Bishop Fellay Contests Transalpine Statement
Regarding Supplied Jurisdiction for Religious Superiors

by John Vennari

            On July 18, Father Michael Mary, Superior of the Transalpine Redemptorists (now called Sons of the Holy Redeemer), stated his belief that religious superiors of “irregular” traditional orders, such as those aligned with the Society of St. Pius X, have no supplied jurisdiction. He further stated, “We asked the SSPX about this question and also the traditionalist Dominicans in France. Both agreed that there was no ‘supplied jurisdiction’ for religious superiors.”
            Many were shocked and puzzled by this statement. Why would Archbishop Lefebvre, a man whose knowledge of theology and canon law was profound, encourage traditional religious orders if the superiors did not have even the minimum supplied jurisdiction to receive religious vows, both simple and perpetual.
            On July 22, I telephoned his Excellency Bishop Fellay, Superior General of the Society of St. Pius X asking his comments on Father Michael Mary’s claim. His Excellency sent me the following statement for publication:

Response from Bishop Fellay

Dear Mr. Vennari,

            Thank you for the phone conversation of today.
            I can affirm to you that we never had any problem in justifying our jurisdiction or the one used in the various religious Congregations of Tradition.
            I am very surprised to hear that Fr. Sim (Father Michael Mary) pretends that we would either agree or not have any answer to what I call his problem. Of course, when one does no longer realize that there is a crisis in the Church, one may fall into such problems.
            The supplied jurisdiction is a broad term which explains that in certain cases where the normal, "ordinary" channel of authority does not work properly, the Church does come to help.
            The Code of Canon Law does mention this supplied jurisdiction for the exercise of some sacraments. But it can be easily extended to other situations whenever an act of authority is exercised outside of the ordinary channel of authority, due to peculiar circumstances, especially human failure. The Church is not a tyrannical nor a positivist or legalist body.  When it says that the supreme law is the salvation of souls, it just recalls to everybody that this is the very reason for the laws and authority in the Church.
            The Catholic Church has such a consideration of the importance of salvation of souls, that, knowing of the human failures, as a good Mother, she will do all she can to overcome the obstacle of human error and failure. Hence the supplied jurisdiction, a jurisdiction given ad casum directly by the institution of the Church to secure even more certainly the salvation of souls.
            This same principle can obviously be applied to religious communities.
            With my prayers and blessing

            +Bernard Fellay

posted  July 22, 2008:
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