Vatican hopes for peace fade as tridentinists dig in

rBy
Frances Gumley
THE VATICAN'S hopes for an eventual reconciliation with Archbishop , Lefebvre and his followers seems to be fading as the traditionalists in Switzerland, France and Britain become more entrenched in their opposition to the reforms of Vatican 11.
In France they have pursued a policy of occupying churches while rejecting offers from Cardinal Marty, Archbishop of Paris, of a church set aside for their use. In England, the traditionalists led by Fr Peter Morgan are known to be discussing the purchase of a church for their exclusive use
A Scottish printing press has just produced a collection of Archbishop's Lefebvre's Writings and sermons, tracing his growing disapproval of Vatican reform. Municipal authorities at Econe in Switzerland are reported to be considerng an application for planning permission for contruction of a cathedral. The tridentinists in Fribourg, Switzerland, are preparing for the ordination of 14 Traditionalist priests by Archbisop Lefebvre on June 29.
Such action will be in direct defiance of the Vatican order last July which suspended the Archbishop from priestly duties. Bishop Pierre Mamie of Lausanne, Geneva and Fribourg,, has warned Archbishop Lefebvre that ii a planned Mass and Confirmation in the preconciliar rite go ahead, it could lead to an "open break" with the Church.
Archbishop Lefebvre is to inaugurate a priory at Onex, near Fribourg. In a letter to all Catholics in his diocese, Bishop Mamie said: "By participating in this ceremony of dedication,
you will become accomplices to a challenge and an act of breaking away, and you would participate in the birth of a C ounter-church."
It was hoped that talks between Archbishop Lefebvre and two Vatican theologians at the small town of Albano, outside Rome, would begin to heal the breach between the Archbishop and the Pope.
But one of Archbishop Lefebvre's aides said that little progress had been made. Some Vatican reforms and liturgical questions had been discussed but had resulted only in a "confirmation of the status quo" in relations.
At the weekend Fr Romeo Panciroli, a Vatican spokesman, expressed the Vatican's unhap piness over the Archbishop's persistent defiance of directives from Rome.
Fr Panciroli was particularly critical of the forthcoming illicit ordinations at Fribourg. "If he acts in this way Mgr Lefebvre will disobey a formal ban by the Pope and disregard his suspension a divinis which since July 1976 has barred him from every act of the sacred ministry.'
Clearly worried by ihe implications of the Archbishop's action, Fr Panciroli added: "Will he continue on the road towards a separated church headed only by himself? This clearly would be extremely serious."
This Sunday Archbishop Lefebvre confirmed about 100 children and celebrated Mass in the Tridentine rite at the occupied church of St Nicholas du Chadonnet on the left bank of Paris. Traffic in the Boulevard Saint Germain was blocked for 15 minutes by crowds applauding him.
The Archbishop told French reporters: "If Cardinal Marty had come to St Nicholas, he would have been received as the Archbishop of Paris, But would not have welcomed him."