As you've seen in the recent news, the head of the traditionalist Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX), Bishop Bernard Fellay, is meeting again with His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI.
When the Holy Father granted the universal indult for the Latin Mass, most Catholics assumed that this was a generous olive branch extended to the SSPX and that they would soon be reconciled. Even more, the Holy Father lifted the excommunications against the bishops of the four bishops of the SSPX...but nothing happened. Why?
It is becoming clear the SSPX isn't merely a "liturgical counter-revolution." For the SSPX, it's not just about the Latin Mass per se. As I understand it, the SSPX is becoming more and more anti-Rome and anti-Benedict XVI. Now that there is a universal indult and the excommunications have been lifted, they are emboldened.
I once met a priest who had been involved in the dialogue between the Holy See and the SSPX. He said that theological debates with the SSPX are more difficult and confusing than theological debates with the Russian schismatics. At least with the Greeks and Russians, you know what the differences are. With the SSPX, you talk for three hours and find complete agreement the entire time. Then at the end of the meeting, the SSPX pulls away from the table and still identifies themselves as opposed to the Holy See. It's confusing and leads one to wonder whether the stance of the SSPX is one contrary to filial charity.
I attend the Latin Mass (in communion with Rome, of course). I also agree that the Catholic Church of the last 50 years has not experienced its golden age, but we cannot break from the Catholic Church and disobey the Holy Father. Like Padre Pio, we must always submit to the Holy Father and to our local bishop.
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