Have Your Say 

Recent Comments

1. Many years before the beginning of the Society of St Pius X.

   Posted By: Peter in Canberra

2. During the mid-sixties, the young pre-eminent theologian Joseph Ratzinger and his equally distinguished colleague, Jesuit Karl Rahner, were on the liberal wing of Catholic thought and believed that the Council would usher in a new spring-time of biblical scholarship, ecumenical endeavour and an engagement with the modern world within global Catholicism.
   Although initially under deep suspicion from traditionalist clergy and lay-people, Ratzinger realised that as the 60's progressed, the unwarranted liturgical changes and modernist interpretations of Church doctrine and teachings in the ‘spirit of Vatican II’, were potential threats to the whole spiritual program of renewal.
   Consequently he with like-minded theologians, founded the very influential religious publication Communio in the early 1970's, which provided a focal point for those who desired a genuine renaissance in Church life without compromising the basic integrity of the Gospel message. Joseph Ratzinger has maintained that course to this day, and is dedicated to promoting the genuine reforms of the Great Council as was his Blessed predecessor, Pope John Paul II.
   The damage done to the liturgical and doctrinal life of the Church by the distortions of recent decades will take time to repair, but recent pontificates have begun that work in earnest.
   

   Posted By: Gerry McIvor

3. Gerry: I don't agree with you at all. Ratzinger, while thought of initially as being on the liberal wing, moved to the very conservative side and towards being part of traditionalist ways of thought and action and not open to the many reforms in processes that are essential to a functioning organization which can delegate, take into account cultural differences, and try to listen to the people.
   Instead we are getting a more centralized hierarchial structure.

   Posted By: Lorraine

4. Firstly we must aknowledge that the Priestly Fraternity of St Pius X and their society SSPX, are indeed the main opponents of the second Vatican Council and continue that attiude today.
   Secondly, there is no denial that Joseph Ratzinger at that period of time was indeed plagued by a minor spirit of Modernism based on the Magesterium's standards, which seems to coincide with his friendship with the well known liberal theologan Hans Kung.
   This was a period of time in which they were teaching together at the University of tubingen, which is a well-known progressive and liberal town in southern Germany, which is very common today in many places.
   We must note that these things came to an end when our future holy father became highly conservative when he saw the results of such a mindframe of relativism in the rebellion by the generation of students at that time .
   As mentioned earlier, if the Society is indeed conservative regarding traditonal values, which is the reason which they schismed, therefore it is conceivable that they will indeed protest against Ratzinger.
   Fortunately his move to Regensbug enabled for his theological firmness and conservatism, that eventually allowed for the opportunity to head the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith and work towards the reform of the reform. Exemplified "Summorum Pontifium" and numerous other endevours to restore Catholic Identity which have been lost in numerous places.

   Posted By: George Manassa

• » Advertise in CathNews

Email to Friend Please fill out the following details (fields marked with a * are mandatory):
Send To Email Address*:
Send To Name *:
Sent By Email Address*:
Sent By Name *:
Text to include in email:
Captcha validation:	please enter the code above:

^ Page Top

Comment on this article

More from this section

1. CathNews Perspectives Vatican II special, delivered on Saturday

   This weekend, CathNews continues our special coverage to mark the 50th anniversary of Vatican II. Tomorrow's edition of CathNews Perspectives will feature a an article on the Council's first turning point, a reflection by Fr Michael Kelly on its fading legacy, and a book review about the Spirit of Vatican II.

   In these special editions, CathNews Perspectives will be delivered on Saturday mornings instead of the regular Friday afternoon timeslot.

    

2. Pope sends cardinals to Syria to promote peace, show solidarity

   A papal delegation of bishops, including Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York, will travel to the capital of war-torn Syria in late October to show solidarity with victims and encourage peace negotiations, reports the Catholic News Service.

3. Pope backs Orthodox Church against Pussy Riot desecration

   Pope Benedict XVI has expressed his solidarity to the Russian Orthodox Church against the “desecration” of a church by feminist punk rock band, Pussy Riot, reports Vatican Insider.

4. Bishop warns: don't cut medical costs by targeting elderly

   Western nations must resist the pressure to "scapegoat, abandon, even kill, the elderly as a cost-cutting measure," the Bishop of Parramatta, Anthony Fisher, said in a major bioethics lecture in England, reports the Catholic News Service.
   

5. Priest charged over alleged offences

   A former NSW priest has been charged with 25 child-sex offences relating to three girls, reports the Sydney Morning Herald.