Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei - Activities in 2009

Activities in 2009

In his letter of 10 March 2009 concerning his remission, on 21 January 2009, of the excommunication of the four bishops of the Society of St Pius X, Pope Benedict XVI announced his intention to link the Commission closely to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith:

This will make it clear that the problems now to be addressed are essentially doctrinal in nature and concern primarily the acceptance of the Second Vatican Council and the post-conciliar magisterium of the Popes. The collegial bodies with which the Congregation studies questions which arise (especially the ordinary Wednesday meeting of Cardinals and the annual or biennial Plenary Session) ensure the involvement of the Prefects of the different Roman Congregations and representatives from the world's Bishops in the process of decision-making.

This intention he put into effect with the motu proprio Ecclesiae Unitatem issued by Pope Benedict XVI on 8 July 2009. The Pope made the change because, he said, the problems to be addressed with the Society of St. Pius X were essentially doctrinal in nature. In its new configuration, the President is the Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal William Levada at the time of the change, assisted by its own Secretary and officials:

The task of the Cardinal President, assisted by the Secretary, is to refer the principal cases and doctrinal questions to the judgment of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith through its ordinary procedures, and to submit the results thereof to the superior dispositions of the Supreme Pontiff.

Concrete discussion of doctrinal problems, pending clarification of which "the Society has no canonical status in the Church and its ministers cannot legitimately exercise any ministry", began on 26 October 2009 with a meeting between experts of the two side, led on the part of the Commission by its Secretary, Monsignor Guido Pozzo, who has long been on the staff of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and on the part of the Society by Bishop Alfonso de Galarreta. Before the meeting, the Society's superior general Bishop Bernard Fellay indicated that the discussions could require much time: “The issues are vast. Our principal objections to the Council, such as religious liberty, ecumenism and collegiality are well known. But other objections could be posed, such as the influence of modern philosophy, the liturgical novelties, the spirit of the world and its influence on the modern thought that holds sway in the Church." The subjects actually brought up in the meeting were the concept of tradition, the missal of Paul VI, the interpretation of the Second Vatican Council in line with the Church's doctrinal tradition, the themes of the unity of the Church and of Catholic principles on ecumenism, the relationshiip between Christianity and non-Christian religions, and freedom of religion.

Meetings were to continue at approximately two-month intervals. Accordingly, the second meeting was held on 18 January 2010, with no information given on its contents. Shortly before that second meeting, Bishop Richard Williamson, speaking in his own name, not on behalf of the Society, said the talks are "a dialogue of the deaf".