Ordinations by Fraternity of St. Pius X Illegitimate
(17 June 09 - RV) The Holy See Press Office published the following communique at
midday today: "In response to the frequent questions that have been raised over
recent days concerning the priestly ordinations by the Fraternity of St. Pius X, scheduled
to take place at the end of June, suffice it to refer to what the Holy Father wrote
in his Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on 10 March this year: "As long
as the Society (of St. Pius X) does not have a canonical status in the Church, its
ministers do not exercise legitimate ministries in the Church. ... Until the doctrinal
questions are clarified, the Society has no canonical status in the Church, and its
ministers ... do not legitimately exercise any ministry in the Church". In the
same Letter, the Pope also announced his intention to change the status of the Commission
'Ecclesia Dei', making it part of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
There is reason to believe that the definition of this new status is imminent. This
constitutes a premise for launching dialogue with the leaders of the Fraternity of
St. Pius X, with a view to clarifying the doctrinal questions, and consequently the
disciplinary questions, which remain unresolved".