Traditionalist society says it's not time to reconcile with Vatican

Published: 2008-04-23

ROME (CNS) -- The head of the traditionalist Society of St. Pius X, Bishop Bernard Fellay, said the time is not right for reconciliation with the Vatican, despite expanded freedom to use the Tridentine rite. The reason, Bishop Fellay said, is that the liturgical move has not been accompanied by other measures aimed at reversing the "crisis" introduced by the Second Vatican Council. "Nothing has changed regarding Rome's willingness to follow the council's orientations, despite 40 years of crisis, despite the empty convents, the abandoned rectories, the empty churches," Bishop Fellay said in a letter dated April 14 and published on the society's Web site. Bishop Fellay repeated the society's frequent accusation that Vatican II introduced a mistaken vision of the church that is evident in the modern church's relationship with the world, with other religions and with states. He said the society "rejoices" that Pope Benedict XVI has allowed wider use of the preconciliar Tridentine rite, but said resistance among bishops to the older rite has been "at times brutal."

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