After Écône

Over a week has passed since the SSPX episcopal consecrations at Écône and the publication by the Vatican of the anticipated decree of excommunication and statement that SSPX is now deemed to be schismatic.

A lot of heat and light has been generated - the latter showing up divisions in the fabric of the Church - yet with little true illumination.

The pre-existing stand-off continues, now with added force and bitterness, and no visible positive way forward on a path of reconciliation. It appears to be a case of full steam ahead looking neither to left or right. 

The following selection of links and thoughts are an attempt to share some of the more insightful and challenging comments and commentary I have come across in recent days.

Those who stress their adhesion to the Vatican policy, such as a number of readers commenting on The Pillar website, lay great stress on the virtue of obedience to the See of Peter as a central component of Catholic life and practice. I saw a video made by Jacob Rees  Mogg, who having stressed that on liturgical matters he had great sympathy with SSPX then turned to the matter of obedience. Here he said that whilst Pope Francis was alive one should never, by reason of obedience, criticise him as he was the Supreme Pontiff, but once he was dead it was fine to say it had been a disastrous pontificate ….., which seems to me to be an extreme case of confusing respect for the office with that ( or its lack )

for the individual who holds it. It also strikes me  as being unhistorical, and reflecting a mid- to late nineteenth century Ultamontanism.

By contrast the SSPX would say they are obedient to the immutable legacy of Catholic teaching and that too many of the faithful are being disobedient in the way they live and indeed profess their faith. At this stage the matter of “necessity” in consecrating new bishops and ignoring the Pope becomes an expression of obedience to Tradition as the Society understands it, not as the Holy See does. 

Some who talk of obedience do not appear to say anything seemingly about liturgical abuse, the obviously ‘hot button’ issue with SSPX, or with contemporary deviations from mainstream doctrine post Vatican II.

The question as to the validity of the excommunications and designation of SSPX clergy as schismatic has become a significant talking point.

Life Site News has a perhaps predictably trenchant article about the matter at Leo XIV can’t excommunicate the SSPX or its bishops – here’s why

The respected Italian commentator on the Vatican Roberto de Mattei has an article which can be accessed at The Situation Regarding the SSPX Episcopal Consecrations of July 1, 2026

The Canadian traditionalist broadcaster Kennedy Hall has two articles which investigate whether the Vatican response actually accords with the Code of Canon Law. These can be accessed at The Formula That Failed: Why Tucho’s Note Does Not Excommunicate You and at Tucho Has Leo in a Real Bind

He also has a response to the comments on his video site made by the well known US conservative Catholic commentator Dr Taylor Marshall at A Consideration of Marshall’s Arguments Contra-SSPX: Part One

Fr Clément Barré has a lengthy article which is reproduced on Rorate Cæli on the ambiguity around SSPX as an institution within the Church. It can be read at The SSPX's Ecclesiology of Substitution: Part of the Whole, or a new Whole? — And the Problem with a Crisis that Never Ends.

 Rorate Cæli also has a very useful article by Serre Verweij which tries to put the present stalemate in a wider context and to suggest how the situation may develop. This can be read at Rome and the Econe Consecrations: a Dispassionate Analysis of What is at Stake

The questions the article raises about whether SSPX have waited, or moved during last years Sede vacante is an interesting one.

A lot of the coverage suggests that the wrong people were the Vatican representatives in the discussions earlier this year with SSPX, and that different people might have yielded a different result. 

I will say again that I think it is to be regretted that no agreement was reached when Pope Benedict XVI initiated a new dialogue in the early years of his papacy.

If stalemate is seemingly the current situation between the Holy See and SSPX there are encouraging signs with the calls for the relaxation or, better still, removal of Traditiones Custodes from leading figures in the hierarchy, from senior Cardinals downwards.

I am rather tempted to put together a post about the history of Papal excommunications over the last millennium and to share that with my readers.

Images: Wikipedia