Note: When this web log was started, with the aim of, among other things, providing Traditional Catholic news and views, there was a goal of staying on top of things. This goal still exists, but, in the past few months, it has been affected twice by the revolutionary behavior of leakers of private or confidential documents and the problems of conscience such behavior causes.
It must be said that we expected all kinds of things when we began this work, but not this kind of attitude. It is discouraging that the Traditional Catholic world has generated this kind of behavior: we are dealing here with some of the lowest forms of the human character. In governments, businesses, universities, courts we find more honorable and loyal people in positions in which confidentiality must be kept than in the Vatican (as the "Vatileaks" scandal reveals) or, for instance, in the Society of Saint Pius X. Below them flow sewers of lack of conscience and of disloyalty. And naturally there are priests involved... It is sickening and disgusting. It is unworthy of the Catholic name.
Anyway, once again we were aware of the leak minutes after it took place in one of those venues. We are now on the following day, almost 24 hours after the leak, and the document and contents have been made public also in more respectable sources, including Tornielli's page in Vatican Insider and Le Forum Catholique. At this point, we will not be helping the leak effort, but simply recording what is known, as part of our "for the record" policy.
Our translation of the leaked circular letter follows. (The original document in French can be found here, in Vatican Insider.)
PRIESTLY SOCIETY
OF SAINT PIUS X
[Address, phones]
The General Secretary
CONFIDENTIAL
INTERNAL DOCUMENT
Our translation of the leaked circular letter follows. (The original document in French can be found here, in Vatican Insider.)
_____________________________________
PRIESTLY SOCIETY
OF SAINT PIUS X
[Address, phones]
The General Secretary
CONFIDENTIAL
INTERNAL DOCUMENT
Circular Letter n. 2012-06-SP 4
to the Superiors of Districts
Seminaries
Autonomous Houses
+Menzingen, June 25, 2012
Your Excellencies, Rev. Superiors,
As you are aware, our Superior General had responded to the letter of March 16 of Cardinal Levada that attempted to impose the Doctrinal Preamble of September 14, 2011. By this document, dated April 15, he wished to move away from the impasse created by this Preamble. According to several agreeing sources, the new text seemed to satisfy the Supreme Pontiff.
On June 13, 2012, Cardinal Levada delivered to our Superior General the text from last April, but amended in such a way that it now reintroduces, substantially, the propositions of September 2011. Bp. Fellay immediately informed him that he could not sign this new document, clearly unacceptable. The next [General] Chapter will allow for an appraisal of the complete dossier.
Furthermore, I inform all members of the Chapter that, in virtue of Canon 2331 § 1 and 2 [of the revoked 1917 Code of Canon Law] (nc [Code of Canon Law in force] 1373), the Superior General has deprived Bp. Williamson from the position of capitulary due to his stand calling to rebellion and for continually repeated disobedience. He has also been forbidden to come to Écône for the ordinations.
Finally, Bp. Fellay has decided to postpone the ordinations of the Dominicans of Avrillé and Capuchins of Morgon that were to take place in Écône on June 29. This postponement of Holy Orders was motivated simply by the wish to ensure the loyalty of these communities before the imposition of hands on their candidates (cf. I Tim. 5, 22).
Please rest assured, Your Excellencies, Reverend Superiors, of my respectful and faithful priestly dedication.
Finally, Bp. Fellay has decided to postpone the ordinations of the Dominicans of Avrillé and Capuchins of Morgon that were to take place in Écône on June 29. This postponement of Holy Orders was motivated simply by the wish to ensure the loyalty of these communities before the imposition of hands on their candidates (cf. I Tim. 5, 22).
Please rest assured, Your Excellencies, Reverend Superiors, of my respectful and faithful priestly dedication.
Father Christian Thouvenot
_____________________________________
