Cardinals criticize Society of St. Pius X for plan to consecrate bishops without papal approval

Cardinal Gerhard Müller and Cardinal Robert Sarah, two prominent supporters of the Traditional Latin Mass, have spoken out against the decision of the traditionalist Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) to defy the Vatican and ordain new bishops on July 1.

The decision to proceed with the episcopal consecrations without papal approval was confirmed in a Feb. 18 letter, penned by SSPX superior general Father Davide Pagliarani a week after his Feb. 12 meeting with Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF).

In the letter, the Catholic traditionalist group said it could not “accept the perspective and objectives” for resumed dialogue proposed by the DDF prefect, insisting the July 1 consecrations would “not constitute a rupture of communion” with the Church.

The SSPX, which exclusively celebrates the Traditional Latin Mass, maintains doctrinal differences with certain teachings and reforms of the Second Vatican Council, particularly with regard to religious freedom and the Church’s approach to other faiths.

Under canon law, a bishop who consecrates another bishop without a papal mandate and the person who receives that consecration incur automatic excommunication.

Müller, who served as prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) from 2012 to 2017, issued a lengthy Feb. 21 statement, saying “personal sensitivities should take a back seat” for the good of Church unity.

“If the Society of St. Pius X is to have a positive impact on Church history, it cannot fight for the true faith from a distance, from the outside, against the Church united with the pope,” Müller wrote.

Highlighting the importance for SSPX to recognize papal authority “not only in theory but also in practice,” the German prelate said the society must submit to the teaching authority of the Church “without preconditions.”