SSPX offers 2nd response to Vatican on 'Doctrinal Preamble'
January 17, 2012
The Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) has reportedly submitted a second response to the Doctrinal Preamble that was drafted for the group's affirmation.
Vatican journalist Andrea Tornielli of La Stampa reports that an original reply from the SSPX was submitted in December, but the Vatican asked for more clarification. The Ecclesia Dei commission, which is handling discussions with the SSPX for the Vatican, is now assessing the new answer, Tornielli says.
In December, the same reporter had written that Vatican officials were somewhat surprised by the first SSPX response, submitted by Bishop Bernard Fellay, the head of the traditionalist group. The Vatican had expected the SSPX to recommend amendments to the Doctrinal Preamble, he said, but the first response did not include such suggestions.
Bishop Fellay has indicated that the SSPX is not prepared to accept the Doctrinal Preamble in its current form. But the Vatican has indicated an openness to changes. For that reason, the Vatican ordered that the text of the Doctrinal Preamble should not be made public until talks with the SSPX have reached a conclusion.
The Doctrinal Preamble was presented to the SSPX in September, as the basis for an agreement that would allow the reconciliation of the SSPX with the Holy See. If the traditionalist group accepts the text, acknowledging the authority of Vatican II teachings, the Doctrinal Preamble could be issued along with a canonical document regularizing the position of the SSPX within the Church.
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