The SSPX and Rome

There is a lot of thought and discussion going on about a mysterious "ultimatum" sent by the Vatican to the SSPX. Apparently this ultimatum lists five points, and apparently those five points include acceptance of the Vatican II changes and of the new rite of the mass. The SSPX, not unnaturally, is not biting.

This is making people upset. Many people. The SSPX is accused of caring more for its own internal unity than for truth, of trying unsuccessfully to change the Church from without, and just generally of being really arrogant sons-of-guns. After all, Rome has given the SSPX what they wanted, right? The Holy Father released the landmark, earthshaking motu proprio Summorum Pontificum, liberalizing the old mass that the SSPX has clung to all this time with such tenacity. Why in the world won't the SSPX regularize? Obviously they don't really want to. They prefer not to have to obey the pope.

Wrong. The SSPX wants a reconciliation with Rome. They want it badly. But those who think that now that Summorum Pontifcum is out the SSPX no longer has reason to exist don't understand what the SSPX is. The SSPX is not a nostalgia club dedicated to keeping the old rite alive. Allegiance to the old rite is a huge part of the SSPX's mission, of course, but in the context of a larger allegiance to Catholic doctrine and to Catholic tradition. The SSPX has serious, serious reservations with Vatican II. There are doctrinal issues at stake here. The SSPX can not reconcile with Rome until they are assured that Rome will let them criticize — heavily criticize — the council, and the attitudes that drove it and sprang from it. They don't want to go the way of Campos, Brazil. They don't want to lose their momentum through compromise.

Rome wants to pressure the SSPX into a practical agreement. The SSPX wants an agreement that will guarantee its ability to continue to adhere completely to unchanging Catholic doctrine and tradition.

What will happen now? There are several possibilities. The first is that not much will change, and tentative talks will continue between Rome and the SSPX. The second is that all communication will break down for a while, possibly a long while. The third is that Rome will punish the SSPX for refusing the "ultimatum" with new condemnations.

It is a black situation, indeed. The SSPX was finally starting to be understood as non-schismatic and as a positive influence. This will reverse that. Already the negative PR against the SSPX is mounting steadily. Those who don't understand the SSPX are quick to hurl accusations.

It is important to note that we do not have the contents of the letter sent to the SSPX, nor do we have an official reply. Until we have these things everything is mere speculation. This Moose hopes that once these documents are available the behavior of both parties in this affair will be properly understood. In the meantime, there is hope. Sumorum Pontificum can bring about only good in the long run, and today's Catholic youth are far more orthodox than the generation that raised them. The Second Vatican Council is starting to be seen through eyes unclouded by sixties-style countercultural enthusiasm. Eventually the Church will regain her strength. We have only too wait a little longer.
--------------------------------------
Update:
We now have the actual document of the "ultimatum." It contains no mention of the new mass or Vatican II. It is, however, rather vague. It seems to be an effort on Rome's part to make sure that if an agreement is made the SSPX will show proper gratitude and not pride and obstinacy.

Would this mean a muzzling of the SSPX? Would this mean that the SSPX would no longer be able to justly criticize problems in the conciliar Church?

We don't know. That's the problem. The SSPX and Rome need to talk about this some more, and make it clear exactly what the consequences of regularization would be.

I hope that that is what was in Bishop Fellay's response. I hope it was, "Let's talk about this some more. Let's clarify where we each stand." There's a lot of misunderstanding and paranoia on both sides.

It seems that Rome is genuinely trying to seek an accommodation. Let's hope that an accommodation can be found that will keep the SSPX's apostolate safe.