Bishop Eleganti: ‘SSPX is not the solution’ to Latin Mass suppression

In an interview with Ad Vaticanum, Eleganti discussed his views on Traditional Latin Mass (TLM) restrictions and the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX). While he acknowledged that the liturgical reform after the Second Vatican Council has its problems and criticized Pope Francis’ restrictions on the TLM, he said that the SSPX is not the answer to these problems because they are “schismatic and will remain just another Christian denomination.”

When asked why he thinks the liturgical question was “put on the back burner” again by the Vatican despite the illicit episcopal consecrations by the SSPX, Eleganti replied: “Because they want to play it safe and not change anything about Traditionis Custodes. The matter is based on a lie: in the survey, the world’s bishops did not want stricter measures; the majority were satisfied with Summorum Pontificum.”

“I believe we should take the criticism of the liturgical reform seriously and re-examine the issue,” the emeritus auxiliary bishop of Chur, Switzerland, said. “The cardinals should begin doing so at a consistory as soon as possible rather than avoiding the question. Ignoring the criticism and pretending that everything is fine is not a solution.”

He lamented that the marginalization of the old form of the Latin rite “has become institutionalized.”

“But there will be a backlash,” Eleganti added. “Grassroots movements from below cannot be stopped from above. They also demand an answer from the hierarchy. No answer is a bad answer.”

However, he stressed that “[t]he SSPX is not the solution, and we should not drive the faithful who are dissatisfied with the liturgical reform or with what they often see in parishes into its arms.”

“The SSPX is schismatic and will remain just another Christian denomination. It produced Bishop Williamson, who has already validly ordained other bishops at his own discretion,” he stated. “That shows where this leads.”

Eleganti was also asked about his immigration and the Vatican’s liberal view on the matter.

“It is not the Church but politics that must resolve this problem sensibly,” the Swiss bishop stated. “The Church preaches love of neighbor. It should not offer politicians advice on how to get the migration problem under control.”

“In politics, in recent decades, migration has been driven by leftist ideology; in the Church, moralism dominates the issue.”

“Many in the Church also lean to the left,” Eleganti said. “Pope Francis was the most prominent example of this.”