Several U.S. Bishops Warn Faithful Not to Attend SSPX Liturgies and Urge its Members to Return while Calling All to Pray for Unity


Following the Vatican’s recent decree of formal schism of the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX) with the Holy See, a growing number of U.S. bishops are issuing urgent pastoral directives to their dioceses. Moving swiftly after the unauthorized consecration of four new SSPX bishops in Switzerland, American prelates are explicitly warning the Catholic faithful to refrain from attending the society’s liturgies and avoiding sacraments that the Holy See has now deemed illicit or invalid. The bishops even call the faithful with children in SSPX schools not to enroll them anymore. Yet, alongside these firm canonical boundaries, shepherds across the country are emphasizing an "invitation home"—earnestly urging SSPX members and long-time attendees to return to full communion with the successor of Peter, while calling on all Catholics to pray fervently for the healing of this deep wound to Church unity.

 Here are key excerpts with links to the full statements:

Archbishop William Shawn McKnight of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, wrote:

The Catholic Church teaches that bishops exercise their ministry in communion with the Successor of Saint Peter and the College of Bishops. Because of the unique role entrusted by Christ to Saint Peter and his successors in safeguarding the unity of the Church, the consecration of bishops without authorization from the Roman Pontiff constitutes a grave offense against ecclesial communion and carries the canonical consequences established by the law of the Church (cf. Can. 1387).
Excerpt from FULL TEXT  https://archkck.org/archbishop-mcknight-reflects-on-the-holy-sees-announcement-regarding-sspx/
Bishop Douglas J. Lucia, of Syracuse, New York, wrote:
...I write to you it is with much sadness as I share the announcement from the Holy See that the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X (SSPX) is in formal schism with the Roman Catholic Church due to the unauthorized episcopal ordinations of four bishops without papal mandate (see Canon 1013). Since the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X has established itself within the Diocese of Syracuse at Blessed Virgin Mary Church and Priory and Mater Dei Academy in Warners, NY; and at St. Athanasius Church in Endwell, NY, it is necessary for me to inform the clergy and faithful of the Diocese of Syracuse of the gravity of this situation and that schism is seen as a formal separation from full communion with the Catholic Church.
I must make it very clear that today's announcement without a doubt forbids Roman Catholics of good standing to participate in and to receive the Sacraments from bishops and priests associated with the Society of Saint Pius X, including Baptism, Confirmation, the Holy Eucharist, Penance, Marriage, and Holy Orders - or to associate oneself with SSPX churches, chapels, and schools. The only exception provided for in Canon Law is danger of death (see Canons 976 and 1752).

Moreover, as announced today, everyone should be aware that formal adherence to schism is a grave offence against God and carries the penalty of excommunication decreed by the Church's law. To continue to participate in the pastoral activities of an SSPX chapel or church or school after learning of the prohibition would be seen as "formal adherence." In addition, effective immediately, permission can no longer be granted for the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X to use diocesan churches or other parish property for any liturgical rites or gatherings.

Bishop James Vann Johnston Jr., of the Catholic Diocese of Kansas City–St. Joseph in Missouri, wrote;
While it is imperative to not abandon future efforts toward full communion and to fervently pray for such, those who wish to maintain communion with the Catholic Church, including valid reception of the sacraments of Matrimony and Penance (Confession), will no longer find that possible within the SSPX. As the Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, I am responsible for all the human souls in the 27 counties of northern and western Missouri. In this moment, I wish to reassure the members of the SSPX within this diocese of my pastoral concern as a shepherd with a desire to assist you in this time of crisis. Excerpt from FULL TEXT https://kcsjcatholic.org/2026/07/bishop-johnston-responds-to-sspx-schismatic-act/
Bishop Frank Joseph Caggiano, of the Diocese of Bridgeport, Connecticut, wrote;

I invite home those who previously worshipped with the Society. The reverent worship that has drawn those faithful remains very much alive in our own parishes. The traditional Latin Mass (the Vetus Ordo) continues to be celebrated in our diocese at Saint Mary Parish in Norwalk, The Oratory of SS. Cyril and Methodius in Bridgeport and The Oratory of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Georgetown, in addition to the celebration of Holy Mass in its ordinary form throughout our diocese. In these sacred places you will find not only the beauty you cherish but the fullness of communion with the universal Church and with our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV. As the ancient saying reminds us, “Where Peter is, there is the Church” (Ubi Petrus, ibi Ecclesia).
I am also grateful to share that our Holy Father has made provision for any priest or member of the faithful of the Society who desires to return to full communion. Our diocese stands ready to welcome them with open arms and great tenderness. Anyone who wishes to walk this path, or who has a personal question about his or her own situation (for instance, regarding a marriage or a confession), is warmly encouraged to speak with a priest of the diocese, who will offer guidance with patience and care. Excerpt from FULL TEXT  https://www.bridgeportdiocese.org/a-statement-from-bishop-frank-j-caggiano-regarding-the-society-of-saint-pius-x/

