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Scottish traditionalist group nears full communion with Vatican

A traditionalist group based in northern Scotland is on the road toward establishing full communion with the Vatican.

Though the Transalpine Redemptorists reported July 1 that all canonical censures had been lifted and their priests were in good canonical standing, one Vatican official clarified there were still "certain censures that have to be removed."

The official, who asked not to be identified, told Catholic News Service July 15 that the censures will be removed eventually and that the group and its members "are on their way" toward canonical good standing and full reconciliation with the Roman Catholic Church.

The Transalpine Redemptorists, who are not linked to the Redemptorist order, are based on the island of Papa Stronsay in the Orkney Islands, north of Scotland, and have a second monastery in Christchurch, New Zealand. The community has a total of 18 members -- priests, seminarians, brothers and postulants.

The group is linked to the traditionalist Society of St. Pius X which broke with the Vatican in 1988 when its founder, the late French Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, ordained four bishops against papal instructions.

Full story at the Catholic News Service.