SSPX bishop criticizes ‘Modernist Rome,’ says Pope Benedict ‘remains Modernist’
June 14, 2012
One of the four bishops of the Society of St. Pius X has told a French weekly that negotiations intended to lead to full communion between the Society and Holy See leave him “indifferent.”
“The Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX) has never left the Church,” said Bishop Bernard Tissier de Mallerais. “It is in the heart of the Church. There where the authentic preaching of the faith is, there is the Church. This project of 'officialization' of the SSPX leaves me indifferent.”
“We have no need of it, and the Church has no need of it,” he continued. “We are already on the pinnacle, as a sign of contradiction, that attracts those noble souls, that attract lots of young priests, despite our pariah status. One would wish to place our lamp under the bushel for our integration in the conciliar world. This status that is proposed to us, of a personal prelature, analogous to that of Opus Dei, is a status for a state of peace. But we are currently in a state of war in the Church. It would be a contradiction to wish to ‘regularize the war.’”
Bishop Tissier de Mallerais added:
The irregularity is not ours. It is that of Rome. A Modernist Rome. A Liberal Rome that has renounced Christ the King. A Rome that had been condemned in advance by all Popes up until the eve of the [Second Vatican] Council …
It is certain that Benedict XVI has made some gestures in favor of Tradition. Especially by declaring that the Traditional Mass has never been suppressed and, in second place, by suppressing the so-called excommunication that had been declared regarding us following our episcopal consecration by Abp. Lefebvre. These two positive gestures drew bitter complaints from the episcopates towards Benedict XVI. But Pope Benedict XVI, while he is Pope, remains Modernist.
“It is true that the Pope is very pleasant,” the bishop continued. “He is a kind, polite, thoughtful man, a man who is discreet, but possesses natural authority, of man of decisiveness, who has solved many problems in the Church with his personal energy. For instance, problems of morality in this or that priestly institute. But he is imbued with the Council.”
Bishop Tissier de Mallerais made his remarks on June 1; they have been published in the new (June 15) issue of Rivarol.
For all current news, visit our News home page.
- Mgr Tissier de Mallerais : “La foi passe avant la légalité” (Rivarol)
- Bishop Tissier de Mallerais: "The irregularity is that of Rome, a Modernist Rome." (Rorate Caeli)
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Posted by: demark8616 -
Jun. 22, 2012 9:36 PM ET USA
"..but he is imbued with the Council." These words reflect an attitude and form the SSPX mandate. "This conciliar church is schismatic because it has taken as a basis for its updating, principals opposed to those of the Catholic Church. This conciliar church is therefore not Catholic!" "How could we, through a servile and blind obedience, go along with these schismatics who demand us to collaborate in their attempt at the DESTRUCTION OF THE CHURCH? Archbishop Lefebvre Interview Le Figaro 1976
Posted by: demark8616 -
Jun. 16, 2012 2:25 AM ET USA
This bishop along with Bishop Williamson are published by True Restoration Press. His booklet, Faith Imperiled by Reason is a garbled lengthy accusation of heresy against the Holy Father and the Church. The cover picture on this booklet tells it's own story,..he strikes a very 'Papal' pose. For the decade or so, he has been the sole head of a SSPX Commission that grants annulments of marriage to it's members - a function particularly Reserved to the Holy See (may only be granted by the Pope)
Posted by: djcastel7241 -
Jun. 15, 2012 12:06 PM ET USA
This does not bode well for the SSPX coming into full communion without splitting. Bishop Tissier de Mallerais practically accuses the Pope of heresy, and implies that the authoritative center of the Church is in the SSPX, not "Modernist" Rome. There cannot be full reconciliation with those bishops who insist that Vatican II, even rightly interpreted, is heretical, and are unwilling to consider that their evaluation of post-Conciliar teaching, rather than the Pope's, is erroneous.
Posted by: demark8616 -
Jun. 15, 2012 5:11 AM ET USA
This 'noble' warmonger uses characteristic 'double-speak' to gloss over rampant disobedience & it' consequences... St. Thomas Aquinas defines schism in the following manner: "Schismatics are those who refuse obedience to the Sovereign Pontiff and who refuse to communicate with the members of the Church subject to him." (Summa Theologiae, IIa, IIae 39
Posted by: AgnesDay -
Jun. 14, 2012 4:44 PM ET USA
This sounds so much like the protests of Luther nearly five centuries ago.
Posted by: koinonia -
Jun. 14, 2012 10:46 AM ET USA
In the real world, one that saw the abdication of a valid pope in deference to the higher good in resolving the Great Western Schism, the current proposal- especially in light of all Pope Benedict has ceded to the SSPX to date- merits consideration. Indeed, it must be considered. The reorientation directed and even demanded by the Holy Father with regard to Tradition is absolutely remarkable. In fact it is hard to tell who is more a maverick in the world today than the Holy Father himself.