication of the bishops who had been illicitly consecrated by Archbishop Lefebvre in 1988. Through this decision, the pope meant to withdraw a sanction that made it difficult to open a constructive dialogue.

The lifting of the excommunication was a disciplinary measure taken to free the persons involved from the most serious ecclesiastical censorship. But the doctrinal questions remain and must be clarified. As long as they are not made clear, the Priestly Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) has no canonical status in the Church, and its ministers cannot legitimately exercise their ordained ministry, as Benedict XVI pointed out in his Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on March 10, 2009.[1]

It is precisely in order to get past the doctrinal difficulties that still remain that the Holy See is continuing its relations and discussions with the SSPX, through the pontifical commission Ecclesia Dei. This commission is closely connected to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, since the president of the commission is also the prefect of the Congregation.

The relations and exchanges have continued since the election of Pope Francis. They help to clarify respective positions on the controversial subjects, to avoid misunderstandings and incomprehension, and to keep alive the hope that the difficulties that still make it impossible to obtain full reconciliation and full communion with the Apostolic See may soon be overcome.

Famille Chretienne: What are the subjects of disagreement that remain?

Archbishop Pozzo: The controversial aspects have to do partly with the assessment of the ecclesial situation since Vatican Council II and the causes that produced a certain theological and pastoral tumult in the post-council period, and, more generally, in the modern context.

And partly, they have to do with specific questions related to ecumenism, dialogue with the religions of the world and the question of religious liberty.

Famille Chretienne: What are the juridical solutions that could be adopted for the SSPX if an agreement were reached?

Archbishop Pozzo: In the case of a complete reconciliation, the canonical status offered by the Holy See is that of a personal prelature.[2] On this point, I think there is no problem as far as the SSPX is concerned.

Famille Chretienne: Have the discussion between Rome and the Society recently been renewed, or did they never stop?

Archbishop Pozzo: In reality, they never stopped. The temporary interruption of meetings was simply due to the nomination of a new prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and to the election of the new sovereign pontiff in April 2013. The path of dialogue thus began again in the fall of 2013, with a series of informal meetings, leading up to the September 23rd meeting between Cardinal Gerhard Muller, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and the superior of the SSPX, Bishop Bernard Fellay, which meeting was related in a press release from the Holy See.

Famille Chretienne: Is there any way to dissociate a juridical agreement from a doctrinal discussion? To set up a personal prelature, while still pursuing the discussions on the controversial theological points, on a more long-term scale?

Archbishop Pozzo: In keeping with Benedict XVI’s motu proprio, Ecclesiae Unitatem (LPL Ed. Note: July 2, 2009), the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has always considered overcoming the doctrinal problems as the indispensible and necessary condition for proceeding with a canonical recognition of the Society. Allow me, however, to point out that overcoming the doctrinal difficulties does not mean that the SSPX’s reservations or positions on certain aspects that are not in the domain of the Faith, but rather concern pastoral themes or the prudential teaching of the Magisterium, would absolutely have to be withdrawn or cancelled by the Society. The desire to pursue the discussion and a deeper study of such subjects as are a problem for the SSPX, in view of ulterior specifications and clarifications, is not only still possible, but─at least in my opinion─desirable and to be encouraged. Consequently, we do not ask them to be less demanding on a certain number of themes.

Famille Chretienne: What, then is the “non-negotiable” point?

Archbishop Pozzo: What is essential, what we cannot give up, is the adherence to the Professio fidei,[3] and to the principle that the Lord entrusted to the Church’s Magisterium alone the faculty to interpret authentically, that is, with the authority of Christ, the written and transmitted Word of God. This is the Catholic doctrine recalled by Vatican Council II (Dei Verbum, 10), but already expressly taught by Pius XII in his encyclical Humani generis. It means that the Magisterium, while certainly not above Scripture and Tradition, in nonetheless the authentic judge of the interpretations of Scripture and Tradition, wherever they come from.

Consequently, while there exist different degrees of authority and of the faithful’ adherence to its teachings─as the dogmatic constitution Lumen gentium (25) from Vatican Council II declares─no one can place himself above the Magisterium. I think and I deeply hope that on this doctrinal question that I just brought up, we may find a point of convergence and common understanding, for this precise subject is a point of doctrine that is a matter of Catholic Faith, and not of a legitimate theological discussion or of pastoral criteria.

A capital point, but at the same time clearly defined… It is not true to say that the Holy See wishes to force the SSPX to capitulate. On the contrary, they are invited to place themselves at its side, in a common context of doctrinal principles necessary to guarantee a common adherence to the Faith and to the Catholic Doctrine on the Magisterium and Tradition, while still leaving room for studying and exploring the reservations raised on certain aspects and formulations of Vatican Council II’s documents, and on certain reforms that followed but that do not concern dogmatic or doctrinally indisputable matters. There is no doubt that the teachings of Vatican II have an extremely variable degree of authority and compelling character. For example, the constitutions Lumen gentium, on the Church, and Dei Verbum, on Divine Revelation, have the character of a doctrinal declaration, even if they include no dogmatic definitions. Whereas the declarations on religious liberty, non-Christian religions, and the decree on ecumenism, have a different and inferior degree of authority and compelling character.

Famille Chretienne: Do you think that the discussions could come to an end soon now?

Archbishop Pozzo: I do not think that we can give a precise idea yet of the time needed to reach the end of this path. Our commitment, and, I imagine, that of the superior of the SSPX, is to advance with small steps, without improvised shortcuts, but also with the clear goal of promoting unity in the charity of the universal Church guided by the successor of Peter. “Caritas urget nos!” [Charity presses us!], as St. Paul says.

(Sources: Famille Chretienne, 10-20-2014/ LPL, 10-22-2014.)

Footnotes

1 In this Letter, Benedict XVI explained the meaning of his gesture and stated his surprise at the outcry it had caused:

At times one gets the impression that our society needs to have at least one group to which no tolerance may be shown; which one can easily attack and hate. And should someone dare to approach them—in this case the pope—he too loses any right to tolerance; he too can be treated hatefully, without misgiving or restraint.”

2 What status for the Society? In the case of an agreement with Rome, the SSPX could obtain the status of a personal prelature. In Church law, this is a relatively recent creation. The only case that exists at present is Opus Dei. Provided for by the Code of Canon Law (294-297), it allows priests and deacons to be gathered under the direction of one prelate. Its principal characteristic is the absence of connection to a territory, unlike most dioceses: the priests of the prelature can be spread throughout the whole world. The objectives set by Canon Law for the creation of these structures are vast enough to be applied to various initiatives: “to promote an adapted distribution of priests”, “to accomplish particular pastoral or missionary tasks in favor of diverse regions or social groups”… The prelate has the right to establish a seminary, to incardinate seminarians and to call them to Orders. Relations with the bishops (making priests available to serve dioceses, taking over certain activities within a diocese) must be specified in the statutes or in bilateral agreements. Thus a priest belonging to a prelature can exercise his ministry in a place of worship specifically accorded to the prelature, or he can be entrusted, depending on the decisions of the prelate and the agreements with the bishops, with a parochial church.

3 A 30-line text that all new cardinals or bishops, pastors or seminary professors must pronounce when taking up their new post.