Tradicat

 + JMJ Lots happening this month ... so instead of just the list of articles that popped above the noise, I have includes some commentary on two of the articles, the regular news list and a chatGPT summary on the validity of Orthodox Sacraments. P^3 Commentary on Articles of Note As to be expected, there has been a veritable media storm preceding and following the SSPX consecration of four bishops. Everyone seems to have an opinion, some factual, some not so much. Two that caught my attention were the: Chancellor for canonical affairs in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis (link)   Susan Mulheron: “What they were doing was not just refusing the liturgical adaptations that had been made, but they were refusing the whole teaching authority of that council,”  Tradicat: As usual there are distinctions that are not being made.  The first the teaching authority of the Second Vatican Council was defined at the end of the council (link)   (Fisheater link2) ...

 + JMJ A little late getting this one out. P^3 Sources https://onepeterfive.com/review-of-bishop-athanasius-schneiders-core-question-regarding-sspx/ https://dianemontagna.substack.com/p/exclusive-bishop-schneider-sets-out Introduction EXCLUSIVE: Bishop Schneider Sets Out “Core Question” in SSPX Episcopal Consecration Debate “At its core, the conflict revolves around the question of truth.” DIANE MONTAGNA JUN 04, 2026 (Photo credit: Voice of the Family) ROME, 4 June 2026 — With the Society of St. Pius X set to proceed with episcopal consecrations on July 1, Bishop Athanasius Schneider has published a new statement arguing that the controversy extends beyond questions of ecclesiastical discipline and reflects doctrinal and liturgical disputes that have persisted in the Catholic Church since the Second Vatican Council. Titled The Core Question Regarding the Priestly Society of Saint Pius X and published in full below, the document is structured around five principal arguments and asks...

 + JMJ Introduction In Part 1, after reviewing sources and historical documents, I concluded that disobedience to a direct order from the Pope is not, in and of itself, a schismatic act.  More is needed: In this case the person is guilty of disobedience, but not of schism, even though he persists in his refusal; for he rejects a commandment of the Church, not the head of the Church. The SSPX has manifestly not rejected the head of the Church, see  FSSPX.news: Letter to the Holy Father regarding the Decree of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith . ... What the Society of Saint Pius X has done, and will continue to do, is nothing other than an extraordinary initiative for the salvation of souls, amidst the doctrinal and moral confusion into which the Church is plunged. We in no way claim to substitute ourselves for the Church, and we have no ambition other than to remain faithful to her. ...  In conscience, we did not believe we could evade the moral duty we ow...

 + JMJ With the new consecrations, old news and half truths are flooding the internet. How about we look at some of them: Vatican recognition of Orthodox sacraments (New) Orthodox Churches Are Not in Formal Schism — While not in full communion with Rome, ...  Tradicat: I guess they didn't ask if the Orthodox accept Pope Leo XIV as the Vicar of Christ etc. Also I'm not certain if it is all the various branches or just one or two. https://www.ncregister.com/cna/why-does-the-vatican-recognize-orthodox-marriages-but-not-those-of-the-sspx https://www.eurasiareview.com/10072026-vatican-recognition-of-orthodox-marriages-vs-sspx-whats-the-difference-analysis/ The SSPX is in schism (Old News) Given how the Vatican backed off on the schism accusation over the years following the 1988 consecrations My own evidence of 'Not in Full Communion' status  The Orthodox are no longer Schismatics but 'Not in Full Communion' (see above)  'Not in Full Communion' being used as ...

 + JMJ With all the mis-information about the SSPX rejecting the Second Vatican Council, I thought it would be useful to publish an article that focuses on the real issues that the SSPX has identified. Update: Why Did the SSPX Consecrate Bishops? ( Neither Schismatic, Nor Disobedient link ) In the linked document the SSPX outlined the key motivation and core issues with Vatican II and the post-conciliar magisterium (see above link for full document): 4. The Society Acted Precisely Because of the State of Necessity in Which the Faith Finds Itself  In the present situation of the Church, if the Society of Saint Pius X had not carried out the consecrations of July 1st, it would have found itself facing an inevitable alternative: either to disappear gradually, or to accept, at least in fact, the new liturgy as well as the false doctrines of Vatican II and the post-council. Without the consecrations of July 1st, the Fraternity would have found itself, in a few years, without bishop...

 + JMJ Rorate published an article by I.Media ( Rorate link , Original Source ) that annoyed me.   Here's the passages in question with my questions / thoughts:  The Mandate In the Catholic Church, every episcopal consecration must obtain a mandate from the Pope. The selection of a new bishop follows a rigorous procedure carried out by the nuncio — the Pope's ambassador — and the Dicastery for Bishops. They present three candidates to the pontiff, who then makes the final choice and may also choose a bishop not included on this list of three. To proceed with consecrations without a properly issued pontifical mandate constitutes an offense under the rules of currently applicable ecclesiastical law (canon 1013 [of the Code of Canon Law]) . I find it hard to reconcile the lack of response to Chinese consecrations and all the fuss over that of the SSPX (link ). Even Pope Francis gave a blanket reconciliation of the Chinese bishops in 2018 (link) . Then we have more r ec...