Papal move sign of willingness to defend Western values
His Holiness http://www.wvwnews.net/story.php?id=3261 has officially withdrawn the controversial 1988 excommunications of traditionalists who defied what they considered to be the “liberalism” of his predecessor, in a move some see as signaling the new Pope’s willingness to accept the role of the Church in defending Western values.
His Grace Archbishop http://www.wvwnews.net/story.php?id=1112, a traditionalist, consecrated four men as bishops on June 30, 1988 in Ecône, Switzerland in defiance of John Paul II’s wishes. The four, Bernard Fellay, Bernard Tissier de Mallerais, Richard Williamson, and Alfonso de Galarreta, were summarily excommunicated, though the organization they founded with Archbishop Lefebvre, the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX), contested the canonical regularity of the Pope’s act.
Archbishop Lefebvre, the SSPX and traditionalists as a whole have been slandered as “right wing” and “fascist” for their connections to http://www.wvwnews.net/story.php?id=2521 circles, outspoken defense of Western civilization and values, and opposition to liberal changes in the ancient liturgy and social teachings of the Church brought on by the Second Vatican Council.Groups claiming to represent Jewish interests have declared the SSPX to be “anti-Semitic,” pointing, for example, to recent statements of Bishop Williamson questioning details of Second World War history which are used to excuse Zionist policies. The bishop’s statement in defense of intellectual freedom on this issue has been seen by some as an act of Christian compassion for researchers, intellectuals, publishers and authors who are beaten, harassed, imprisoned and even murdered for daring to question legally enforced historical narratives. Bishop Williamson is a powerful preacher whose take on political and social issues is available on a number of YouTube videos.
Similarly, Jewish groups have attempted to direct changes in Christian theology, most recently by demanding that the Pope delete the annual prayer for the salvation and well being of the Jews each Easter. They have said that Pope Benedict’s decision to “regularize” the Ecône Consecrations strains Roman Catholic “relations” with them.
Pope Benedict and his administration have made a number of statements and decisions deemed to be “http://www.wvwnews.net/story.php?id=6291 and which has been seen as threatening to liberal elements within the Church.
The SSPX and the Roman Catholic http://www.wvwnews.net/story.php?id=5909 as a whole are part of what European Americans United analysts call “organic resistance.” As the Western world experiences unprecedented transformation and loss, various interest and affinity groups (what the left calls “communities”) will form and increase their influence among a growing number of aware European people. One example is the Minutemen, who formed organically in response to the illegal alien invasion and the lack of federal government action.
While such groups are often based around a single issue, and may have some views at odds with other groups, they represent, overall, a trend that is healthy. In founding large families, homeschooling their children, banishing television and celebrating European cultural expressions, there are a lot worse religious formations out there than traditionalist Catholicism.
Certainly enemies of freedom have been closely aware of the “danger” traditionalists pose to the status quo. In the United States, the Southern Poverty Law Center, a “watchdog” hate group, has engaged in a shameful Catholic bashing campaign in its publications.
While European Americans United is a secular organization, some members are traditionalist Catholics.
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Press Release from the Superior General of the Priestly Society of Saint Pius X
The excommunication of the bishops consecrated by His Grace Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, on June 30, 1988, which had been declared by the Congregation for Bishops in a decree dated July 1, 1988, and which we had always contested, has been withdrawn by another decree mandated by Benedict XVI and issued by the same Congregation on January 21, 2009.
We express our filial gratitude to the Holy Father for this gesture which, beyond the Priestly Society of Saint Pius X, will benefit the whole Church. Our Society wishes to be always more able to help the pope to remedy the unprecedented crisis which presently shakes the Catholic world, and which Pope John Paul II had designated as a state of “silent apostasy.”
Besides our gratitude towards the Holy Father and towards all those who helped him to make this courageous act, we are pleased that the decree of January 21 considers as necessary “talks” with the Holy See, talks which will enable the Priestly Society of Saint Pius X to explain the fundamental doctrinal reasons which it believes to be at the origin of the present difficulties of the Church.
In this new atmosphere, we have the firm hope to obtain soon the recognition of the rights of Catholic Tradition.
Menzingen, January 24, 2009
+Bernard Fellay