Bad experiences with the SSPX?

[michaeorapronobis]

Completely by accident today, I came across a website (http://sspx.agenda.tripod.com/id84.html)  saying that some SSPX priests were not very holy, that they couldn't wait to get confession over with, that people who went on a retreat didn't get to go to confession until the fourth day (out of 5) or something, and various other things, which I didn't read. At the end, it said something like 'Do you really want to associate with a group that does/promotes these sorts of things?'

Now the one SSPX priest that I have met seems very nice and not at all like the ones described in the document. A traditional Catholic family I know has been to the SSPX church in Wanganui, the only city in New Zealand with a proper SSPX Church and school, and they say the other priests there are very nice as well. They have even met Bishop Fellay.
However, I am basing my opinion of the SSPX on one priest and one traditional family. Is what is mentioned on this site actually true of all or most SSPX priests, or are there just a few bad apples in the Society? I know there would be priests like this in the Conciliar Church, Protestant Churches etc, and that it is easy to dig up dirt on anyone. Plus not everything on the internet is true, but I am worried. Has anyone else ever had bad experiences with them, or have most people found them to be really good and nice? Please help me.

If the SSPX turned out to be really bad, I don't know what I would do. I adore the traditional Mass and Sacraments, and follow the traditional faith, but the main Masses I attend are indult (offered by a traditional priest ordained in 1955) and SSPX. I only attend the NO Mass because I have to, and I have the consoling thought of SSPX and indult Masses twice a month. I wouldn't want to go to FSSP Masses, as they don't teach the traditional faith (and there is no FSSP Church in New Zealand anyway), neither do I want to join a sedevacantist group, as that is the easy way out, and it schismatic and heretical anyway (also to mention there are no sedevacantist churches in my city, or even in NZ, to my knowledge).

Can anyone help set my mind at rest about the SSPX?

[dominic1015]

There might be one or two isolated instances where a priest might say or do something wrong.  But, this site that you visited is one of many  designed to discredit the SSPX and Traditional Catholicism in general.  Most of what they say can easily be disproved.
I've been to 3 Churches of the SSPX and 1 with the SSPV and have yet to have a bad experience in my almost 11 years of being a Trad.

[lumengentleman]

I was trying to recall exactly how many SSPX priests I know ... probably somewhere in the neighborhood of 8-10.  Of that number, only two of them had serious issues that I hope one day they will address.

[AdoramusTeChriste]

I think that there are several anti-SSPX websites out there; most are hosted by disgruntled ex-seminarians.

 

All priests are human beings and as such are subject to trials and temptations, perhaps more so than the rest of us.

 

Btw, I think it is customary to put off the general confession until later in the retreat. It would be a bit pointless on say, the first or second day. When the Stronsay Redemptorists came to preach a mission at my chapel, confession did not begin until after the third day's great sermon.

 

So you see, if a website is trying to impugn the intentions of the SSPX by calling attention to confessions put off 'til the end of a retreat, it is true, but it is also misleading to cast it as a source of scandal.

[dismas]

I went on an SSPX retreat at St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary. We did not confess until near the end of the retreat in order to make a full and complete examination of conscience prior to confessing.

 

There are good and bad NO priests, and good and bad traditionalist priests (in and out of the SSPX). Where I note a difference is in their formation. IMHO, the SSPX priests are better formed, and generally speaking, have a great deal of zeal for souls.

[ChantCd]

I've been involved with the SSPX for 6 years now. I've met a lot more than 8-10 priests! As a seminarian for over 3 years, I got to meet plenty of the priests, especially at the annual Priests Meeting held at the seminary.

I can tell you this -- the SSPX forms good, Catholic priests by using time-tested formulae (which I experienced first-hand!) Namely, Ignatian and other silent retreats, weekly confession/spiritual direction, daily Mass, daily Rosary, mandatory daily spiritual reading and scripture reading, a bit of manual labor, Divine Office in common, Thomistic philosophy and theology, and 100% pre-Vatican II textbooks and teachings.

I was extremely edified at the number of holy priests and seminarians I met. Some were conspicuous for their spirit of poverty; others for their wisdom, charity, knowledge, humility, prudence, zeal for souls, Marian devotion, or all of the above!

