Society of St. Pius X rejects dialogue proposed by the Holy See

The Society of St. Pius X has rejected the Holy See's proposal for a “specifically theological” dialogue, because the texts of the Second Vatican Council and the legitimacy of the liturgical reform would never be called into question. They have confirmed their intention to proceed with the episcopal ordinations scheduled for July 1. 

This response comes in a letter from Fr. Davide Pagliarani, Superior General of the Society, to Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, following their meeting on February 12 in the Vatican. 

In a subsequent statement, Cardinal Fernández described the meeting as “cordial” and “sincere” and mentioned that he had proposed initiating “a specifically theological dialogue” with “a precise methodology” on issues that still lack sufficient clarification. 

This proposal was accompanied by a request to suspend the episcopal ordinations announced on February 2, warning that such a move would “imply a decisive break in ecclesial communion (schism), with serious consequences for the Society as a whole.”

A week ago, Fr. Pagliarani had indicated that he would present the Vatican's proposal to the General Council of the Society, and he confirmed that “sufficient time was taken to evaluate it.” On February 18, the Society's response to the Cardinal arrived, signed by the five members of the General Council.In his letter to Cardinal Fernández, the Superior of the often-called Lefebvrians (named after Bishop Marcel Lefebvre, who founded the Society in the 1970s in opposition to the reforms of the Second Vatican Council) expressed his satisfaction with “the new openness to dialogue”. He saw this as a “positive response” to the suggestion he made in January 2019 for doctrinal discussion, in “a calm and peaceful moment, without the pressure or threat of excommunication.”