The "Ecclesia Dei" Pontifical Commission's letter of 13 July has provoked reactions which are somewhat surprising. It is possible that at the root of these reactions lies the fact that certain phrases in that letter were either misunderstood or misinterpreted.
It seems therefore appropriate to give certain clarifications:
1) This Commission did not adopt/accept the allegations contained in the letter of a group of priests of the Fraternity of Saint-Peter; in its letter the Commission simply made reference to them, i.e., set out in its first three sub-paragraphs (indentations).
2) The withdrawal of the authority for the pre-arranged extraordinary General Chapter, planned for August of this year, is not, of course, concerned with the ordinary General Chapter to be held in the year 2000.
3) The General Superior is not in any way deprived of all his powers; he was only "asked to refrain from making any transfers" that might be interpreted as punishment by his fellow-brethren, signatories to the Recourse. The Commission's letter clearly stated that this measure was only "for the meantime", that is to say, during the period of preparation for the general assembly of the members of the Fraternity, thus, for a time that is quite short.
4) The aim of this assembly is two-fold :
a. it will allow members of the Fraternity to discuss freely between themselves the problems that undeniably exist at the heart of the Fraternity and which have led to this conflictive situation;
b. it will also be the occasion for all the Fraternity to take account of the problems that the Fraternity itself poses for other members of the Church, as well as for many Bishops, and to better situate itself in the reality of the Church. Conferences on these themes, which appear to us to be at the origin of the present crisis, may contribute to a clarification of ideas and to provide practical conclusions.
Finally, it seem important to state this : that it is absurd to suspect this Pontifical Commission of having an intention to impose upon the Fraternity of Saint-Peter the celebration of the Roman Liturgy reformed by Pope Paul VI. The reactions that have reached us from various countries reveal that even lay people were thus informed, incorrectly and tendentiously; and this, in spite of the Commission's express request that no publicity be given to this entire affair.
In the hope of having contributed to a greater clarity
Cardinal Felici's Revised Protocol 512