The spokesman of the SSPX is reported by the Agence France-Presse about the Five Conditions. This is reported in Le-Croix.com.
Here is my translation with by emphases and comments.
PARIS: 27 June 2008 (AFP) – The Lefebvrites have no intention of responding to the Vatican’s ultimatum.
The Fraternity of Sain Pius X [SSPX], founded by [Archbishop] Lefebvre, has no intention of responding to the "ultimatum" which was put to the Vatican to bring to a conclusion the schism provoked twenty years about for the traditionalist movement, the spokesman for the SSPX indicated.
"The SSPX has no intention of responding to this ultimatum", SSPX spokesman Fr. Alain Loran declared by phone from Ecône (Switzerland) to the AFP. [Okay… pretty clear: we are not going to respond.]
"We do not envision any practical or canonical accord before treating doctrinal questions which have arisen since Vatican II", the one in charge [blah blah blah]…
"[Bp.] Bernard Fellay (Superior General of the SSPX) is surprised by the existing discrepency between the ultimatum’s procedural character and the ultimatum’s content, which is very imprecise, Fr. Lorans added.
The Italian daily Il Giornale [blah blah blah… review of what has been reported]…
The Vatican had given to the SSPX until 28 June to respond positively to these questions.
These five conditions posed by the Vatican deal with the recognition of the authority of the Pope and the committment to say nothing against the Church, but the contain no reference to the Second Vatican Council
According to Fr. Lorans, the Superior General of the SSPX, [Bp.] Fellay wrote a letter to the Vatican authorities on Thursday. [Ummm… isn’t this a response?]
Okay… there might be a nuance to "répondre" I am not getting. I know there is an idiom "répondre aux conditions" which suggests "satisfy requirements". On the other hand, later in the article I read "répondre positivement à ces questions", which suggests that the use of "répondre" above doesn’t automatically hint at a positive response.
Still, what I am getting from this is that they responded to say they aren’t going to respond.
Also, a long time ago I began explaining that whereas some in the Vatican wanted the big family photo with the group hug right away (which has its merits, believe me), the SSPX wanted to discuss theological issues first, and worry about the group photo later.
Still, what is required now, more than ever… right now… is a dramtic gesture of humility on the part of the leadership of the SSPX, even at the risk of alienating their benefactors (read: money).
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