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Cardinal Zen Warns of FSSPX Schism - But “Respect Conscience”

Traditionalists appear to be divided, Hong Kong Cardinal Joseph Zen, 94, wrote today on his blog about the case of the Priestly Fraternity of St Pius X (FSSPX).

He suggests two things to consider:

1. A schism must be avoided with every effort, because it would cause serious and lasting damage to the Church.

2. A serious problem of conscience must also be respected: "How can someone be forced to follow teachings that evidently deny the Holy Tradition of the Church?"

Cardinal Zen doubts that a dialogue between the FSSPX and the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith will bear fruit:

"Tucho, who intends to undo the traditions of the Church - how could he not hate the FSSPX? He will probably be happy to see them excommunicated!"

Cardinal Zen trusts Pope Leo XIV, even though it is he who keeps Tucho as his prefect at the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith. Cardinal Zen refers to Leo XIV as "the good Father".

"Pope Leo XIV is someone who listens. He understands, and he will help his children understand that certain things carried out in the name of the so-called ‘spirit of the Council,’ but contrary to the Tradition of the Church, are not actually part of the Second Vatican Council."

The Cardinal adds that it is clearly a mistake to try to eliminate the Mass in the Roman rite: "The Novus Ordo did not respect the intentions of the Council Fathers. (Bishop Athanasius Schneider has gathered abundant evidence of this)."

Cardinal Zen’s naive conclusion: "Let us place our trust in Leo XIV."

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Mike the Pike

The Cardinal adds that it is clearly a mistake to try to eliminate the Mass in the Roman rite: "The Novus Ordo did not respect the intentions of the Council Fathers. (Bishop Athanasius Schneider has gathered abundant evidence of this)."

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Sandy Barrett shares this
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Sandy Barrett

Full text of Cardinal Zen:
The SSPX Case
Friday, 2nd week of Lent
Faced with the SSPX case, it seems that even traditionalists are divided. This is very understandable, as there are two things to consider:
A) Schism must be avoided at all costs, because it will cause serious and lasting damage to the Church; but on the other hand,
B) We must also respect a major problem of conscience: “How can we force someone to follow teachings that clearly deny the Holy Tradition of the Church?”
So, how can the case be resolved?
The SSPX has been sent to dialogue with the head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, but is there any hope for this dialogue?
Reading the first reading and the following responsorial psalm from today's Mass, it seems to me that we can see it this way:
Joseph = SSPX
Joseph's brothers = Cardinal Tucho
Ruben = Pope Leo (perhaps with the help of His Excellency Schneider)
“(Joseph's) brothers hated him.”
How can Tucho, who intends to undo the traditions of the Church, not hate the SSPX? He will probably be happy to see them excommunicated!
So is there no hope?
There is Ruben, the good brother!
There is Leo, the good Father!
The unity of God's family is close to his heart! But what if the children do not accept the Council?
Pope Leo is a good listener! He understands and will make his children understand that certain things perpetrated in the name of the so-called “spirit of the Council,” but contrary to the Tradition of the Church, are not of the Council!
And what about the Traditional Latin Mass? It is clearly a mistake to want to eliminate it! The Novus Ordo did not respect the intentions of the Council Fathers (His Excellency Athanasius Schneider has gathered abundant evidence in this regard).
When Pope Benedict speaks of “reform of the reform,” he has admitted the possibility of mutual enrichment between the two forms of the Roman Mass liturgy.
Let us place our trust in Pope Leo, who began [his Wednesday general audience] catechesis on the Council documents, to which we must all return!

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GerardN

Nearly 40 years after the 1988 consecrations we now have a Church far more compromised in spiritual warfare with the world than ever before. The Pope should seek reconciliation. He need only to reinstate Summarum Pontificum.

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Wilma Lopez shares this

Cardinal Zen has published a statement on the SSPX going ahead with the Episcopal Consecrations Cardinal Zen seems to be more sympathetic like Bishop Schneider on the topic saying 'Let us place our trust in Pope Leo".

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Irishpol

How pitiful. Cardinal Zen says the SSPX will be in schism if they follow through on the consecrations. He then goes on to advise faithful Catholics to place their trust in a Pope that has allowed the anti-God Communists to select their bishops and control what is left of the Catholic Church in China and Hong Kong.
As an educated Catholic man, Cardinal Zen should know that the SSPX will not be in schism with the Church even if they consecrate the bishops as promised in July. No one questions the fact that it would be an act of disobedience, but that is not schismatic.
Moreover, because the Church has been in a crisis since Vatican II, the very existence of the authentic teachings of the Church are being threatened. As a result the SSPX is as compelled to act today as Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre was compelled to act in 1988.
Consequently, few rational theologians would dispute the fact that the consecrations would be a classic act of “necessity” under Canon Law which would even justify their disobedience.
Cardinal Zen should know all of this, so I strongly suspect he did not decide to make this statement on his own volition, but was “encouraged” to do so because of some other matter that has not been disclosed.

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petrus100452

It is truly unbelievable how all these “orthodox” prelates (Müller, Zen, Schneider, Burke, etc.) see the errors and heresies within the Church, but do not (want to or dare to) draw the conclusion that Leo XIV is an impostor. It is such a mystery that I think we must conclude that it is not in God's plan for them to see it. It is like the Pharaoh of Egypt who was blinded by God and thus became an instrument of God's plan. I cannot explain it any other way.

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Seabass

Or, perhaps they are purposefully leading people astray.

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DrMaria

Long live Archbishop Vigano! He is the St. Athanasius of our times! The rest of the hierarchy have caved to compromising the Catholic and Apostolic Faith for their own convenience, just as Our Lady prophesied at Akita in 1973. This is the fulfillment of what is in the 3rd Secret of Fatima: the Great Apostasy begins at the TOP! This is also why Tucho, in union with Bergoglio and Prevost, have gone after Our Lady's titles and tried to degrade the status of Her apparitions that warn of the degradation of the Faith. March 7 is the First Saturday of the month. Honor Our Lady with a communion of reparation and praying the Rosary as She has asked. We are in dangerous times! Ave Maria!

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SonoftheChurch

“Trust Leo”?…..Hmmmm. I have a bridge in Brooklyn that I’d like to sell to the good Cardinal. 😐

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Opera 369

All these 'conservative' so-called cardinals all of a sudden genuflect to: 'gatekeeping' to the present directors of the Vatican. Pray that we liberate ourselves from these weathervane clerics!

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Faith of Our Fathers

What about the Bishop appointed by the Chinese who is not a successor of the Apostles? Where are the Cardinals Voices on this situation? Silence!

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Everyday for Life Canada

The Church has essentially abandoned the faithful to the CCP. The communist government chooses bishops and censors homilies.

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eva333

Zen, Sarah, Müller, Burke: their cowardice and blindness crush us. The other hierarchy openly defends the antichrist prevost. What awaits us but the demolition of Catholicism by those who should be protecting it from apostates and effeminate men, since they themselves lead the apostate-homosexual movement within the Church?

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Everyday for Life Canada

Men come and go, even men of the Church, but Christ is eternal. He’s in charge not us in the end. This too will pass. “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; by the Lord has this been done.”

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DrMaria

St. Athanasius pray for us! We are living through such a time as his! Archbishop Vigano is the Athanasius of our day!

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Everyday for Life Canada

This division is what happens when the pope doesn’t lead but is led in different directions. It’s the rotten fruits of SINodality.

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