One of the four bishops of the Society of Saint Pius X (FSSPX / SSPX), Richard Williamson, visited Brazil in late August to administer the Sacrament of Confirmation to nearly 100 faithful who go to masses of "friendly communities" (communautés amies) of the SSPX, especially some traditional Benedictines.
The District Superior of the Society for South America, Father Christian Bouchacourt, released the following communiqué:
Fraternidad Sacerdotal San Pío X
Distrito América del Sur
El Superior
+Martínez [Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina], September 6, 2012
At the invitation of Dom Tomás de Aquino, prior of the monastery of the Holy Cross of Nova Friburgo [state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil], Bishop Williamson came to confer the sacrament of confirmation and give some lectures.
I would like to clarify that this trip was organized independently of the SSPX. Indeed, according to the directives left by our founder Archbishop Lefebvre, only the Superior General, Bishop Fellay in this case, issues mandates to the auxiliary bishops to undertake a pastoral visit. This procedure has not been respected, which is a serious act against the virtue of obedience, but also an attack upon the most elementary demands of courtesy. In addition, the District Superior's agreement was not requested as required by the statutes of our Fraternity. The harmonious collaboration that existed between the SSPX and the Monastery of the Holy Cross has been broken by this act of great gravity, so the organizers must take responsibility before God. Indeed, many faithful were deceived and attended the announced ceremonies and conferences believing that they had been organized by the SSPX.
After reading the article of Dom Tomás de Aquino, "Honor and Glory to Bp. Williamson", I firmly denounce the indirect accusations which were made suggesting that the SSPX would agree with Modernism and cease fighting in defense of Catholic Tradition .
Such insinuations are gratuitous, false, hurtful and injurious to our Superior General and to the members of the SSPX. I cannot remain silent. If Bishop Fellay rejected the outstretched hand of Rome on June 13, it was for doctrinal reasons. And it is because we reject the Modernism-influenced Vatican II which is the main cause of the ruin of the Church today and we want to continue saying this, it is also because we reject the Novus Ordo Missae that departs from both Catholic doctrine "entirely and specifically", that no practical agreement has been signed with Rome. This was the position of Archbishop Lefebvre yesterday and this is the position of Monsignor Fellay today. The General Chapter last July confirmed this [position]. Any other assertion is nothing more than a manipulation or lie. Any prophecy of a future practical agreement reveals an unhealthy imagination.
In early December, Bishop de Galarreta will come to visit and confer the sacrament of Confirmation in Brazil and other countries in our district as our Superior General planned for many months.
I invite the faithful of Catholic tradition in Brazil not to pay attention to rumors, to continue to support their priests with their sacrifices, prayers, and generosity, and to beg God to send numerous and ardent vocations to defend and extend the reign of Christ the King under the noble banner of Catholic tradition and the protection of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary. God bless you!
Father Christian Bouchacourt
District Superior
[French; tip: Chris Gillibrand]
Two days after this document was published, the SSPX District Superior for Asia, Fr. Daniel Couture, published an "Appeal to the SSPX Korean faithful" which begins with the following passage:
An appeal to the our SSPX Korean Faithful
September 8, 2012
Dear Faithful,
May the peace of Our Lord Jesus Christ and of His Immaculate Mother be with you all ! Our Korean mission is very close to their Hearts since the devil is now at work to try to undermine the work of more than 20 years. It is my duty to clarify many things to understand what is happening now.
A deal with modernist Rome?
Bishop Fellay said recently, in many public conferences in Australia, that nothing new would happen for the SSPX under the present pope. And if we consider the appointment last June of the German Archbishop Müller at the head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith – he considers Vatican II as infallible - the present situation is going to continue as it is for many more years.
Some however thought and prophesised that Bishop Fellay was going to surrender the SSPX to the modernist authorities, to the conciliar errors and to the new mass. They were certain this was going to happen in June. But it didn’t. They then announced it was going to happen in July. It didn’t. Now they say it will be in October, or November, it will not. Or in 5 or 10 years. It will not! They are like the false prophets announcing repeatedly that the end of world is imminent, and that we should store food in our houses in preparation. As a consequence people live in constant fear of what might happen soon. Those who are doing this today are leading souls by fear and away from Catholic Tradition.
...
1. Our Holy Faith
We profess as we have always done to maintain the Catholic Faith in line with the famous Declaration of Archbishop Lefebvre, in 1974:
We hold firmly with all our heart and with all our mind to Catholic Rome, Guardian of the Catholic Faith and of the traditions necessary to the maintenance of this faith, to the eternal Rome, mistress of wisdom and truth.
We refuse on the other hand, and have always refused, to follow the Rome of Neo- Modernist and Neo-Protestant tendencies, which became clearly manifest during the Second Vatican Council, and after the Council, in all the reforms which issued from it. … This is what we are, and, by the grace of God, what we will remain.
