Vatican excommunicates followers of global Catholic sect
The Vatican has excommunicated followers of a conservative Catholic splinter sect, the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX), a day after it consecrated four new bishops against Pope Leo XIV's direct instruction.
In a decree, it said the Society's total of six bishops were excommunicated - and, in a highly unusual move, it added that any lay members who "formally adhere" to the group "are to be considered schismatic and excommunicated".
But those who left the SSPX would be welcomed back "with sincere affection".
The Vatican later clarified that not all members would be excommunicated automatically, but those who "habitually participate" in SSPX celebrations and "formally share its doctrinal positions" would be.
The SSPX was founded in 1970 in opposition to the modernising reforms made by the Roman Catholic Church in the 1960s, at what was known as the Second Vatican Council. The Society is thought to number around 600,000 worshippers globally.
In response to the Vatican's decree, Rita Reid, an SSPX worshipper from Jersey in the Channel Islands, said: "It actually makes me feel quite strong.
"Before the consecrations yesterday I said to my husband, 'Do you know what? Even if they excommunicate us, go ahead, bring it on, it's not going to make one bit of difference.'"
The Society rejects changes made to how Mass is celebrated - for example it still holds its services in Latin rather than everyday language, and priests face the altar rather than the congregation.
In SSPX Masses the communion bread has to be given straight into the mouths of kneeling worshippers by the priest, as opposed to churchgoers being able to stand and hold it themselves.
Women in the group also tend to cover their heads for services and followers of SSPX tend to be more socially conservative in general.
The SSPX also opposes the modern Catholic Church's stance on more dialogue with other Christian denominations and other faiths.
For Rita, 76, SSPX ceremonies are much more "profound", where she feels "the true presence of Jesus".
She says there is no comparison with the standard Catholic Mass, which she describes as "so weak and wishy-washy".
The retired B&B owner used to attend modern Catholic services as well as SSPX ones, but complained that in the standard Mass traditional social values - like no sex before marriage - was no longer taught.
"I think a lot of young people now that go to novus ordo [the standard liturgy] think 'oh well, it's all right, we can do these things'."
The Society's main presence is in the US and France but it holds Masses at 26 locations around the UK, from Lerwick in Shetland down to Devon, with its main centre being in Wimbledon, South London.
At one point in the 1980s, bishops from the Society were excommunicated for disobeying Rome, but that decision was later reversed.
More recently, efforts had been made to reconcile with the SSPX, but the Vatican's response to this week's events was more aggressive than before, and more severe than predicted.
It was widely expected that Wednesday's event in Geneva would lead to excommunication of the bishops involved.
But the excommunication of all those lay people who continue to be a part of SSPX was a surprise to many, with the traditionalist group now as far from the centre of power of the Roman Catholic Church as it has ever been.
Excommunication is one of the harshest punishments that can be given by the Church, effectively expelling the offender from the religion and excluding them from Catholic life.
It means a baptised follower is "out of communion" with the Church - meaning they cannot receive the sacraments, for example going to confession, or get married within the Roman Catholic Church.
The Vatican said on Thursday: "The sacred ministers of the Society of St Pius X administer the sacraments illicitly, while the sacrament of penance they administer and the marriages they witness are invalid."
It means SSPX members now have to choose whether to stay part of a group that is in "schism", or leave behind the things they believe are right in order to stay part of the Catholic Church.
However it is clear that many SSPX members believe it is the Vatican that has moved away from true doctrine, not them.
Read the full story at BBC ↗
The Vatican has excommunicated the six bishops of the Society of Saint Pius X following their consecration of four new bishops in Geneva, an act explicitly prohibited by the Pope. In an unusually broad move, the Vatican declared that lay members who formally adhere to SSPX doctrine or regularly participate in its services are also excommunicated and in schism. The SSPX, founded in 1970 with approximately 600,000 followers worldwide, maintains traditional Latin Mass practices and rejects modernising reforms introduced at the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s. The group operates 26 locations across the UK and significant presences in the US and France. Excommunication prevents access to Catholic sacraments and marriage within the Church. The Vatican clarified that not all SSPX members are automatically excommunicated—only those who continue formal participation or doctrinal adherence. This response is notably harsher than previous Vatican handling of SSPX defiance and marks a reversal of recent reconciliation attempts.
Read the full story at BBC ↗
The Vatican has excommunicated followers of a conservative Catholic splinter sect, the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX), a day after it consecrated four new bishops against Pope Leo XIV's direct instruction.
In a decree, it said the Society's total of six bishops were excommunicated - and, in a highly unusual move, it added that any lay members who "formally adhere" to the group "are to be considered schismatic and excommunicated".
