From CNA:
Vatican begins dialogue with Society of St. Pius X
Vatican City, Oct 26, 2009 / 02:23 pm (CNA).- A meeting today between representatives of the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) and officials from the Vatican identified the doctrinal differences that still separate the Society from the Roman Catholic Church. The gathering also served to identify the manner and structure of future discussions between the two groups.
Though Pope Benedict lifted the excommunication of four Lefebvrist bishops earlier this year, he also told the bishops of the world that “until the doctrinal questions are clarified, the Society has no canonical status in the Church, and its ministers – even though they have been freed of the ecclesiastical penalty – do not legitimately exercise any ministry in the Church.”
Today the representatives of the SSPX and the Vatican agreed that they would focus their dialogue on the concepts of Tradition, the Paul VI missal, religious freedom, the relationship between Christian and non-Christian religions, Catholic principles of ecumenism, themes regarding the unity of the Church, and the interpretation of the documents of Vatican II in continuity with Catholic doctrine.
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No real surprise among the themes to be covered, however, I was s little surprised not to find “collegiality” listed among them.
“interpretation of the documents of Vatican II in continuity with Catholic doctrine.”
I’d love to be a mouse in someone’s pocket for that one.
Collegiality could be part of Tradition, or the unity of the Church, and it has implications for ecumenism as well.
It looks as if the Pope has already laid the groundwork on all of these points since his election – up to and including the events last week.
Interesting that one subject is “the interpretation of the documents of Vatican II in continuity with Catholic doctrine.”
That phrasing didn’t come from the SSPX side.
The Pope of Christian Unity = The Pope of Continuity
i’d love to be a fly on that wall, anyone voluntering to bug the offices?
Perhaps we could hit up the Weasley twins for extendable ears.
Now kick the prayers into overdrive!
Have fun, guys!
the interpretation of the documents of Vatican II in continuity with Catholic doctrine
I know we all like to make jokes from time to time, but having a question like this at the forefront of high level theological discussions at the Vatican has GOT TO BE causing some sleepless nights for the Card. Mahonys and Bp. Trautmanns of the world…
What could possibly be the actual consequences of these talks? Something the equivalent of the visitations of women’s religious communities, but applied to diocesan policies instead? Hmmm….it makes one wonder.
Today the representatives of the SSPX and the Vatican agreed that they would focus their dialogue on the concepts of Tradition, the Paul VI missal, religious freedom, the relationship between Christian and non-Christian religions, Catholic principles of ecumenism, themes regarding the unity of the Church, and the interpretation of the documents of Vatican II in continuity with Catholic doctrine.
Oh is that it? I’m sure that’ll only take 187 years to get through.
Still, discussions are discussions. It’s better than where we were at before.
I think we Catholics may get more out of these talks than the SSPXers. It will likely give us a clearer interpretation of Vatican II, assuming the talks will be published…