Participants in discussions on some Resistance boards continue to maintain that the SSPX Chapels/Masses should be given a yellow light and that we should not stay away until we see erroneous doctrine being taught. They are missing a few points:
They are focussing on what is being taught – no current teaching error, therefore no problem. With this line of thought, the logical conclusion is that it is then permissible/required to go to Indult Masses, as they too do not currently teach error and do promote the Tridentine Mass. If this is sufficient, then there is no state of emergency, so there is no reason for the SSPX to exist. There are plenty of groups available within the structure of the Modern Church to meet this preference.
A further point that we can make is that the individual SSPX/Indult/NO priest, who may be personally solid, by staying within the organization represents the policies/principles of the organization. So, although the SSPX priest may be against the organizational policies/procedures, he still represents acceptability of 95% of Vatican II, acceptance of the new Code of Canon Law, NOM’s being legitimately promulgated (and therefore legitimate), etc.
The modern SSPX no longer passes on the fullness of the Teaching of the Catholic Church, partly by omission and partly by distorting the teachings of their founder. The fullness of the Truth is no longer sought, but a practical agreement becomes the target.
Lessons learned through observance of the many other Indult groups are ignored. Modernist Rome is considered trustworthy enough to be obeyed without criticizing their errors.
These participants, however, are not focussing on what is not being taught – omission of teaching about what doctrinal and pastoral errors are present in the Modernist Church. Thus, by not warning their flock of these errors, the SSPX is in fact condoning these errors. The average adherent then thinks that everything in the Church must be acceptable, otherwise Father would be warning him. The SSPX thus becomes guilty of sins of omission by condoning these errors; the adherents are at risk for what they are not being taught.
The decision to continue to attend the Masses/Sacraments is defended as claiming that they are still valid and are the normal means of Grace, therefore it is sinful to stay away from them. What is not considered is that God is not limited to normal means. If our Faith is at risk due to the factors noted above, then it is imprudent and sinful to accept these normal means from the compromised SSPX. We might as well go to the NOM, if it is legitimately promulgated and thus is itself the normal means.
We conclude then that this line of thinking is flawed and that one cannot continue to consider the SSPX Masses/Sacraments of being worthy of a yellow light, but must be considered as worthy of a red light.
1 thought on “Yellow light discussions continue”