Bishop Bernard Fellay responds to Benedict's letter

Read it here. The Superior General of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X writes, in part:

Far from wanting to stop Tradition in 1962, we wish to consider the Second Vatican Council and the post-Conciliar magisterium in the light of this Tradition which Saint Vincent of Lérins defined as that "which has been believed everywhere, always, by all" (Commonitorium), without rupture and in a perfectly homogeneous development. It is thus that we will be able to contribute efficaciously to the evangelization asked for by the Savior (cf. Matthew, 28,19-20).

The Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X assures Benedict XVI of its will to address the doctrinal discussions considered "necessary" by the Decree of January 21, with the desire of serving the revealed Truth which is the first charity to be shown towards all men, Christian or not. It assures him of its prayers so that his faith may not fail and that he may confirm all his brethren (cf. Luke 22 32).

An most encouraging response.

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Comments

[Ed Peters]

"A most encouraging response." Perhaps it is. Really, I don't know yet. The SSPX note does seem to me, however, to use language that could embrace a very wide range of meanings.

What I don't like is when two sides reach agreement on a text, not because the text covers only the small range of their agreement, but because both sides understand a text very differently, falsely implying a wide range of agreement, and sign on to it for the sake of extraneous goals.

History has plenty of such examples, and truth makes short work of the illusory demonstration of unity.