The planned consecration of new bishops by the traditionalist Society of St Pius X would be considered “a schismatic act,” the head of the Vatican’s doctrinal office said yesterday Source: OSV News.
In a statement released by the Vatican press office, Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, said the society, commonly known by its acronym, SSPX, did “not have the requisite pontifical mandate” and that “formal adherence to the schism constitutes a grave offence against God and entails the excommunication established under Church law”.
“The Holy Father continues in his prayers to ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten those responsible for the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X so that they may reconsider the extremely grave decision they have taken,” the statement read.
In February, Fr Davide Pagliarani, superior general of the SSPX, announced the society would proceed with the consecration of new bishops on July 1, following a breakdown in communication with the Vatican after requests for an audience with Pope Leo XIV went unanswered.
Citing the need for new bishops, Fr Pagliarani said “the objective state of grave necessity in which souls find themselves requires such a decision”.
Fr Pagliarani’s statement echoed similar arguments used by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, founder of the SSPX, to justify the ordination of four men as bishops in 1988.
Archbishop Lefebvre and the four priests he ordained as bishops were subsequently excommunicated by St John Paul II, who ruled that no objective necessity justified defying papal authority.
After announcing SSPX’s intention to proceed with the consecrations, Fr Pagliarani was invited to meet with Cardinal Fernández at the Vatican in February.
The cardinal offered to continue dialogue with the SSPX, but only if the society suspended its decision to consecrate new bishops.
After meeting with SSPX council members, Fr Pagliarani sent a letter to the cardinal saying that while he welcomed continued dialogue, he could not accept the conditions, noting that the society and the Holy See remained divided over the Second Vatican Council and post-conciliar reforms.
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Doctrinal office says SSPX bishop consecrations constitute ‘schismatic act’ subject to excommunication (By Junno Arocho Esteves, OSV News)
