SSPX head says members must preserve their identity, tradition

Bishop Bernard Fellay, superior of the Society of St. Pius X, is pictured near an image of St. Pius X at the society's headquarters in Menzingen, Switzerland, May 11. Bishop Fellay acknowledged there could be a split in the breakaway society if it decides to reconcile with the Vatican.

The head of the traditionalist Society of St. Pius X said he would inform the Vatican soon on the society’s official position on Vatican efforts to bring the group back into full communion with the church.

The response will insist that the society must preserve its identity, which is “the only efficacious means to help the church restore Christendom,” said Bishop Bernard Fellay, superior general of the society.

His remarks were contained in an interview published July 16 on the group’s website, www.dici.org, after members of the society held their general chapter meeting to discuss Vatican efforts to bring them back into full communion.

The bishop said the chapter meeting gave him an opportunity to explain fully his discussions with the Vatican and correspondence relating to a “doctrinal preamble,” which the Vatican has asked the society to sign. The document, which has not been made public, outlined what the Vatican said were “doctrinal principles and criteria for the interpretation of Catholic doctrine necessary to guarantee fidelity” to the formal teaching of the church.

Bishop Fellay said the chapter discussions cleared up doubts and misunderstandings among the society’s members, leading to “peace and unity of hearts.” [more]

SOURCE
CNS