It is true that the SSPX is PART OF the almost 2000 year old Catholic Church -- but last time I checked, the Church was still made up of men, not angels. SSPX priests are Catholic priests -- nothing more, nothing less -- just like hundreds of thousands of other priests over the ages. They are still tempted, and I'm sure that on the path to sanctity there are many bumps in the road. How can people expect perfection, when they themselves are not perfect? But I suppose it is normal that they should expect priests to be absolutely perfect (something I learned from spiritual reading -- this is why the Cure of Ars took his vocation so seriously.) A parish priest has to possess so many virtues all at once, and his every flaw is noticed by all. Notice how few parish priests have been canonized!

The SSPX priests I have met ranged from the average, "good solid Catholic priest" to the more saintly "God gives me more than I deserve by allowing me to cross paths with such a holy priest."

Catholics are supposed to have charity toward others -- be hard on yourself, but make tons of excuses when you notice others' faults. Priests are no exception to this rule, believe it or not. Nowadays, people are used to judging their priests, even when they are not from a Novus Ordo seminary. Remember, before Vatican II a Catholic had NO REASON to EVER judge his priest! In fact, that is why so many Catholics accepted the Novus Ordo -- because no one questioned the priest. Now you have the pendulum swinging all the way over to the opposite position. It's human nature, and natural -- but it still must be resisted. Yes, it is true that many priests violated the peoples' trust by pushing the Novus Ordo Mass and many concommitant abuses on them. But judging your parish priest is NOT the norm in the Catholic Church. It is a bad thing, and we ALL must fight against it.

Remember what a sacrifice it is to give your life for souls. Also remember that seeking a bit of comfort is something EVERYONE is tempted to do. Seeking comfort is another way of saying "dodging small crosses" which we all do, probably every day. Basically it is giving in to nature, or giving in to one's temperament to make things a bit easier.

People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. And don't think that because you criticize every priest that says Mass, that you're somehow "zealous and holy, pure in your Faith." That is a deception of the devil. It is more holy to seek to please God, to love all men and seek their salvation, and when you see faults in others, to focus on your own faults. Most of the time, others' faults bother us because our own souls are not pure. We relish in finding priests imperfect, because it allows us to be even MORE imperfect. If we catch a priest watching "Lord of the Rings" (perhaps the only movie a priest watched for a whole year) we feel justified in leaving our TVs on ALL DAY like everyone else, even when we're not watching them, and watching shows like "Family Guy", "CSI", MTV and other garbage. It's the famous "Give them an inch, they'll take a mile." Just meditate on this for a while, and see if that isn't true. It is as old as the hills, not exclusive to any time, country, or ethnic group.

Though I should add, that the present-day USA is VERY MUCH prone to judge a group by an individual member. How many people leave the Church (or the SSPX) because they don't like "Fr. so-and-so" or "Fr. so-and-so made me really mad." How rational is that? Is this priest the SSPX incarnate? Can he not be an EXCEPTION that is skewing your perception of the group in question? Now women are supposed to be people-centered -- big on intuition and personalities, but men should be focused more on abstract ideas and principles. (That's a bit off-topic for this post, but I can certainly say it's true. My wife is always noticing PEOPLE at Church, who is there or not there, etc. and even when she reads forum posts, she's more interested in the people than in the ideas) If the SSPX is a good organization, it doesn't matter how many imperfect priests they have -- they are doing the best/right thing, and that's all we can ask for.

If you want more holy priests, start praying and making sacrifices! God will grant us holy priests if we pray for them. He has already given us several, many of whom are associated with the SSPX.

I hope this helps.

 

In Christ,

Matthew

[ChantCd]

Women are normally inclined toward gossip, but I see more and more men taking up the habit.

 

Men should have an easier time with this vice, just as women have a much easier time with vices such as impatience and anger.

 

Just try to remember that when you discover a fault in a priest, you have not "found a treasure" but rather a great cause for sadness.

 

Also, remember what Scripture says about those who are like "a woman in labor" when they have discovered a secret, and they feel they will burst if they do not tell it to someone. They are called fools, as opposed to wise. Throughout Scripture, a wise man is synonymous with a holy man. Do the math

 

So having a scorecard for each priest is NOT something to be proud of.

