The Vatican has summoned the head of traditionalist Society of St Pius X (SSPX) to continue the two-year doctrinal dialogue between the schismatic group and the Holy See.
Bishop Bernard Fellay of the Society will meet with top officials who are trying to normalise relations.
The meeting will also include Cardinal William Levada, head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
Talks between the two sides began in 2009 after Pope Benedict XVI lifted the 1988 excommunications of four SSPX bishops.
The talks focused on the modernizing reforms of the Second Vatican Council, which SSPX opposes. Pope Benedict XVI maintains that Vatican II must be interpreted in “continuity” with church tradition.
Vatican Insider is reporting the Vatican intends to offer SSPX a special structure similar to the “ordinariate” created for Anglicans who want to join the Catholic Church. The deal would require SSPX to give “full recognition” to Vatican II reforms.
Like the structure created for the Anglicans, a special SSPX ordinariate would allow the group to keep some of its own traditions.
Vatican Insider warns while representing a new step in the journey it is premature to provide conclusions for the September 14 meeting.
Sources