Yet Another Debate Between Conciliar Bishops and the Society of Saint Pius X

Pastoral Letter Concerning the Position of Archbishop
Marcel Lefebvre and His Followers in New Zealand

The Second Vatican Council did much to open to the Catholic people, and to many others, the spiritual riches of the Catholic Tradition. A faithful response to the Council will continue to enrich the life of the Church and help its mission to the world.

It is well known, however, that there also occurred a certain polarization within the Church after the Council. On the one hand there were some who, under the pretext of greater fidelity to the Church, rejected the teachings and reforms of the Council. On the other hand, there were some who used a superficial interpretation of the Council to justify new positions which conflicted with Catholic teaching and practice.

What these two extreme and opposite positions have in common is that they both depend on private interpretations of the Council. In other words, they depart from the fundamental Catholic principle that the Pope and the bishops of the world acting collectively are the ones to whom is entrusted the responsibility, and the charisms, for deciding what is ultimately Catholic and what is not. Anyone who takes a position contrary to the Pope and the bishops, even if he claims to be defending the faith, is acting on the basis of his own interpretation.

Sadly, this is the position of Archbishop Lefebvre, who declared after the Council—and even before there had been time for any mistaken interpretations of the Council—that the Council's teachings and reforms were wrong and invalid.

At the time when Pope Paul VI was trying so hard to bring about a reconciliation with Archbishop Lefebvre, the Holy See kept the Pope's letter confidential so that Archbishop Lefebvre could reflect upon it without the pressure of publicity. Unfortunately, however, the Archbishop not only refused the requests of the Pope, but he also allowed a false interpretation of the Pope's intervention to be spread. And so in order to prevent other people from being misled, the Holy See felt obliged to publish full details of the Pope's letter. It was a letter full of compassion, but firm on the need for obedience and unity.

The Archbishop's Followers in New Zealand

In New Zealand, we presently find ourselves put in a similar situation. In the hope of not hurting those Catholics who have been following Archbishop Lefebvre, we have tried to avoid making statements that might make them feel further alienated from the Church. But our silence is being used to advantage, and priests have come to New Zealand to further Archbishop Lefebvre's work. Furthermore, some very false interpretations of the Catholic Church's teaching and actions are being spread. Attacks on the Pope, and on those who are loyal to the Pope, have been published in the magazine of the Society of St. Pius X and in certain "open letters." For these reasons, we find ourselves forced to make public comment, for the sake of Catholics who could be misled by those who are promoting the position of Archbishop Lefebvre.

We do not suggest there is any malicious intent behind their misrepresentation of the Church's official position. On the contrary, we understand that the people concerned are acting in good faith, out of sincere concern for the Catholic faith, and out of fear regarding changes which they have not always properly understood.

Pope Paul VI acknowledged that Archbishop Lefebvre's own concerns regarding the Council's teaching and reforms were for the Archbishop a matter of conscience. But he went on to say that this did not justify the Archbishop leading other Catholics away from their allegiance to the Pope or away from acceptance of the Second Vatican Council. We now say exactly the same to those in our country who are promoting the work of Archbishop Lefebvre.

We also say to them as Pope Paul VI said to Archbishop Lefebvre that abuses and wrong interpretations of the Council which have occurred in some parts of the world are not the same thing as the teachings and reforms of the Council itself. Rejecting wrong interpretations of the Council does not entitle anyone to reject the Council itself or subsequent official implementation of the Council.

Change is Normal in Tradition

It has to be said that Archbishop Lefebvre's position is based on his personal non-acceptance of the Council's teaching concerning liturgical renewal, ecumenism, religious freedom and the doctrine of collegial responsibility. (This was the case even before there had been time for any of the abuses which are sometimes alleged as reasons for rejecting the Council.) The Archbishop's present position is that by acting contrary to Church law he has incurred canonical penalties and continues to put himself more and more at odds with the Church. If he proceeds to ordain bishops without the approval of the Holy See, he will have excommunicated himself.

