Grace Thompson
The canonical status of the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX) has been a source of controversy since 1988, when Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre illicitly consecrated four bishops, resulting in their excommunication and accusations of schism. While the SSPX denies any canonical censures and considers itself a Catholic society, the Holy See views it as having broken away from communion with the Catholic Church. The question of whether the SSPX is in schism is complex, with some arguing that participation in their Masses does not constitute formal adherence to the schism, while others maintain that the society's rejection of papal authority and interpretation of Canon Law are schismatic acts. The debate surrounding the SSPX's canonical status and its relationship with the Catholic Church remains ongoing.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| SSPX's canonical status | The SSPX has no canonical status in the Catholic Church. |
| SSPX's excommunication | The SSPX was excommunicated in 1988, but the excommunication was withdrawn in 2009. |
| Schism | The SSPX has been accused of schism, but the SSPX denies this accusation. |
| Sacraments | The Sacraments of Penance and Matrimony performed by SSPX priests are invalid. |
| Reconciliation | The Pontifical Commission "Ecclesia Dei" is working towards reconciliation between the SSPX and the Catholic Church. |
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What You'll Learn
The SSPX's stance on excommunication
The Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX) is a group founded in 1970 by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. The SSPX has been at the centre of controversy since 1988, when four of its bishops were illicitly consecrated at Ecône, in violation of canon law. This act led to their excommunication, which was declared by Pope John Paul II in his motu proprio letter Ecclesia Dei. The Pope identified the act as a rejection of Roman primacy and an incomplete and contradictory notion of Tradition.
However, the SSPX has consistently denied that it is in schism with the Catholic Church, arguing that no canonical censures against it have ever existed. They claim that the act of consecrating a bishop does not create a schism, but rather it is giving the bishop an apostolic mission that does. The SSPX also points to the Vatican's judgment in the Hawaii Six case, which stated that attending Mass or receiving sacraments at an SSPX chapel was not a schismatic act.
In 1998, Monsignor Camille Perl, secretary of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei (PCED), expressed his relief that an Australian layman had left the SSPX and returned to full communion with the Church. Perl noted that while the Church has not defined "formal adherence to the schism," the SSPX's actions clearly indicated a break from Catholic doctrine.
The canonical status of the SSPX remains unresolved. While the excommunications of the four living SSPX bishops were remitted in 2009, talks between the society and the Holy See are currently at an impasse. The Holy See considers the SSPX to have broken away from communion with the Catholic Church, and while priest members have been granted the faculty to give sacramental absolution, the society is still not in full communion with the Church.
Despite the SSPX's stance that it is not excommunicated, the group has been accused of creating a Catholic façade with the help of complicit bishops and priests. The group's actions and beliefs have caused confusion and controversy, with some Catholics sympathetic to the SSPX while others, including four popes, have declared them to be in schism.
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The 1988 decree and its reversal in 2009
The Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX) has been mired in controversy since 1988, when Bernard Fellay, Bernard Tissier de Mallerais, Richard Williamson, and Alfonso de Galarreta were illicitly consecrated as bishops at the International Seminary of Saint Pius X in Ecône, in violation of canon law. Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre and the four SSPX bishops were individually excommunicated for this act of schism.
Pope John Paul II declared in his motu proprio letter, Ecclesia Dei, that the illicit consecrations were an act of schism, which rejected the Roman primacy. He appealed to Lefebvre's followers to submit to legitimate papal authority and cease supporting the movement. John Paul II also established the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei (PCED) to help SSPX members achieve full ecclesial communion.
The 1988 decree of schism and excommunication was issued by Cardinal Bernardin Gantin, the prefect for the Congregation of Bishops. This decree has never been withdrawn and has been upheld by subsequent popes Benedict XVI and Francis.
In 2009, Pope Benedict XVI revoked the excommunications of the four living SSPX bishops. This was done through a decree issued by the Congregation for Bishops. The SSPX considered this a courageous act that would benefit the entire Church. The decree also acknowledged the necessity of talks with the Holy See to address doctrinal issues and the crisis within the Church.
While the excommunications were lifted, the canonical situation of the SSPX remains unresolved. The Holy See considers the SSPX to have broken away from communion with the Catholic Church. However, the SSPX has consistently maintained that no canonical censures against them have ever existed.
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The Holy See's view of the SSPX
The Holy See, led by Pope John Paul II at the time, declared that the consecrations implied a rejection of Roman primacy and constituted an act of schism, resulting in automatic excommunication under the 1983 Code of Canon Law. John Paul II established the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei (PCED) to facilitate SSPX members' return to full ecclesial communion. Despite this, the Holy See considered the SSPX to have broken away from communion with the Catholic Church.
However, in 2009, the excommunications of the four living SSPX bishops were remitted by Pope Benedict XVI. This action lifted the canonical penalties but did not resolve the doctrinal differences, leading Benedict XVI to state that the SSPX ministers "do not legitimately exercise any ministry in the Church" until these issues are clarified.
