Transcript:
Bishop Schneider believes that Catholics should not be concerned about the SSPX because the organization simply does what the church has traditionally done. He assures them that the SSPX is not outside the church. The organization is merely carrying out what the church has always done up until the Second Vatican Council. Bishop Athanasius Schneider, an auxiliary bishop of Astana, Kazakhstan, has urged Catholics to attend Masses celebrated by the Society of Saint Pius the 10th.
A video clip from the Confraternity of Our Lady of Fatima’s monthly video question and answer series featured guidance from Bishop Schneider. When asked if it is permitted to visit a chapel run by the traditional Society of Saint Pius the 10th, SSPX, he minimized and frequently stated concerns. He claimed that because the SSPX is not outside the church and is not in schism, its members are not excommunicated.
Bishops ordained in the society had previously been excommunicated, and the bishops themselves had always vigorously disputed these excommunications. However, as Schneider stated, Pope Benedict the 16th revoked this excommunication in 2009. The auxiliary bishop of Astana mentioned that the Orthodox Catholic organization established by French Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre has irregular canonical problems. Although he added that this should not stop Catholics from receiving the sacraments. During the year of mercy, Pope Francis already gave SSPX priests the authority to hear confessions. After the year was through, he continued to grant them this authority. In what was viewed at the time as a step toward potentially greater ties with the Vatican, he subsequently granted local bishops the authority to permit Catholics to be married by SSPX priests.
How can a pope provide permission to priests who do not possess the canonical ordinary faculties of the church? The Society of Saint Pius the 10th’s position is related to the exceptional crisis facing the church. They only carry out what the church did up until the council. Given that the bishop was requested by the Vatican to make an official tour to SSPX seminaries on behalf of the Holy See, his critique of the SSPX is very relevant.
In light of his previous studies, he stated that the canonical situation is irregular within the society. Because of the severe crisis that we have been experiencing since the council, we must be very sincere and acknowledge this. The first priority is the faith, the truth, and the liturgy, all of which the church always maintained. It was like this in the fourth century during the Arian crisis, he said. When there is an emergency of faith, the canonical legal aspect is secondary, and the first priority is the faith, the truth, and the liturgy.
Bishop Schneider recalled Saint Athanasius’ well-known remark, “They took all the structures, but we have the faith,” in reference to the excommunication of the saint for speaking out against the Arian heresy that was prevalent in the church. In addition to recognizing the legitimacy of the Pope and local bishops and praying for them, he referred to how the SSPX believes, worships, and conducts a moral life as it was demanded and recognized by the supreme Magisterium. It was observed universally in the church during a centuries-long period. He also called for full unity to be granted to them. This should be adequate. He suggested that the Holy See canonically recognize the SSPX.