For all traditional Catholics, the recent development of the Archbishop of Argentina’s recognition of the SSPX as a formal part of the Roman Catholic Church, is most welcome news indeed!
From SSPX news & events (on 13th April 2015)
A news report and clarification by DICI about Argentina’s recognition of the Society of St. Pius X as an institution of the Roman Catholic Church.
The news was announced today that the country of Argentina has officially recognized the Society of St. Pius X as an institution of the Roman Catholic Church.
From the SSPX’s international news site, DICI.ORG, we offer their news report which provides some important details and clarifications about this joyful development for our priestly society.
SSPX.ORG would like to thank the staff at the Rorate Caeli blog for providing a rapid translation of the announcement from the official bulletin of the Argentine government.
Argentina: the State of Argentina recognizes the SSPX administratively
On April 12, 2015, the Argentinian newspaper Clarin announced the decision of the Secretary of Religion, Guillermo R. Oliveri, published in the official bulletin of the Argentine Republic on April 9, 2015; according to this decision the Society of St. Pius X is recognized in Argentina as a juridical person and has been added to the Register of the Institutes of Consecrated Life in which are listed the Catholic orders and religious congregations present in Argentina.
This decision was made possible, among other formalities, by a letter from the archbishop of Buenos Aires, Cardinal Mario Aurelio Poli, addressed to the Secretary of Religion as a part of the procedures undertaken by the Society’s authorities in 2011. This letter, in which the archbishop of Buenos Aires “asked that ‘the Society of the Apostles of Jesus and Mary’ (Society of St. Pius X) be considered as an association with diocesan rights, until a definitive juridical framework is granted to it in the universal Church,” is a necessary condition for all religious congregations in Argentina.
Cardinal Poli’s document has no canonical authority, for he cannot substitute himself for the Roman authority that alone can settle the Society’s canonical status. It is simply a procedure that allows the State of Argentina to make an administrative decision until “a definitive juridical framework is granted (to the Society) in the universal Church.”
It is important to know that in Argentina, Catholic religious congregations can only exercise their apostolate within an administrative and juridical framework conditioned by their inscription in the register of the Institutes of Consecrated Life, on the ecclesiastical authority’s recommendation.
The fact that Cardinal Poli is Cardinal Bergoglio’s successor to the archiepiscopal see of Buenos Aires is a legitimate reason to believe that this decision was not taken without consulting Pope Francis. Nonetheless, it is nothing more than a strictly administrative procedure in the restricted context of the Republic of Argentina.
(Sources: FSSPX-MG/Clarin/BO Rep. Arg. DICI, 4-13-2015)
Catholicism Pure & Simple 
Both the SSPX and Rorate Caeli have, very honourably, played this news down a bit as being “purely administrative” — but it isn’t.
Because following this basically Papal decision, Catholics in Argentina may now ordinarily rather than extraordinarily meet their Sunday obligation at a SSPX chapel in that country — and Argentine Bishops may now, if they so desired, far more easily grant faculties to individual SSPX priests within their dioceses to provide the other Sacraments to the Faithful.
—
And perhaps this tug-of-war piece-by-piece reintegration of the SSPX into an improved state of partial communion with the rest of the Church is a better way forward than the more stubborn methods of the past — Sacramental reintegration especially.
—
BTW, this also opens a way for a new Bishop to be regularly consecrated for the SSPX, as the canonical rights that belong to an Association of Diocesan Right are extensive.
LikeLike
Thank you for this Jabba.
And after reading many opinions of Catholic bloggers and commenters spread over the web, that “perhaps this tug-of-war piece-by-piece reintegration of the SSPX into an improved state of partial communion with the rest of the Church is a better way forward”… is most likely the right one.
We can be hopeful. How greatly our beloved Church needs the faithful Catholic witness of the SSPX right now!
LikeLike
Keep in mind folks that this is ONLY an announcement made by a member of a State government and doesn’t affect the Church in any way nor her members. It doesn’t nor can it change the Canonical status of a schismatic group. The wound to ecclesial communion can never be healed by any State or her representatives. The history of St. Athanasius, Constantius and Pope Liberius and the Arians shows this. And that is only one example of a State and/or her representatives attempting to make those in the Church do or accept something contrary to her teaching and faith. Here is part of an interview with H.E. Archbishop Mueller from 2012 regarding the SSPX and it may shed some light on the issue and is very relevant to this article. Follow the link to read the whole article at the Vatican website. The question is being asked regarding the future reconciliation between the Church and the SSPX.
So in view of all of this, are you nevertheless confident and optimistic there will be reconciliation?
I’m always confident in our faith and optimistic. We have to pray for goodwill and for unity in the Church. The SSPX is not the only breakaway group in the Church. There are worse ones on the opposite side too. These movements are worse because they are often denying essentials of Christianity. We must work for unity, and so it is also my task is to invite all to come back into full communion with the Catholic Church, which is led by the Supreme Shepherd, the Pope – who is the Vicar of Christ. http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/muller/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20120913_interview-muller_en.html
If you follow the link, you will find there a pretty much complete list of the things those who are SSPXer’s need to do BEFORE they can be welcomed BACK into the Church. Although dialog has occurred and there has been progress over the years and even individuals who have left behind the errors of that organization to be reconciled to the Church, as a whole the SSPX is still in a willing state of separation from the Church and full Communion with her and this is precisely what no State nor her representatives can change by merely stating such wound healed by announcing it publicly. God bless. Ginnyfree.