But those who left the SSPX would be welcomed back "with sincere affection".
The Vatican later clarified that not all members would be excommunicated automatically, but those who "habitually participate" in SSPX celebrations and "formally share its doctrinal positions" would be.
The SSPX was founded in 1970 in opposition to the modernising reforms made by the Roman Catholic Church in the 1960s, at what was known as the Second Vatican Council. The Society is thought to number around 600,000 worshippers globally.
In response to the Vatican's decree, Rita Reid, an SSPX worshipper from Jersey in the Channel Islands, said: "It actually makes me feel quite strong.
"Before the consecrations yesterday I said to my husband, 'Do you know what? Even if they excommunicate us, go ahead, bring it on, it's not going to make one bit of difference.'"
The Society rejects changes made to how Mass is celebrated - for example it still holds its services in Latin rather than everyday language, and priests face the altar rather than the congregation.
In SSPX Masses the communion bread has to be given straight into the mouths of kneeling worshippers by the priest, as opposed to churchgoers being able to stand and hold it themselves.
Women in the group also tend to cover their heads for services and followers of SSPX tend to be more socially conservative in general.
The SSPX also opposes the modern Catholic Church's stance on more dialogue with other Christian denominations and other faiths.
For Rita, 76, SSPX ceremonies are much more "profound", where she feels "the true presence of Jesus".
She says there is no comparison with the standard Catholic Mass, which she describes as "so weak and wishy-washy".
The retired B&B owner used to attend modern Catholic services as well as SSPX ones, but complained that in the standard Mass traditional social values - like no sex before marriage - was no longer taught.
"I think a lot of young people now that go to novus ordo [the standard liturgy] think 'oh well, it's all right, we can do these things'."
The Society's main presence is in the US and France but it holds Masses at 26 locations around the UK, from Lerwick in Shetland down to Devon, with its main centre being in Wimbledon, South London.
At one point in the 1980s, bishops from the Society were excommunicated for disobeying Rome, but that decision was later reversed.
More recently, efforts had been made to reconcile with the SSPX, but the Vatican's response to this week's events was more aggressive than before, and more severe than predicted.
It was widely expected that Wednesday's event in Geneva would lead to excommunication of the bishops involved.
But the excommunication of all those lay people who continue to be a part of SSPX was a surprise to many, with the traditionalist group now as far from the centre of power of the Roman Catholic Church as it has ever been.
Excommunication is one of the harshest punishments that can be given by the Church, effectively expelling the offender from the religion and excluding them from Catholic life.
It means a baptised follower is "out of communion" with the Church - meaning they cannot receive the sacraments, for example going to confession, or get married within the Roman Catholic Church.
The Vatican said on Thursday: "The sacred ministers of the Society of St Pius X administer the sacraments illicitly, while the sacrament of penance they administer and the marriages they witness are invalid."
It means SSPX members now have to choose whether to stay part of a group that is in "schism", or leave behind the things they believe are right in order to stay part of the Catholic Church.
However it is clear that many SSPX members believe it is the Vatican that has moved away from true doctrine, not them.
Read the full story at BBC ↗
The Vatican excommunicated all six bishops of the Society of Saint Pius X after the group consecrated four new bishops against papal instruction. The Vatican declared that lay members who formally adhere to SSPX or habitually participate in its services are excommunicated and schismatic. The SSPX was founded in 1970 in opposition to the Second Vatican Council's modernising reforms. The SSPX has approximately 600,000 followers globally, with major presences in the US and France and 26 locations across the UK. SSPX maintains Latin Mass, priests facing the altar, and communion administered directly into kneeling worshippers' mouths. Excommunication prevents members from receiving sacraments, confession, and marrying within the Catholic Church. The Vatican response was more aggressive and severe than widely predicted. This represents the harshest Vatican response to SSPX in recent decades and marks a reversal of reconciliation efforts. SSPX members view the Vatican as having moved away from true doctrine, while the Vatican views SSPX as in schism.
Read the full story at BBC ↗
- The Vatican excommunicated all six bishops of the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX) after the group consecrated four new bishops against papal instruction.
- The Vatican also declared that lay members who formally adhere to or habitually participate in SSPX activities are excommunicated and considered schismatic.
- The SSPX, founded in 1970 with around 600,000 followers globally, rejects post-1960s Catholic reforms including vernacular Mass and modern social teachings.
- Excommunication bars members from receiving sacraments and marrying in the Catholic Church, forcing members to choose between the SSPX and the broader Church.
- This represents the harshest Vatican response to SSPX defiance in recent decades, reversing earlier reconciliation efforts.