Ecclesiastical politicians have been circulating rumors for months that the Vatican and the schismatically traditionalist Society of St. Pius X are moving toward reconciliation. Pope Benedict certainly desires that, and thanks to its leader, Bishop Fellay, the SSPX's website is a masterwork of irenism. But don't believe the rumors and the PR.Some earnest talks have occurred, but the bottom line is that the trads reject certain aspects of Vatican II's teaching in the name of traditional Catholicism, even as progs reject certain teachings of traditional Catholicism in the name of Vatican II. If you don't believe me, check out the most recent remarks of an SSPX bishop, Tissier de Mallerais (pictured). And he's moderate compared with his colleague, Bishop Richard Williamson.
These are people who don't consider "more Catholic than the Pope" a joke. They acknowledge it as an honor even as they wish they didn't have to.
History has many ironies in the fire. This one isn't about to be stomped out.
