Vatican extending open arms to Lefebvrists
Vatican extending "open arms" to Lefebvrists
Mar. 23 (CWNews.com) - "The Church is waiting with open arms" for the
restoration of full communion with the traditionalist Society of St.
Pius X,
Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos said today.
The Colombian prelate, who has represented the Vatican in negotiations
with
the Lefebvrist group for several years, spoke to reporters outside the
Synod
Hall in the evening of March 23, after the second session of a meeting
of
the College of Cardinals. Pope Benedict XVI had asked the cardinals for
their views on relations with the traditionalist group.
Although the cardinals' discussions took place behind closed doors,
several
prelates spoke with reporters after the evening session concluded.
Cardinal
Castrillon disclosed that the meeting had considered "the best formula"
for
allowing Lefebvrists to restore proper relations with the Holy See,
after
the breach that occurred in 1988 when the late Archbishop Marcel
Lefebvre
ordained four bishops in defiance of Vatican orders.
Cardinal Jorge Medina Estevez, the former prefect of the Congregation
for
Divine Worship, cautioned the media against blurring distinctions among
Catholic traditionalists. He reminded reporters that many
traditionalists
are in full communion with the Holy See, and enjoy the use of the Latin
Mass
under the terms of the 1984 apostolic letter Ecclesia Dei. These
traditionalists should be distinguished from the Lefebvrites who broke
with
Rome in 1988, he said. Regarding another theme that the Pope had
proposed
for the cardinals' discussions, the challenge of Islam, Archbishop
Jean-Pierre Ricard (who will receive his red hat at the March 24
consistory,
and was invited to participate in the earlier deliberations) said that
there
was talk about both the threats from militant Islam and the need to
cooperate with Muslims in defense of fundamental human rights.
Cardinal Christoph Sch�nborn (bio - news) of Vienna said that he found
the
day's discussions very productive, and hoped that such consultative
meetings
would take place more frequently. Similarly, Cardinal Julian Herranz,
president of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts, said that
the
climate of the day's meeting was open, friendly, and fraternal,
demonstrating the universality of the Church. At the conclusion of the
day's
sessions, Pope Benedict summarized the discussions, Cardinal Herranz
reported. The Pontiff had begun the day by asking for the cardinals'
views
on traditionalism, Islam, the status of retired bishops, and liturgical
texts.