On the pre-55 Feast of the Stigmata of St. Francis, Roman-Seraphic Books, a Traditional Franciscan Publisher, has released “An Open Letter to Sincere Supporters of the SSPX from Traditional Catholics” which is meant to address “Grave Concerns Regarding Doctrine and Discipline in the SSPX.” The letter begins:
Dear Fathers, brothers, & sisters,
In fraternal Charity, and with due respect for your devotion to the Catholic Faith in its integral splendor, we write to you seeking answers to certain grave issues we have identified, for the good of the many thousands of fellow Catholic faithful who, like us, are sincerely concerned for the future of Traditional Catholicism. For many years Catholics of good will have been seeking a form of liturgical stability and doctrinal clarity from the Hierarchy instituted by Our Lord for this very purpose – we seek indeed the Good Shepherd. Yet time and again we do not recognize the voice which calls to us, because what we hear does not quite sit well with our Sensus Fidei, which urges us to demand the truth and demand it unambiguously. In this honest desire we find unity amidst a time of division.
Because you have stood up in the midst of this time of confusion to defend and confess the Catholic Faith, the Church, and her Sacraments, we ask you therefore to continue in this holy purpose and assess our concerns with patience and reflection concerning the Priestly Fraternity of St. Pius X.
The Priestly Fraternity of St. Pius X has for several decades been providing all the Sacraments and formation typical to ordinary Parish life to the faithful across the world, following the Pre-Conciliar Rites, offering them a place to live their Catholic life. The demand for this very thing is great in the Church, and grows every day. Naturally, as time goes on, many new families will begin depending on these Priests for the Sacraments so long as they believe in conscience that these Sacraments are valid and licit, and that these Priests are worthy of their trust.
This is precisely why we are writing to you, and all those who, though not members or public advocates of the Society of St. Pius X, nevertheless stand up to defend the orthodoxy of the SSPX, and the liceity of their Sacraments, stating that the faithful are free to attend and communicate in Ministries provided by them. The composers of this letter have very deep concerns regarding these claims, as it seems to us that not only does the SSPX find itself gravely deficient in matters of Church doctrine, but indeed administers the Sacraments in a way contrary to the Divine Institution of the Church, and thus illicitly. Because these are very grave concerns that should be substantiated, we would like to present to you in the following pages why we believe this is the case, asking you to patiently consider these points, as coming not from an enemy, but from a brother who seeks the good of the Church.
