The traditionalist Society of St Pius X says it will proceed with the consecration of new bishops in July, a move without a papal mandate that could lead to an automatic excommunication. Source: Catholic Review.
In a statement published on Monday, the society, commonly known by its acronym SSPX, said that its superior general, Fr Davide Pagliarani, “publicly announced his decision to entrust the bishops of the Society with the task of proceeding with new episcopal consecrations”.
The consecrations are scheduled for July 1, the society said.
According to the statement, the decision was made following a breakdown in recent communication with the Holy See. In August, Fr Pagliarani, who has served as the society’s superior general since 2018, requested an audience with Pope Leo XIV to discuss the society’s future and the need for new bishops.
However, it continued, the superior general reported that a response received from the Vatican “in recent days” failed to address their requests, therefore “in harmony with the unanimous advice of his Council,” Fr Pagliarani “judges that the objective state of grave necessity in which souls find themselves requires such a decision,” the statement read, explaining the green light for episcopal consecrations.
The statement concluded with excerpts from a message written by Fr Pagliarani marking the 50th anniversary of the 1974 declaration made by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, founder of the SSPX.
Fr Pagliarini’s decision to justify episcopal ordinations due to “the objective state of grave necessity” echoed similar justifications used by Archbishop Lefebvre to justify the ordination of four men as bishops in 1988.
However, in his apostolic letter Ecclesia Dei (“The Church of God”), St John Paul II classified the consecrations as “a schismatic act” and a “disobedience to the Roman Pontiff.”
The late pontiff excommunicated Archbishop Lefebvre and the four priests ordained bishops, thus ruling that no objective necessity justified defying papal authority.
For decades, the Vatican and leaders of the Society of St Pius X had been seeking a way to fully reintegrate its members back into the life of the Catholic Church.
Talks between the Vatican and the society began under St John Paul and continued throughout the papacies of Popes Benedict XVI and Francis.
Pope Benedict lifted the excommunications in 2009, opening the way for more regular talks.
The traditionalist society said that “in the coming days” Fr Pagliarani “will provide further explanations regarding the present situation and his decision.”
FULL STORY
Traditionalist society to consecrate new bishops in July without papal mandate (By Junno Arocho Esteves, OSV News via Catholic Review)
