News Roundup: March 19, 2026

JMJ

First, wishing you a happy feast of St. Joseph!

Before we go through the latest news - I thought it appropriate to add in the post on St. Joseph from FSSPX.news (courtesy thereof):

On March 19, the Holy Church celebrates the feast of Saint Joseph, spouse of the Virgin Mary and patron of the universal Church. Two texts, one from Pope Pius IX, who declares this patronage, and the other from Pope Leo XIII who explains the reasons for it. In this year 2023, Saint Joseph is celebrated today, March 20.

Pius IX, Decree Quemadmodum Deus, December 8, 1870

As almighty God appointed Joseph, son of the patriarch Jacob, over all the land of Egypt to save grain for the people, so when the fullness of time was come and He was about to send to earth His only-begotten Son, the Savior of the world, He chose another Joseph, of whom the first had been the type, and He made him the lord and chief of His household and possessions, the guardian of His choicest treasures. Indeed, he had as his spouse the Immaculate Virgin Mary, of whom was born by the Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ our Lord, who deigned to be reputed in the sight of men as the son of Joseph, and was subject to him.
Him whom countless kings and prophets had desired to see, Joseph not only saw but conversed with, and embraced in paternal affection, and kissed. He most diligently reared Him whom the faithful were to receive as the bread that came down from heaven whereby they might obtain eternal life.
Because of this sublime dignity which God conferred on his most faithful servant, the Church has always most highly honored and praised blessed Joseph next to his spouse, the Virgin Mother of God, and has besought his intercession in times of trouble. And now therefore, when in these most troublesome times the Church is beset by enemies on every side and is weighed down by calamities so heavy that ungodly men assert that the gates of hell have at length prevailed against her, the venerable prelates of the whole Catholic world have presented to the Sovereign Pontiff their own petitions and those of the faithful committed to their charge, praying that he would deign to constitute St. Joseph Patron of the universal Church.
And this time their prayer and desire was renewed by them even more earnestly at the Sacred Ecumenical Council of the Vatican. Accordingly, it has now pleased our Most Holy Sovereign, Pope Pius IX, in order to entrust himself and all the faithful to the Patriarch St. Joseph’s most powerful patronage, has chosen to comply with the prelates’ desire.
For this reason, he solemnly declares Saint Joseph patron of the Catholic Church on this day dedicated to the Immaculate Virgin, Mother of God, spouse of the most chaste Joseph.

Leo XIII, Encyclical Quamquam Pluries, August 15, 1889

The special motives for which St. Joseph has been proclaimed Patron of the Church, and from which the Church looks for singular benefit from his patronage and protection, are that Joseph was the spouse of Mary and that he was reputed the Father of Jesus Christ.
But as Joseph has been united to the Blessed Virgin by the ties of marriage, it may not be doubted that he approached nearer than any to the eminent dignity by which the Mother of God surpasses so nobly all created natures.
And Joseph shines among all mankind by the most august dignity, since by divine will, he was the guardian of the Son of God and reputed as His father among men. Joseph became the guardian, the administrator, and the legal defender of the divine house whose chief he was.
Now, the divine house which Joseph ruled with the authority of a father contained within its limits the scarce-born Church.
And for such reasons the blessed Patriarch looks upon the multitude of Christians who make up the Church as confided specially to his trust – this limitless family spread over the earth, over which, because he is the spouse of Mary and the Father of Jesus Christ, he holds, as it were, a paternal authority.

Illustration : Flickr / Jean Louis Maziere (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

Now on to the news for this month :-)

The media frenzy over the coming episcopal consecrations continues as everyone seems to have an opinion about the impacts of, what is essentially, a repeat of the 1988 consecrations.

So a quick reminder about the logical conundrum in which those screaming the word 'schism' find themselves.

False Logic:

The act of consecration of bishops without papal (not paypal) mandate is a schismatic act (Note 1)
The SSPX will be in schism if they consecrate bishops in 2026.
Except, the SSPX consecrated bishops in 1988.
If the act of consecration of bishops without papal mandate is a schismatic act ... then how will they be in schism in 2026?
If the act in 1988 didn't create a schism (which we know it didn't from the Vatican themselves) then how does the same act in 2026 create one???

I know its confusing.

On with the news and also NTR = Nothing to Report.

P^3

Notes

The mere act of consecrating bishops without papal mandate is not objectively a schismatic act. It is definitely an act of disobedience, but it is not covered under Canon. 751 (link): Heresy is the obstinate denial or obstinate doubt after the reception of baptism of some truth which is to be believed by divine and Catholic faith; apostasy is the total repudiation of the Christian faith; schism is the refusal of submission to the Supreme Pontiff or of communion with the members of the Church subject to him.

Consecrating Bishop is covered under Canon 1387 (link): Both the Bishop who, without a pontifical mandate, consecrates a person a Bishop, and the one who receives the consecration from him, incur a latae sententiae excommunication reserved to the Apostolic See.
Canon 751 is now covered under "The Teaching Function of the Church. This is now listed under the section "Offenses Against The Sacraments", not unity of the Church.
The refusal of submission to the Supreme Pontiff is an act that

Denies his legitimacy, jurisdiction, sets up a parallel hierarchy, formally separates oneself from the Church's hierarchical communion.

There has been a lot of talk about 'the schism happening gradually' which is vague and unconvincing.

Popes Past Present and Future

News and Views RORATE CÆLI: Pope Convenes Episcopal Conferences in Rome in October 2026 to Address Urgent Needs of Families [Tradicat: I wonder if the Pope will take the opportunity to (re)consecrate Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. I also wonder if he will invite the SSPX and Orthodox. That would be the ecumenical thing to do.]
Doctrine and Crisis

A Reply to Martin Blackshaw’s FLAWED Remnant article titled: FLAWED: SSPX Advice on Abortion-tainted Vaccines

+ JMJ An article has appeared in the Remnant (link to article) and I am afraid that there are a number of flaws in it that need to be addressed. The author, Martin Blackshaw, believes that both the Church and the SSPX are misapplying the principle of Moral Theology called 'Cooperation In Evil'. Unfortunately, Mr. Blackshaw rests most of his arguments on citing authors that support his position, without considering the possibility that they are wrong. This highlights a key factor in this crisis: ignorance of the faith and its application . I don't am not singling out Mr. Blackshaw for this criticism, I have observed that it applies to laity and religious, superior and subject a like. No one seems immune in this enduring crisis, myself included. I further believe that this ignorance is why so many Catholics, both traditional and non, rely on their gut feeling or "Catholic conscience" for charting their way through this crisis of the faith. While...

Tradicat

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