Archbishop Bernard Anthony Hebda, of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, wrote; Of particular note to Catholics in this Archdiocese is the clarification from the Holy See that any other clergy and lay faithful who formally adhere to the SSPX’s schism would also automatically incur the penalty of excommunication. The clarification that accompanied today’s decree notes, in particular, that the clergy of the SSPX must henceforth be treated as schismatics: the sacraments they celebrate from this day forward are illicit and, most significantly, the confessions that they hear and the weddings that they witness are invalid...At this difficult moment, we are blessed that the same traditional Eucharistic liturgy beloved by those who have worshiped with the SSPX in the past continues to be celebrated in six locations throughout the Archdiocese. I am confident that those who prefer the Traditional Latin Mass could find a home here. Excerpt from FULL TEXT https://www.archspm.org/statement-regarding-priestly-fraternity-of-saint-pius-x/

Bishop John Curtis Iffert, of the Diocese of Covington in Kentucky, wrote, In the Diocese of Covington, the priests of the SSPX operate Our Lady of the Assumption Church & Priory, Assumption Academy, and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Academy, all in Walton, Kentucky. Any sacraments celebrated by the priests of the SSPX are illicit. This means that the celebrations are not permitted by the law of the Church and the cleric offering the Sacrament commits the canonical and moral fault of disobedience in each instance. The Masses these priests celebrate are an abuse of the Eucharist, insofar as they make the Sacrament of Unity into an occasion of division within the Church, and so they should be firmly rejected and avoided by all the Catholic faithful.

The Sacraments of Penance and Marriage carried out by these schismatic ministers are invalid. Sacraments are invalid when one or more essential elements are lacking, so that the attempted sacrament does not impart the associated grace and does not sanctify the Christian person.

Because Assumption Academy and Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Academy are associated with the SSPX, Catholic parents should not enroll their children in these schools. To do so is to entrust the religious formation of children to those who participate in schism against the Roman Catholic Church. The Diocesan Catholic Schools Office will be happy to assist the parents of these students with appropriate placement in a local Catholic School. Excerpt from FULL TEXT https://covdio.org/

Bishop Michael Francis Burbidge, of the Catholic Diocese of Arlington in Virginia, wrote;

The decree of the Holy See, issued through the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, together with an explanatory note, makes clear that as a result of the SSPX's schismatic act, any celebrations of the sacraments of confession and matrimony by the SSPX are invalid, and the administration of other sacraments is illicit. As bishop, and motivated by care for souls, I therefore instruct the faithful of the Catholic Diocese of Arlington to avoid participating in the activities of the SSPX. I encourage any persons locally who have been attached to the SSPX and who desire the spiritual nourishment of the Church and the Extraordinary Form of the Mass to become active in any one of the eight locations in our diocese where this is currently possible.

The Holy See, in the spirit of conciliation, has outlined the procedure necessary for SSPX priests and lay faithful to return to Catholic communion. Although lay faithful who formally adhere to the SSPX are considered schismatic and excommunicated, this does not apply to lay faithful "who do not reject the Magisterium of the authority of the Roman Pontiff" and have engaged with the SSPX for solely liturgical or spiritual reasons. Such persons must simply resolve not to continue to participate in future SSPX sacramental worship or pastoral ministries.

Excerpt from FULL TEXT https://www.arlingtondiocese.org/2026/07/08/bishop-michael-f-burbidges-statement-on-the-holy-sees-decree-concerning-the-sspx/

The Archdiocese of San Antonio serves over 1.1 million Catholics in Texas and is led by Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller, M.Sp.S., who wrote;

I officially notify you of the schismatic actions of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X (SSPX, or Society) which took place on July 1, 2026. The actions taken by bishops Alfonso de Galarreta and Bernard Fellay of the SSPX in ordaining Fathers Pascal Schreiber, Michael Goldade, Michel Poinsinet de Sivry, and Marc Hanappier to the episcopacy without the necessary papal mandate, an act of schism resulting in their automatic excommunication, have deeply wounded the unity of the Church. 

The SSPX has a local site in the Archdiocese of San Antonio. Since 2020, I have collaborated with the priest(s) assigned to the SSPX chapel located in our archdiocese. On several occasions, for the good of the faithful who had requested marriage in the SSPX chapel, and to ensure the canonical validity of the sacrament, I granted delegation for such marriages. In light of the decree issued by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith on July 2, 2026, I will no longer grant delegation to the priests of the Society to validly preside at weddings or to minister in any capacity within the boundaries of the archdiocese. 

Excerpt from FULL TEXT - https://archsa.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Priestly-Fraternity-of-Saint-Pius-X-SSPX-EN-07.02.2026.pdf

Comments

Post a Comment