It is clear that the real issue is not solely, nor even mainly, the revised Order of the Mass. We respect the views of those Catholics who regard the changes as pastorally inappropriate, although we do not agree with them. But many of Archbishop Lefebvre's followers have gone further: they say the revisions which have been authorized by the Pope are not lawful and not valid.

The Catholic Tradition has never required a timeless adherence to only one Order of the Mass. The Mass is always the same—always the sacrifice of Christ sacramentally re-presented—even though its ordering can vary in different cultures and in different centuries. What Christ gave for the benefit of all races and all ages cannot be locked into the order that belonged to one particular time and culture. In fact, the Missal of Pope Pius V has been revised by several Popes, including Pope St. Pius X and Pope Pius XII.

It also needs to be said that the "Tridentine" order of the Mass is not a "rite." It was the form which the Latin Rite took as authorized by Pope Pius V in line with the reforms of the Council of Trent. The form which the Latin Rite now takes is that which Pope Paul VI authorized in line with the reforms of the Second Vatican Council.

Special Indult

In accordance with a special Indult of Pope John Paul II, the Catholic Bishops of New Zealand have permitted the celebration of Mass as it used to be before the Second Vatican Council. They have authorized certain priests to do this, out of compassion for people who have found the changes difficult. However, all Catholics are obliged to accept that the revisions authorized by Pope Paul VI are valid and lawful.

Understanding Change

We urge all who are concerned for the integrity and identity of the Catholic faith to study in greater depth the official teachings of the Church. Many of us grew up at a time of very pronounced uniformity in the formulation and practice of our faith. It was also a time when we tended to identify the Catholic faith by reference to particular Catholic practices which were not always the most central practices of our faith. As faithful stewards of the Gospel, we must know how to draw things both old and new from our Tradition. In other words, without compromising the essentials of our faith, we are obliged to find new ways of expressing it, teaching it and celebrating it that make it more easily accessible to people.

The Church has shaped the celebration of its sacraments in many different ways down the centuries without changing the essential reality of the sacraments. They are always Christ acting in and through the human signs.

The Church's manner of expressing and formulating its doctrines has also changed in different centuries—not because previous formulations were wrong, but because no human formulation of the faith is ever complete, and as previous formulations can always be fleshed out in new and complementary expressions.

When people do not realize this, they are inclined to see heresies and deviations from the faith where there need be none.

Always the Same Faith

The Church's mission is to make present and visible the mission of Jesus who came as proof of God's love for the world. In the lives of Christians, Christ lives on, loving the world, reaching out to it, calling it to repentance and offering reconciliation.

The uniqueness of our faith lies in the fact that it was God who came into the world in person of Jesus. In Christ, God offers the world what the world could never give itself. But the world into which He came was the world God loved. The Council's teaching on "The Church's Missionary Activity" illustrates beautifully how we preserve the uniqueness of our faith without spurning anything that is good in God's creation.

We invite all Catholics to adopt the same positive attitude. This is what underlies the Church's attitude towards ecumenism, respect for conscience (i.e., religious freedom), dialogue with non-Christian religions, etc. There is no question of watering down what we have received and must proclaim; rather it is a matter of acknowledging that the Holy Spirit of God is already at work in the world and in the consciences of people even before we reach them with the Gospel.

Disunity is Wrong

Finally, we wish to make it quite clear that when Archbishop Lefebvre or any of his priests in New Zealand celebrate any of the sacraments, including the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Marriage, they are acting contrary to Church law and without authorization by the official Catholic Church. Their actions constitute a sin against the unity of the Church.

Those Catholic people who prefer to attend Mass as it used to be before the Second Vatican Council, should avail themselves of opportunities when these are provided by priests authorized by the bishops acting in accordance with the Indult of Pope John Paul II.

With our prayers and blessings, yours sincerely,

Thomas Cardinal Williams, D.D.
Archbishop of Wellington

Denis Browne, D.D.
Bishop of Auckland

Edward Gaines, D.D.
Bishop of Hamilton

Peter Cullinane, D.D.
Bishop of Palmerston North

Leonard Boyle, D.D.
Bishop of Denedin

May 1987