AI Generated Image
Vatican declares Society of St. Pius X in schism : NPR
NPR • • general
Key Points:
- The Vatican declared the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) in schism and excommunicated its bishops and priests following the unauthorized consecration of four new bishops by the group in Switzerland.
- The SSPX, a traditionalist society opposing modern Catholic reforms and celebrating the Latin Mass, was warned that its faithful who attend its Masses face excommunication and that sacraments they administer are invalid.
- The Vatican's harsh response reverses previous concessions made during outreach efforts, signaling a firm stance after decades of trying to reconcile with the SSPX.
- Founded in 1970 by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, the SSPX has long rejected Vatican II reforms and has maintained a parallel traditionalist church structure with hundreds of clergy and seminarians worldwide.
- The SSPX justified the consecrations as necessary to preserve true Catholic faith and protect the pope from being "humiliated" by what they consider false shepherds, despite acting without papal approval.
