Report on possible effect of Vatican recognizing SSPX Masses

The report, prepared by Peter Karl T. Perkins, is posted under the title, "Preparing for the Third Anniversary of Summorum Pontificum: An ongoing worldwide report" (Rorate Caeli, June 28, 2010). Excerpts:

As the doctrinal talks with the S.S.P.X continue, many might wonder what effect a public recognition of Society Masses ... might have.

... In the past, it is likely that Rome did not recognize the ability of Society Masses to fulfill the Sunday obligation mainly because this might cause the faithful to abandon the New Mass in large numbers. It might have caused great division. ... Rome let time pass, during which most faithful came to accept, even if sometimes reluctantly, the New Mass. Then, starting in 1984, by a number of initiatives, Rome gradually ‘let out the rope’ to permit a return of the T.L.M. as an option. The result is that, today, there are far more regularized Latin Masses than there are Society Masses....

What we can estimate is the impact a recognition of Society Masses might have if done today, this year. Would this cause a grave crisis? Would there be an enormous exodus from the New Mass to the Society Masses, or even from regularised Traditional Latin Masses to Society Masses? I argue here that the effect of such a recognition would be small in the short term but very important in the longer term.... The main effect of creating a ‘free-ranging’ S.S.P.X is secondary; It would induce obstructive bishops gradually to allow their priests to offer the T.L.M. without being penalised for doing so .... No bishop wants to have his authority undermined.... Most bishops in Western countries are already allowing a few Traditional Latin Masses. They would quietly encourage a few more to keep the S.S.P.X at bay.

The report also list figures comparing the number of dioceses offering Traditional Latin Masses in 2005, when this pontificate began, and 2010:

• France: 65, 78.
• Italy: 15, 52.
• Germany: 10, 23.
• Spain: 3, 12.
• Poland: 6, 14.
• Portugal: 0, 1.
• Austria: 5, 7.
• Switzerland: 3, 4.
• The Netherlands: 1, 3.
• England: 9, 17.
• Scotland: 2, 3.
• Ireland: 4, 6.
• Wales: 0, 1.
• Philippines: 5, 5 (there was a substantial increase and then a fall back to 5).
• Australia: 10, 11.
• New Zealand: 2, 5.
• USA: 112, 149.
• Canada: 11, 15.
• Mexico: 1, 4.
• Brazil: 7, 21.
• Argentina: 2, 2 (obstruction from Bergoglio and company).
• Colombia: 1, 2.
• Peru: 1, 2.
• South Africa: 0, 1.
• Gabon: 1, 2.
• Nigeria: 1, 1.
• Hungary: 1, 3.
• Czech Republic: 1, 4.
• Slovakia: 0, 1.
• Ecuador: 0, 1.
• Sweden: 0, 1.

The report ends with the notice: "Comparisions with S.S.P.X numbers to follow."