The Holy See has granted priest members of the SSPX the authority to administer sacramental absolution and authorised local ordinaries to permit marriages for followers of the society. While the excommunications have been lifted, the SSPX's canonical status remains unresolved. Talks between the SSPX and the Holy See have reached an impasse, indicating ongoing differences that have yet to be reconciled.
While the Holy See has made overtures towards reconciliation, it is important to note that the SSPX's stance on the consecrations and its relationship with the Catholic Church have been a source of ongoing debate and discussion within the Church.
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The SSPX's canonical status
The canonical status of the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX) has been a subject of controversy since 1988, when Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre illicitly consecrated four bishops, an act that was deemed schismatic and resulted in their excommunication. While the excommunications of the four bishops were lifted in 2009, the SSPX's canonical status remains unresolved.
The SSPX was founded in 1970 by Archbishop Lefebvre and has been characterised by its traditionalist stance within Catholicism. The 1988 consecrations, performed without papal mandate, were seen as a rejection of Roman primacy and an assertion of the SSPX's independence. This act led Pope John Paul II to declare schism and excommunicate the bishops involved.
While the SSPX has been accused of schism, it is important to note that the group has never formally renounced its communion with Rome or Papal authority. The Vatican's judgment in the Hawaii Six case, involving an SSPX priest, acknowledged that attending Mass or receiving sacraments at an SSPX chapel did not constitute formal adherence to schism. However, the Vatican also clarified that participating in SSPX Masses was morally illicit unless there were physical or moral impediments to attending a Mass celebrated by a Catholic priest in good standing.
The SSPX's position is that they have never been subject to canonical censures and that their sacraments and Masses are valid. They argue that the ambiguous nature of canon law regarding the fulfilment of Sunday obligations has contributed to their ostracisation. The SSPX's priests are validly ordained but suspended from exercising their priestly functions due to their lack of proper incardination in a diocese or religious institute in full communion with the Holy See.
Despite ongoing dialogue between the SSPX and the Holy See, the group remains without canonical status in the Catholic Church. This is due to unresolved doctrinal differences, and as a result, the SSPX's ministers cannot legitimately exercise any ministry within the Church. The situation highlights the complex nature of canonical status, which involves questions of authority, legal standing, and ecclesiastical discipline.
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The Pope's opinion on the SSPX
The Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX) has been mired in controversy since 1988, when Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre illicitly consecrated four bishops at the Ecône, in violation of canon law. This act led to disciplinary latae sententiae excommunication for Lefebvre and the four SSPX bishops. While the excommunications were remitted in 2009, talks between the SSPX and the Holy See have reached an impasse, with the Holy See considering the SSPX to have broken away from communion with the Catholic Church.
Pope John Paul II's opinion on the SSPX was made clear in his motu proprio letter Ecclesia Dei, in which he declared the illicit consecrations a schismatic act, rejecting the Roman primacy. He appealed to the followers of Lefebvre's movement to submit to legitimate papal authority and cease their support for the SSPX. John Paul II also established the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei (PCED) to help SSPX members achieve full ecclesial communion.
In 1998, Monsignor Camille Perl, secretary of the PCED, expressed his understanding of the schism in a letter to an Australian layman who had left the SSPX. Perl noted that while the Church had not defined "formal adherence to the schism," the SSPX's consistent condemnation of the Pope and the new Mass was not consistent with the practice of the Catholic faith.
Pope Benedict XVI's opinion on the SSPX is reflected in his statement that until doctrinal questions are clarified, the SSPX lacks a canonical status in the Church, and its ministers do not legitimately exercise any ministry. Benedict XVI also upheld Pope John Paul II's declaration of schism and excommunication, even after the lifting of the excommunications in 2009.
Pope Francis has also weighed in on the matter, granting SSPX priests the authority to hear confessions during the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy in 2015. However, he too has upheld the declaration of schism and excommunication made by his predecessors.
While the SSPX claims that no canonical censures against them have ever existed, the opinions of multiple Popes and the Holy See suggest otherwise, indicating that the SSPX is indeed in schism with the Catholic Church.
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Frequently asked questions
The SSPX is a group founded in 1970 by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre.
In 1988, Archbishop Lefebvre illicitly consecrated four bishops for the SSPX, violating canon law. This resulted in excommunication for the archbishop and the four bishops. The excommunications were later lifted in 2009.
The SSPX has been accused of schism by the Catholic Church, and Pope John Paul II made a definitive declaration of schism in 1988. However, the SSPX denies this, claiming that no canonical censures against them exist. The canonical situation of the SSPX remains unresolved.
Due to the schism, the SSPX has no canonical status in the Catholic Church, and its ministers cannot legitimately exercise any ministry, despite being freed from ecclesiastical penalties in 2009.
While Catholics can attend SSPX Masses, the Pontifical Commission "Ecclesia Dei" does not recommend frequenting their chapels as it may lead to ""formal adherence to the schism" over time. The Sacraments of Penance and Matrimony performed by SSPX priests are considered invalid.
