Fr. Z has a good post up with some questions going through a lot of people's heads. There's more, so follow the link below this to read the rest...
I am seeing a lot of confusion in the wake of the lifting of the excommunications of the bishops of the SSPX.Read the rest at the blog of Fr. Z: MISCONCEPTIONS: What the “lifting” of the SSPX excom’s means for people
Let’s get some things clear.
VERY LITTLE HAS CHANGED JURIDICALLY except in the status of those four bishops.
I hope that this has helped to change the "atmosphere" surrounding these problems.
The "lifting" of the excommunications is a first step in the long process that still remains.
Q: Is the SSPX now legitimate?
Not in a juridical sense, no. The SSPX still does not have the approval of the Pope or of a diocesan bishop. It is still a separated group, though these days many prefer not to speak of "schism".
Q: Is it okay for the SSPX bishops to ordain now?
No. The bishops of the SSPX are validly consecrated bishops, but the fact remains that they were illicitly consecrated. That hasn’t changed. They are still not reconciled with the Bishop of Rome. They are still suspended a divinis. They still have no permission to exercise ministry in the Church. They may not licitly ordain. They have no authority to establish parishes, etc.
Q: Are the chapels of the SSPX okay now?
Not in a juridical, legal sense, no. Many good things can happen in one of those communities, but the SSPX chapels are not, because of the lifting of the excommunications, suddenly made legitimate. They are not reconciled by this move.
Q: Are the priests of the SSPX in good standing now?
Not yet they aren’t. The priests of the SSPX are still suspended a divinis. They say Mass validly, but without the permission of the Church, either from a faculty of the Holy See or the local bishop. They do not have the necessary faculties to hear confessions and give sacramental absolution except in danger of death.
Q: Is it okay to go to chapels of the SSPX for Mass?
Yes and no. It is still not "okay" to go to chapels of the SSPX if you are doing so out of contempt for the Holy See or Holy Father, etc. If are are deeply attached to the older form of Mass, and it is very hard on you to go without it, yes, you can attend these Masses our of devotion. You can fulfill your Sunday obligation still, because the 1983 Code of Canon Laws says you do.
But the fact remains that these are still chapels separated from unity with the local bishop.
In my opinion, it is not a good idea to go to these chapels exclusively except perhaps in very rare circumstances wherein there really is no acceptable alternative.
Fr. Ray Blake on the other side of the pond in the UK also has some good posts up worth reading:
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The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church; it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!
