My dear brethren

The meeting of the Society’s superiors took place at Albano on 7-8th October as announced in last month’s newsletter, and Bishop Fellay did indeed use this opportunity to discuss the ‘Doctrinal Preamble’ text as received from Cardinal Levada on 14th September.

The first day of the meeting covered three issues: an overview of the contacts with Rome since 1987; a summary of the doctrinal discussions; and an oral exposition of the Doctrinal Preamble document itself.

With regard to the doctrinal talks it was disappointing to note that the Roman commission failed to acknowledge the break between traditional and conciliar teachings. Instead it insisted upon the ‘hermeneutic (interpretation) of continuity,’ stating that the new teachings included and improved the old!

It was interesting to learn that the 14th September meeting had not touched upon the doctrinal talks at all, but rather was dedicated to expounding possible practical solutions for the Society.

So it was perhaps not surprising to learn that the proposed doctrinal basis for any canonical agreement in fact contained all those elements which the Society has consistently rejected, including acceptance of the New Mass and of Vatican II as expressed in the New Catechism. Indeed, the document itself conveys the impression that there is no crisis in the Church...

Hence the stated consensus of those in attendance was that the Doctrinal Preamble was clearly unacceptable and that the time has certainly not come to pursue any practical agreement as long as the doctrinal issues remain outstanding. It also agreed that the Society should continue its work of insisting upon the doctrinal questions in any contacts with the Roman authorities.

In many ways we can see the hand of Providence in this meeting, falling as it did on the Feast of the Holy Rosary, given the clarification of Rome’s persistence in the modern errors, and the consequent necessity of continuing with the fight against modernism through fidelity to Catholic Tradition.

The second day of the meeting was dedicated to its original theme, that of communications and the media.

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The Assisi III meeting is taking place on the very day I write these few lines, at which occasion we are holding a day of reparation here at St George’s House, with all-day exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.

The scandal of this inter-religious gathering can be resumed into three points:

i/ It commemorates and celebrates the scandal of Assisi I;

ii/ It replaces the Faith with religious liberty as the means to obtain world peace;

iii/ It promotes on a practical level relativism and religious indifference.

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For other news:

St Michael’s School twentieth celebration on 15th October was a great success with many past and present families, staff, and pupils gathering together for the occasion. In particular, special thanks are due to Father Patrick Summers, for his very capable and dedicated headship these past five years, ably assisted and abetted by Father Gary Holden, the house-master (and enthusiastic Cadet Commander!), as well as to Sister Mary Elisabeth for her devotion and commitment to the work of primary and junior education. Ad multos annos!

Our six-day pilgrimage to Rome at the end of September went well also, thanks in no small part to the assistance of the group coordinator Mr John Wetherall. The event ended with the Holy Mass in St Peter’s Basilica celebrated on St Pius X’s tomb. We were delighted that Father Edward Black was able to join us for the duration from Australia, in anticipation of the Albano meeting.

The late Miss Joan Proctor of Leighton Buzzard, who died earlier this year, has left the Society an important legacy, and in addition to requesting grateful prayers for the repose of her soul, I would be interested in receiving any useful information so as to compile her obituary for the Mater Dei magazine.

Similarly, we are indebted to the late Mrs Patricia Kingon-Rousse of Herne Bay whose bequeathed property now allows the Fathers to have a base for their apostolate there. May she rest in peace.

I am looking forward to blessing St Andrew’s House new oratory chapel later this month in Carluke. Meanwhile renovations works continue both at St Mary’s House, Preston, as well as at our new Church of SS Peter and Paul in Liverpool.

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Whilst remembering the Holy souls in our prayers, Masses and visits to the cemetery, let us invoke their powerful intercession also for all our intentions,

Father Paul Morgan

Superior