 

In Christ,

 

Matthew

[Mernoc]

You do not go to Mass for the priest or anyone else you go for yourself to worship and honor God, whether you like the priest or your fellow parishioners shouldn't come into it, humility is a virtue perhaps the fault lies with yourself.

[HMiS]

Completely by accident today, I came across a website (http://sspx.agenda.tripod.com/id84.html) saying that some SSPX priests were not very holy, that they couldn't wait to get confession over with, that people who went on a retreat didn't get to go to confession until the fourth day (out of 5) or something, and various other things, which I didn't read. At the end, it said something like 'Do you really want to associate with a group that does/promotes these sorts of things?'

Don't read such sites. They are filled with lies, half-truths, stories by frustrated ex-SSPX-clergymen and ex-faithful. It is nonsense to believe the SSPX itself is responsible for some misconduct by some  of its priests. And I never experienced the negative things mentioned, nor do I know of such incidents. They are probably very local and very particular cases. Nothing serious. The SSPX does not promote postponing Confession and other things. It is preposterous to say such a thing.

Now the one SSPX priest that I have met seems very nice and not at all like the ones described in the document. A traditional Catholic family I know has been to the SSPX church in Wanganui, the only city in New Zealand with a proper SSPX Church and school, and they say the other priests there are very nice as well. They have even met Bishop Fellay.

 

That's my impression of the SSPX too. His Excellency Bp. Bernard Fellay is a véry charitable man, and all SSPX priests I have so far met, are. They are zealous, they really want to discuss, but they are respectful too and knowledgeable. Truly the old-style Roman Catholic diocesan priests in not-fully-Catholic countries like Germany, Netherlands and England. They are a good breed.

However, I am basing my opinion of the SSPX on one priest and one traditional family. Is what is mentioned on this site actually true of all or most SSPX priests, or are there just a few bad apples in the Society? I know there would be priests like this in the Conciliar Church, Protestant Churches etc, and that it is easy to dig up dirt on anyone. Plus not everything on the internet is true, but I am worried. Has anyone else ever had bad experiences with them, or have most people found them to be really good and nice? Please help me.

 

It's the same story of the few rotten apples. If they lie atop, they might give the impression, that the rest is rotting too, while they are not. It is very easy to be negative about someone. The European Germanics say: It's always easy to find a stick if you want to beat up a dog.

If the SSPX turned out to be really bad, I don't know what I would do. I adore the traditional Mass and Sacraments, and follow the traditional faith, but the main Masses I attend are indult (offered by a traditional priest ordained in 1955) and SSPX. I only attend the NO Mass because I have to, and I have the consoling thought of SSPX and indult Masses twice a month. I wouldn't want to go to FSSP Masses, as they don't teach the traditional faith (and there is no FSSP Church in New Zealand anyway), neither do I want to join a sedevacantist group, as that is the easy way out, and it schismatic and heretical anyway (also to mention there are no sedevacantist churches in my city, or even in NZ, to my knowledge).

 

The SSPX is the best alternative there is, these days. The Indult might be good too. I would not be tóó hard on the Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP). Some of their priests are anti-SSPX, but most still sympathize and are even "suspect of Lefebvrism".

 

There are, besides the few SSPX and independent tradtionalist Roman Catholic chapels and churches in NZ, also sedevacantists in New Zealand. The group of the Rev. Fr. Thomas Fouhy was more or less associated with sedevacantists, and the CMRI of Mt. St. Michael's in Spokane, WA, have a priest, a school and a church in New Zealand.

 

Mind: I live in Western Europe, and I know these things. Search and Thou shalt find.

 

I would stick first with the SSPX though. Always. Semper fidelis, semper idem, semper catholicus, semper in Roma aeterna.

[catholicresistence]

THe only real negative thing I hear about SSPX is there is a certain bigotry there, not allowing foreign priests into SSPX's parishes, etc. Have heard from lay and clergy I know to be trustworthy.

 

I would only consider SSPX if from the original bishops, not the illict ones in 1988-Lebfrve(?) ahd no right to conterman a Pope, otherwise we all could decide we are in severe crises and ordain our own clergy based on the misreadig of certain Canon laws, etc.