Once I was a clever boy learning the arts of Oxford... is a quotation from the verses written by Bishop Richard Fleming (c.1385-1431) for his tomb in Lincoln Cathedral. Fleming, the founder of Lincoln College in Oxford, is the subject of my research for a D. Phil., and, like me, a son of the West Riding. I have remarked in the past that I have a deeply meaningful on-going relationship with a dead fifteenth century bishop... it was Fleming who, in effect, enabled me to come to Oxford and to learn its arts, and for that I am immensely grateful.


Friday, 15 May 2026

The Vatican vs SSPX


Since rhe announcement by SSPX of their intention to consecrate new bishops for the Society at Écône on July 1st the verbal skirmishing between it and the Vatican has rapidly escalated into a war of words, albeit a Cold War at present.
 
The very well informed website The Pillar offers a detailed and informed  exposition of the canon law in the context of consecrations without Papal approval together with some reflections on the context of the current dispute at If the SSPX consecrations happen, who exactly is excommunicated?

LifeSite News yesterday shared the text of the Society’s  response to the threat of excommunication from Cardinal Fernández. This is in the form of a profession of faith, and responding to some current matters of debate. It can be read at SSPX responds to Vatican threats with profession of faith

This is a situation which looks very much like a “stand-off”, and surely requires the prayers not just of those directly involved but of all the concerned faithful. It should not be beyond the realms of possibility to find some form not of that loaded word ‘compromise’ but of agreement. 

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