Some, in the Italian media and elsewhere, are having quite a hard time understanding the very plain words of the Superior General of the Society of Saint Pius X, Bishop Bernard Fellay, in Minnesota. He did not say that the Society said "no" to the Holy See defintiively - but that there was a "no" to the draft of the doctrinal preamble. This is not even news - everyone who is following this process know that the Society responded negatively, but sent a counter-proposal, that is currently being studied by the Holy See.
It goes even further, my dear brethren. That was during the discussion. At the end of the discussion, comes this invitation from Rome. In this invitation there is a proposition of a canonical situation that is to regularize our situation. And I may say, what is presented today, which is already different from what was presented on the 14th of September, we can consider it as all right, good. They fulfilled all our requirements, I may say, on the practical level. So there is not much problem there. The problem remains at the other level – at the level of the doctrine. But even there it goes very far – very far, my dear brethren.
Erroneous headlines and mistaken interpretations, the fruit of thoughtless reading, simply cannot change the generally positive tone of Fellay's sermon. Positive, but concerned. Positive, but careful. Positive, but unwilling to move too far. Prayers are necessary at this moment - as he insists in that sermon. Drama and distortions, not so much.
