By The former Vatican doctrine chief likened the Society of St. Pius X to the ancient Donatist schism, days before its planned July 1 episcopal consecrations at Écône.
Cardinal Gerhard Müller has called the Society of St. Pius X’s planned consecration of four bishops without papal mandate a schismatic act, while stressing that the dispute turns on authority, not the Traditional Latin Mass, which he affirmed remains valid.
In an interview with EWTN News In Depth, the former prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith said episcopal ordinations carried out “without the pope are absolutely impossible, against the will of God,” marking those who carry them out as “not Catholic or anti-Catholic.” That judgment, he stressed, rests on “objective criteria,” not “subjective judgments.”
The Society plans to consecrate four priests, including American Father Michael Goldade, on July 1 at its seminary in Écône, Switzerland, echoing Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre’s 1988 consecrations.
Without a papal mandate the consecrations would be valid but illicit, carrying an automatic “latae sententiae” excommunication.
Müller likened the society to the Donatists, the schism St. Augustine fought in North Africa.
“They should learn from the way of the Donatists,” he said, adding that St. Pius X, the society’s patron, “will pray against these people who abuse his name.” Pope Leo XIV, he noted, is himself an Augustinian.
The German prelate, a longtime professor of dogmatic theology, called devotion to traditional liturgy and the rejection of papal authority “two absolutely different questions,” and faulted bishops who forbid the TLM as “authoritarian.”
Asked what faithful drawn to SSPX Masses should do if a schism follows, Müller said they “shouldn’t go, and cannot participate in the Masses of schismatic priests and bishops.”
The Vatican’s current doctrine chief, Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, warned on May 13 that the consecrations would be “a schismatic act.”
The SSPX rejects the charge, holding that such consecrations do not by themselves break communion; on June 24 it sent Pope Leo and the College of Cardinals a “Declaration of Catholic Faith.”
Superior General Father Davide Pagliarani has cited a “state of necessity,” noting only two aging SSPX bishops remain to ordain its priests.
Müller also discussed the June 26–27 consistory, which he said he expected to take up atheism and artificial intelligence, and renewed his criticism of “synodality,” which he said had been “abused” to push ideas against Church teaching on the priesthood and marriage.
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Cardinal Müller is that rare breed of curial character — a man of faith, courage and insight.
I think he’s laid out the SSPX situation as clearly as anyone I’ve heard.
Thank you. I’ve always thought Cardinal Muller fairminded and wise.
brineyman:
Well spoken, sir.
Cardinal Müller is correct as most apparently agree. That the SSPX consecration of bishops is valid although illicit. That it’s not a matter of the Traditional Latin Mass, rather the authoritative supremacy of the Roman pontiff.
Although, as argued elsewhere, they’re mitigating conditions surrounding this matter. First, that Pope Leo declined to meet with SSPX Superior General Father Davide Pagliarani, preventing the opportunity to resolve the issue in a pastoral rather than juridical manner.
For example, could Pope Leo, for sake of unity, have considered giving his permission, which the SSPX had requested, thereby making the consecrations both valid and licit and avoiding schism? Pope Leo would then be the de jure appointor.
As noted previously, Rome gave Vat Secy of State Cardinal Parolin the permission to allow Xi Jinping’s CCP to appoint Catholic bishops [this was arranged by the CCP choosing candidates for consecration from which Rome could then make their choice].
That brings into question the canonical validity of granting a foreign State the privilege belonging solely to the Roman pontiff. If the Church went so far as to questionably surrender its canonical authority to retain a modicum of unity with the Church in China, could it not do so in an actual licit manner with the SSPX?
Cardinal Mueller would have made a better Pope that Bergoglio and Prevost put together. The Holy Spirit must have a plan.
Fr Morello, what a thoughtful solution to the SSPX “problem.” Most practicing Catholics are aware that Rome choses its Chinese Bishops from a pre-selected and CCP-approved list. It would seem no further stretch to permit SSPX Bishops full canonical consecration. But I do not fully understand the SSPX rift and know that it goes well beyond a traditional Latin Mass. I may be misunderstanding far more important issues and nuances that arise in the schism.