A reader sent an interesting piece of news from a memo for the Diocese of Orlando.
As you can see, even official offices of the Church still refer to the SSPX as being in "schism", even though the Holy See says that it is not.
My emphases and comments.
There has been much effort on the part of the Holy See to clarify the context of the lifting of the excommunication against four bishops of the schismatic "Pius X Association". Unfortunately, this has not been given much coverage in secular media. The website of the Holy See, www.vatican.va <http://www.vatican.va/> , can provide better clarification.
a) "Lifting of excommunication" did not reinstate these bishops or their followers. They still remain in schism [I know it is tempting to apply the "duck argument", but the Holy See now says that the SSPX is not in schism.] – for rejecting the Second Vatican Council and in defying authority of the Pope. The lifting of the excommunication was a gesture towards encouraging them to reconcile with the Church. A similar gesture [opps] took place about 30+ years ago, between the then Pope and then Greek Orthodox Patriarch. Mutual excommunications were lifted – however that schism has not yet been healed – but there is greater communication between the two religious bodies and dialog continues. [Here is the problem. The Orthodox are in schism. The SSPX is not in schism. The gesture is not similar.]
b) The rift between this schismatic group is still far from being healed – it would require them to accept the teachings of the Second Vatican Council, and submit themselves to authority of Bishop of Rome (which would mean adhering to the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the degrees of the Council, both of which unequivocally condemn anti-Semitism and all forms of genocide.
First, I think there is a very incomplete understanding of what needs to be determined about the Second Vatican Council here.
Second, I am concerned that this sort of erroneous information, probably being distributed to priests and parish workers, will distort what they say to their parishioners or others who might ask what is going on with the SSPX and what is behind the whole Williamson thing they see in the press.
They should diligently double-check their facts.
