SSPX Priests on Cardinal Fernandez, Archbishop Lefebvre and Bishop Williamson | AdVaticanum

The Vatican has declared that the bishops of the Society of Saint Pius X have excommunicated themselves. The day after the episcopal consecrations in Écône, which saw Fr Pascal Schreiber, Fr Michel Poinsinet de Sivry, Fr Marc Hanappier and Fr Michael Goldade consecrated as bishops, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith released a decree stating: “Notwithstanding the admonitions addressed to the Superior General of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X, Bishop Alfonso de Galarreta, having performed a schismatic act by means of the episcopal consecration of four priests, without pontifical mandate and against the will of the Supreme Pontiff, has incurred ipso facto the penalties provided for in can. 1387 and can. 1364 §1 CIC 2021.” Signed by Cardinal Fernández, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, Mons. Armando Matteo, Secretary for the Doctrinal Section, and Archbishop John J. Kennedy, Secretary for the Disciplinary Section. The decree goes beyond the excommunications declared in 1988 by stating that “clergy and lay faithful are admonished not to adhere to the schism of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X, lest they incur ipso facto the penalty of latae sententiae excommunication.” Therefore, SSPX faithful also face the possibility of incurring excommunication declared by Rome. In this instance, the decree has been issued by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, whereas in 1988 the document was issued by the Congregation for Bishops. In the explanatory note that follows the decree, further questions are raised for SSPX faithful: “It is finally noted that the Holy People of God are informed that the sacred ministers of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X administer the sacraments and the sacrament of Penance illicitly, and that the marriages assisted by them are invalid.” Read our full coverage at AdVaticanum.com Subscribe for more content like this.