sspx in schism with the church
Archbishop Marcel LeFebvre
Most of you have heard about the conflict with the Society of Saint Pius X. Shortly after the Second Vatican Council, a French archbishop from France, Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, was very upset by some of the changes adopted by the Council. These were primarily, but not exclusively, the changes to the liturgy. These changes included the use of the vernacular, the use of a free-standing altar, and the priest saying Mass facing the people.
In 1970, Bishop Lefebvre began the Society of Saint Pius X, which rejected these changes, after being ordered not to do so by Pope Paul VI. As a bishop, he had the power to ordain priests on his own, which he did. As he was aging, there was a need for more bishops who could continue the ordinations, if Lefebvre should pass away. He decided to ordain four priests as bishops. It was necessary to have permission from the pope to do so, which he did not have. When he ordained these men, he and the four new bishops were automatically excommunicated, which meant that they were no longer part of the Catholic Church. All marriages and confessions done by any one of them would be illicit. The same would be true for all priests of the SSPX. Later, Pope Francis lifted the excommunication during the Year of Mercy.
Recently, the Society noted that the four men who had been ordained as bishops were getting older, and there was a need to ordain more bishops. They requested to be able to do so, but that request was denied. For many months, Pope Leo XIV worked to try to resolve this issue, telling the current bishops that they did not have permission. The four bishops who participated in this new ordination would be automatically excommunicated, as well as those being ordained. Any priests who joined with them would also be excommunicated. And all marriages and confessions would be invalid. Pope Leo has not excommunicated these men. According to Canon Law, they have excommunicated themselves.
Our Holy Father has held the door open for reconciliation, but there seems no real interest on the part of the SSPX to reconcile.
In 1970, Bishop Lefebvre began the Society of Saint Pius X, which rejected these changes, after being ordered not to do so by Pope Paul VI. As a bishop, he had the power to ordain priests on his own, which he did. As he was aging, there was a need for more bishops who could continue the ordinations, if Lefebvre should pass away. He decided to ordain four priests as bishops. It was necessary to have permission from the pope to do so, which he did not have. When he ordained these men, he and the four new bishops were automatically excommunicated, which meant that they were no longer part of the Catholic Church. All marriages and confessions done by any one of them would be illicit. The same would be true for all priests of the SSPX. Later, Pope Francis lifted the excommunication during the Year of Mercy.
Recently, the Society noted that the four men who had been ordained as bishops were getting older, and there was a need to ordain more bishops. They requested to be able to do so, but that request was denied. For many months, Pope Leo XIV worked to try to resolve this issue, telling the current bishops that they did not have permission. The four bishops who participated in this new ordination would be automatically excommunicated, as well as those being ordained. Any priests who joined with them would also be excommunicated. And all marriages and confessions would be invalid. Pope Leo has not excommunicated these men. According to Canon Law, they have excommunicated themselves.
Our Holy Father has held the door open for reconciliation, but there seems no real interest on the part of the SSPX to reconcile.