Pope Leo pleads with ultra-conservative sect not to ordain own bishops
Pontiff warns that defiance by Society of Saint Pius X would be ‘schismatic act’
TL;DR
- Pope Leo is attempting to persuade the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX) to abandon plans to ordain bishops without Vatican approval.
- The SSPX, founded in opposition to liberal reforms, plans to ordain four bishops on Wednesday.
- The ordinations are considered a 'schismatic act' and a 'sin of extreme gravity' by the Pope.
- The SSPX rejects key reforms from the Second Vatican Council, including the use of local languages in mass.
- The society claims the ordinations are out of practical necessity and not to establish a parallel authority.
- Church law states such ordinations can lead to automatic excommunication for the ordained bishops and the consecrating bishop.
- The SSPX stated they are not changing their plans and expressed sadness at not being understood by the Pope.
- Previous ordinations by the SSPX founder in 1988 led to excommunications, which were later lifted for some individuals.