LikeLike
P.S. I hope you guys n gals DO follow the link cause the link to the Vatican provides the facts, not the opinions of bloggers all over the net that simply repeat their own interpretations of things and not the Official Opinion, the ONE that counts! DUH.
LikeLike
Hello ginnyfree,
In answer to your question – yes, I am “optimistic” that one day the SSPX will be reconciled to the rest of the Catholic Church, although it could take time, and as has been said above, it may take place through a gradual reconciliation, diocese by diocese, rather than suddenly. Just guessing though… and hoping. 😉 The SSPX are, after all, wholly Catholic, as “the Supreme Shepherd”, Pope Francis told them to their face whilst still a Cardinal in Argentina, and according to Bp. Bernard Fellay, “you are CATHOLIC, that is evident”!!
In fact, for this reason, the SSPX are not a “schismatic group”, not formally so at all (although there are those within the Church who mistakenly describe them as such). It is only that they are currently in a situation of “canonical irregularity” – which is not the same thing.
The SSPX are traditional and faithful in their beliefs and practices to all that the Magisterium of the Church has always taught, i.e. to the Sacred Deposit of Faith. The problems are all centred on the dubious wording of one or two certain documents coming out of Vatican II… and on the SSPX’s loyal adherence to all the Catholic Church’s former devotions that disappeared in the aftermath of VII, most especially of course, to the continuing celebration of the most holy Tridentine Mass. Although (as I am sure everyone knows by now) it was never officially “abrogated”, it was cruelly denied to the Catholic faithful a few years after the close of the Council. Its fabricated replacement, the Novus Ordo Mass, is a pale shadow of the sublimely magnificent ‘Mass of the Ages’… and if “by their fruits thou shalt know them” has been the cause of thousands of souls drifting away from the Faith. Can anyone blame the saintly Archbishop Lefrebvre and his followers for wanting to preserve this Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for posterity? I can only thank them from the bottom of my heart for their fidelity and heroic perseverance in the traditions of the Faith that I believe will certainly be vindicated by history one day.
A schism is formed in the Church when a group breaks away from recognising the rightful Supreme Pontiff (like in the case of the Great Schism between East and West) and/or due to the teaching of a heresy. The Catholic Encyclopedia states that “practically and historically, heresy and schism nearly always go hand in hand; schism leads almost invariably to denial of the papal primacy.”
As you can see, the SSPX do not fall into this category. And of course, nor are they mentioned in the list of what are recognised as formal schisms in the history of the Catholic Church.
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13529a.htm
Furthermore, the SSPX has always been open to dialogue with the hierarchy in ways to regularise their current difficult situation. Most of them would very much wish to heal the wound of canonical separation from the One True Bride of Christ. What they in conscience cannot do is to compromise their Catholic beliefs to accept what they see as ways that undermine the fullness of Truth.
LikeLike
I read the whole of your link ginnyfree. A few further points…
The good Archbishop (now Cardinal) calls the SSPX “a breakaway group” – but can you say in all honesty that they really “broke away”? They stayed within the framework of the Catholic Church; it was others who broke away from the Church’s timeless heritage… and who tried to ‘force-feed’ disguised Protestantism to the ‘flock’. Many non-members of the SSPX (like me) are starting to wake up to that fact now. This is the reason we hope and pray so hard for these faithful Catholics to be reunited with us once again.
He mentions Bishop Williamson who has already been dismissed by the SSPX, partly for these very same reasons he mentions, so what he says here concerning Bp. Williamson is obsolete.
Card. Muller says: “The SSPX must accept the Holy Father, the Pope, as the visible head of the Church.”
They do just that! 🙂
LikeLike
Interesting. I just wonder, Ginnyfree, in what sense is SSPX a “breakaway group in the Church”? This is a genuine question, as I have really not understood it after examining the issue for some time. Clearly, having made that statement and used that phrase, you will be in a position to help me understand. Thank you.
LikeLike
Hello Kathleen. Thanks for the reply. EVERYONE who is Baptised is a member of the Body of Christ and therefore is Catholic. In full Communion with the Church however, is another matter. The SSPXer’s aren’t. Canonically their acts are schismatic. I won’t have time to type out the Canons that apply till tomorrow, but I will if you want to. God bless. Ginnyfree.
LikeLike
The usual Humpty Dumpty situation here: “Schismatic,” means exactly what the user wants it to mean, No more, no less.
Also which lot “broke away” from which lot. I suppose that matters.
As in: Will Greece “break away” from Europe, or will Europe “break away” from Greece?
LikeLike
SSPX Altar Boy Stumbles During Offertory
LikeLike
…Mass Deemed Invalid
http://www.eyeofthetiber.com/2012/10/09/sspx-acolyte-stumbles-during-offertory-mass-deemed-invalid/
LikeLike
…some of the comments underneath that “breaking news” item are a hoot. I especially liked “ThereseZ” from a “year ago” and “Fr Deacon Robert” from “two years ago”.
LikeLike