Spes_nostra wrote:
To use your analogy, one would have to conclude that the "irregular canonical status" of the SSPX would mean that the institute has no status. Even Rome denies this today by allowing the SSPX to ordain and incardinate priests without dimissorial letters from the local ordinary.
You keep saying "incardinate" but I don't think the SSPX is actually "incardinating" anyone. To the best of my knowledge, they never have - even before the suppression.
Quote:
The incardination occurred in 1971, as reported by then-Fr. Williamson in a letter to "friends and benefactors": "Fr. Snyder's official incardination or entry into the new Society in 1971 is a part of Society history, because it was (and remains) a proof of Rome's recognition at that time of the Society's canonical standing within the Church, denied by many."
Let's see the decree of incardination then. The fact that then-Fr. Williamson made reference to it is not really evidence.
Quote:
It very much is relevant, because this example proves that Rome recognised the SSPX as more than just a "pious union", even before the five ad experimentum years were up. Thus, the 1975 suppression could not have been valid, as the bishop of the diocese where the SSPX's motherhouse was located exceeded his purview.
So you're saying that the SSPX was an association of pontifical right? That doesn't seem correct.
Quote:
Today, SSPX priests can be ordained without dimissorial letters from the diocesan bishop.
What do you mean by "can be" though?
Quote:
If they are not under the authority of that bishop, then who are they under? Ordinary jurisdiction for sacraments cannot exist without a proper relationship to episcopal---and by extension, papal---authority. It can only be concluded that they are incardinated into the SSPX, as there is no such thing as an "independent" priest.
The Pope himself, who has immediate and universal jurisdiction everywhere, gave them faculties. One needn't be incardinated for that to happen.
Again - what dicastery does the SSPX report to?