There was a communique from the Holy See Press Office today about the scheduled SSPX ordinations to take place in Germany.
In English:
COMMUNIQUÉ OF THE HOLY SEE PRESS OFFICE
REGARDING THE ORDINATIONS ANNOUNCED BY THE FRATERNITY OF SAINT PIUS XIn response to frequent questions which have come to this office in the last days regarding the priestly ordinations of the Society of St. Pius X scheduled at the end of June, there is nothing else to do but refer to what the Holy Father affirmed in his Letter to Bishops of the Catholic Church from last 10 March: "As long as the Society (of Saint Pius X) does not have a canonical status in the Church, its ministers do not exercise legitimate ministries in the Church (…) until the doctrinal questions are clarified, the Society has no canonical status in the Church, and its ministers (…) do not legitimately exercise any ministry in the Church". The ordinations are, thus, still to be considered illegitimate.
In the same letter, the Pope announced his intention to provide a new status for the Commission "Ecclesia Dei", joined to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. There are reasons to believe that the definition of this new status is close. This constitutes the premise for the beginning of the dialogue with those responsible for the Fraternity of Saint Pius X in view of the desired clarification of the doctrinal, and, in consequence, of the disciplinary questions which still remain open.
Well… the statement is correct. The priests of the SSPX do not have permission to exercise ministry for the Church. Valid orders is not enough. They need authorization to exercise those orders from legitimate authority. They have valid orders. They don’t have permission. Period. There are no "emergency powers".
At the same time, the moves of the German bishops can hardly be seen as friendly to the Holy Father’s work to reintegrate the SSPX. Perhaps there are cultural factors at work. In addition to their fear of the style of liturgy they would bring, they are probably afraid of the furor in the press that will erupt from accusations of anti-semitism, etc.
The Holy See Press Office cannot say, "Hey, its okay that the SSPX have ordinations!" Clearly, it is wrong for the SSPX to do this. On the other hand, the Holy Father, and Cardinal Castrillon would like – and we would all like – that the SSPX come in as a body rather than piecemeal. For the sake of such a plan, it may be necessary to tolerate an otherwise unacceptable act, such as additional ordinations. Pressuring the SSPX not to have ordinations at this point might work to tear apart the internal unity of the SSPX priests and their followers.
Istthere negativity being transmitted on the part of those who craft the language of these types of press releases? What counts is what the Holy Father communicated to the leadership of the SSPX by his actions and through his lieutenants in this matter, Card. Castrillon and now, soon, Card. Levada.
The point about the Pontifical Commission "Ecclesia Dei"…
It seems pretty clear that the Commission will soon go under the CDF. The doctrinal discussions with the SSPX will have to be worked out at the CDF.
It seems to me that the liturgical component of the Commission will now be shifted to the CDW. Under Card. Canizares, and with Archbp. DiNoia, the older forms will have some sympathy in the CDW. There are also a few very good men in the CDW who will be able to handle questions and issues. I wouldn’t be surprised if, when it is really time for the CDF to take up the PCED for the doctrinal discussion, men such as the experienced Msgr. Perl wouldn’t go back to the CDW where he was before 1988 and the formation of the PCED. That would make sense.
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