This is from Phil Lawler over at Catholic Culture:
The Vatican announced one intriguing appointment yesterday. I hope that another significant appointment is announced tomorrow.
Father Charles Morerod was named on November 3 to become Bishop of Lausanne, Switzerland. A native of Switzerland, Bishop-elect Morerod is certainly qualified: he is secretary of the International Theological Commission and rector of Angelicum in Rome. But what makes his appointment particularly noteworthy is the fact that he was a member of the Vatican commission engaged in talks with traditionalists of the Society of St. Pius X. The Society has its headquarters in Econe, Switzerland–within the boundaries of the Lausanne diocese. [? Is Econe there?] So SSPX leaders in Econe can be assured that their local ordinary understands them well. This appointment looks like one more step by the Vatican to ease the path toward reconciliation of the SSPX.
I suspect that this new bishop will be friendly to the SSPX within the bounds of his diocese. Imagine the possibilities.
Loading ...
Just from memory, it seems to me there is a factual mistake here. The seminary of Econe is in the diocese of Sion. However, the very first SSPX seminary was indeed in Fribourg, before Econe got going. Yes, in any case, this diocese of Fribourg and Lausanne is historical for the SSPX because it was the Bishop of that diocese, Bishop Charrière that gave it its first canonical existence on the 1st of November, 1970.
Fr Jackson appears to be correct, that the town of Econe is in the Diocese of Sion.
Do SSPX priests heed the exercise of episcopal authority of the Ordinary in their diocese? I’m honestly asking.
Alongside Father Bonino, O.P., Father Morerod, O.P., is, perhaps, the greatest Thomist alive today.
@ RichR
Well, that’s probably as variable as the personalities involved. But please also ask the inverse question: how many Bishops are even open to the idea of us as collaborators? I’ve had varying experiences myself.
I have often wondered at the possibility of individual bishops incardinating individual SSPX priests in their diocese. I wonder if such a thing would be allowed by either side.
If the Econe’ is not in his Diocease it matters very little, except for the people of the Diocese who will benefit from a decent Bishop.
The SSPX headquarters is in Menzingen, the seminary is in Econe. Anyone know which diocese this Menzingen is in?
A great example to prove that the mainstream Catholic media can’t be trusted to cover traditionalism.
I think Phil inverted it in his brain, just as I did earlier today over on Rorate Caeli.
Father Jackson is right. It is Fribourg where the SSPX was erected. It did not stay there though.
In addition to being one of the greatest Thomists and one of the big four in the SSPX discussions, he’s also the foremost Cajetan scholar (who was intimately involved in trying to reconcile Luther) and has been on the front line of authentic ecumenical relations with the Lutherans. His really great book is translated into english: http://www.amazon.com/Ecumenism-Philosophy-Charles-Morerod/dp/1932589252/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1320368913&sr=8-1. A superb choice by the Holy Father!
@JP Borgerg, Menzingen is in the canton of Zug, which should mean it’s in the Diocese of Basle
http://www.zug.ch/behoerden/gemeinden
http://www.bistum-basel.ch/seite.php?na=3,3,0,1875,f
L´Evêque
Felix Gmür, Dr
Evêque de Bâle
Dr en phil
né le 7 juin 1966 à Lucerne
ordination diaconale: le 27 septembre 1988
ordination sacerdotale: le 30 mai 1999
ordination épiscopale et prise de possession canonique du Diocèse de Bâle: le 16 janvier 2011
Like button!
Fr. Charles, whom I count as a friend as well as a fellow friar, has been general editor of the French edition of Communio (in which he was kind enough to solicit a piece from me to help Europeans understand American attitudes about religion), among his other responsibilities. He is a true gentleman, a devout friars, a wit, and one of the most erudite priests I know. His departure is a great loss to the Angelicum, to which my province has currently given three very fine priests. His diocese is in good care. Let us pray for the Angelicum, which has lost him.
@jhayes: Cheers, so the bishop elect has nothing whatsoever to do with either the SSPX seminary or headquarters. An article saying “There is a new bishop of some place in Switzerland. The End” would have been a bit more accurate.
Regarding SSPX priests and local ordinaries: Do SSPX priests name the local bishop in the Canon?
jimsantafe: Yes, they name both the Holy Father and the local Ordinary in the Canon.
@sacerdosinaeternum
Cajetan. Yes. Surpassing him, as his best student by far, Father Immanuel, made clear to me. I’m waiting for the latter to become a bishop in France. Would that he would become bishop of Tarbes-Lourdes!
I have heard SSPX seminarians in the past claim that they are “in communion with the Pope, but not in communion with Bishop X.” Granted, these were merely seminarians, not priests, and certainly not anyone capable of speaking authoritatively on behalf of the Society. Still, I wonder, if those seminarians were later ordained priests, how they could – honestly – pray, “una cum…antistite nostro X” at the altar.
God Bless Fr. Morerod. He is a great man and will be a great bishop. Please pray for him, I certainly will.
Pehaps we should take the SSPX and their principles at face value and use those good Dominicans to give them a good trial for heresy and then burn them at the stake. But then the new church doesn’t do that do anymore do we?
@leonugent2005
Heresy? The Tridentine Mass is heretical? So for nearly 2000 years ALL Catholics were heretics?
OK.