What happened?
The society of St Pius X (SSPX) accused Pope Francis of spreading confusion and errors about the faith. A statement from the group said: “A great and painful confusion that currently reigns in the Church … requires the denunciation of errors that have made their way into it and are unfortunately encouraged by a large number of pastors, including the Pope himself.” It appears that attempts at reconciliation with Rome have stalled, and that the Society is divided over next steps.
What the media said
‘‘Francis is no friend of Catholic traditionalists,” according to the Associated Press, which added: “He has riled them and other conservatives with a host of comments they say are sowing confusion about core Church teachings on family, sex and other hot-button issues.” In other words, the news agency followed the common Francis narrative embraced by the secular media: conservatives don’t like the Pope because he is dragging the Church kicking and screaming into the 21st century.
This is in stark contrast to the take of the Catholic News Agency, which said the SSPX had simply made clear that its priority is administering “spiritual aid” to souls rather than striving “primarily” for canonical recognition. The Society has only one desire, it said: “to bring the light of the bi-millennial Tradition [to] this age of darkness”.
What the vaticanisti are saying
Fr John Zuhlsdorf said the SSPX’s comments were uncompromising. The statement said: “The ‘restoration of all things in Christ’ intended by St Pius X, following St Paul, cannot happen without the support of a pope who concretely favours the return to Sacred Tradition”. That suggests, Fr Zuhlsdorf argued, that the group would not agree to any kind of unity with the Church until “this or a future pope behaves in a way they determine is acceptable”.
Some news sources – such as the National Catholic Reporter – said that the SSPX “appears to have abandoned efforts to reunite with Rome”. But Edward Pentin, at the National Catholic Register, said Archbishop Guido Pozzo, the Vatican’s point-man for regularising the Society, told him the dialogue continued.
The most overlooked story of the week
✣ South Sudan is ruled by devils, says prelate
What happened?
A Catholic leader has said that South Sudan is ruled by “devils and criminals”.
Apostolic Administrator Fr Rocco Taban was speaking after violence in the country’s second largest city of Wau left 50 or so people dead.
In a homily at St Joseph’s Church, Juba, he condemned the government for its alleged role in the violence.
Why was it under-reported?
South Sudan’s political situation is complicated, with no clear good or bad guys and no international dimension to interest the Western media.
A civil war ended with a peace deal last August.
The violence in Wau – a city inhabited by a variety of tribes including Balanda, Dinka, Jur and Fertit, with simmering ethnic tensions – is between government soldiers and a new group of rebels. The clashes erupted just a short time before the country was due to celebrate the fifth anniversary of its independence.
What will happen next?
The country is in a “fragile stage”, according to Geoff O’Donoghue of Cafod. The conflict has left the economy struggling, with the South Sudanese pound depreciating by almost 90 per cent and with food prices rocketing.
On top of the conflict and economic crisis, South Sudan is also facing its worst food shortage in history, according to the UN food agency WFP. The agency has said 4.8 million people could go hungry before harvests are expected next month.
✣ The week ahead
Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri will give a piano recital on Sunday at the London Oratory’s St Wilfrid’s Hall. The event, organised by Aid to the Church in Need, starts at 7pm and tickets, which are £20 each, include a copy of Cardinal Baldisseri’s CD, Florilegio Musicale. For tickets, email [email protected] or call 020 8661 515.
Former MP Ann Widdecombe will give a lecture at Ealing Abbey on Wednesday about the relationship between mercy and politics. There is no admission fee and everyone is welcome. The event will begin at 7.30pm.
Bishop Declan Lang of Clifton will lead a pilgrimage to Glastonbury on Sunday. There will be time for Confession and healing prayer throughout the afternoon at Glastonbury Abbey and a rosary procession through Glastonbury town centre at 2:15pm before Mass at 3:30pm. The day’s patroness is Mary, Mother of Mercy.