Skip to main content

Chronicle: Rome Issues Canonical Warning ... 1988 vs 2026

Image
By

 +

JMJ

At this time the only indication of a Rome (Cdl Fernandez / Pope Leo 14) issuing a Canonical Warning to the SSPX is a press release (link).  

For comparison, I have attached the 1988 version.  Perhaps they (Rome) will issue a formal warning as the date of the consecrations draws nearer.  I really want to see the canons they cite.

P^3

2026

Statement of His Eminence Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith 

May 13, 2026 

Regarding the Society of Saint Pius X, what has already been communicated is hereby reaffirmed. The episcopal ordinations announced by the Society of Saint Pius X do not have the corresponding pontifical mandate. This act will constitute "a schismatic act" (John Paul II, Ecclesia Dei, n. 3), and "formal adherence to the schism constitutes a grave offense against God and carries with it the excommunication established by the law of the Church" (ibid., 5c; cf. Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts, Explanatory Note, August 24, 1996).

The Holy Father continues in his prayers to ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten those responsible in the Society of Saint Pius X, so that they may reconsider the gravely serious decision they have made.

From the Vatican, May 13, 2026

1988

June 17, 1988

Canonical Warning

Congregation for Bishops to His Excellency Archbishop

Marcel Lefebvre, Archbishop-Bishop Emeritus of Tulle

Since on June 15, 198874 you stated that you intended to ordain four priests to the episcopate without having obtained the mandate of the Supreme Pontiff as required by Canon 1013 of the 1983 Code of Canon Law, I myself convey to you this public canonical warning, confirming that if you should carry out your intention as stated above, you yourself and also the bishops ordained by you shall incur ipso facto excommunication latæ sententiæ reserved to the Apostolic See in accordance with Canon 1382. I therefore entreat and beseech you in the name of Jesus Christ to weigh carefully what you are about to undertake against the laws of sacred discipline, and the very grave consequences resulting therefrom for the communion of the Catholic Church, of which you are a bishop.

Given at Rome, from the Office of the Congregation for Bishops, June 17, 1988.

By Mandate of the Supreme Pontiff,

Bernardin Card. Gantin

Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops

74. At a press conference held at Ecône.

Source: https://sspxasia.com/Documents/Archbishop-Lefebvre/Archbishop_Lefebvre_and_the_Vatican/Part_I/1988-06-17.htm


I also wrote a post on this topic that can be found below:

https://tradicat.blogspot.com/2015/07/a-look-back-cardinal-lara-and-sspx.html


References

https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2026/05/13/260513d.html

https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2026/05/13/vatican-says-sspx-faces-excommunications-for-schismatic-bishop-consecrations/

https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2026/05/vatican-issues-final-warning-to-breakaway-traditionalist-sspx

https://dianemontagna.substack.com/p/vatican-issues-formal-warning-over

https://fsspx.news/en/news/declaration-catholic-faith-addressed-pope-leo-xiv-59110

https://rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/2026/05/sspx-superior-published-declaration-of.html

https://rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/2026/05/new-vatican-declaration-on-sspx.html

https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/world/vatican-issues-final-warning-to-breakaway-traditionalist-group-attached-to-the-old-latin-mass/article_f40ae257-0dc4-558d-9708-34c6f248f7b5.html

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A Look Back: Archbishop Lefebvre’s Prophetic Address to The Remnant, 1976

By
 + JMJ  Looking back is important to understand why we are where we are in this crisis. Courtesy of RemnantNewsPaper  P^3 FOR THE FIRST TIME ONLINE: Archbishop Lefebvre’s Prophetic Address to The Remnant, 1976 Written by  Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre Introduction by Michael J. Matt More than forty years ago—during the disastrous reign of Pope Paul VI, the latest candidate for a Vatican-issued Halo Award, by the way—my father, Walter L. Matt, organized the first large scale public reception in the U.S. for the late Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. It was held at the Radisson South Hotel, Minneapolis, on Tuesday, May 12, 1976, and its stated purpose was to assist the Archbishop in gaining a stronger foothold for the Society of St. Pius X in the States during the unprecedented crisis Blessed Pope Paul had helped unleash on the Church. On that occasion Archbishop Lefebvre delivered ...
Post a Comment
Read more

"Theology of the Body" explained - a Traditional Catholic view - Rorate Caeli

By
+ JMJ In prep for yet another attack on Catholic Dogma, Doctrine and Morals, I'd like to point out an excellent article posted on Rorate earlier this year:  "Theology of the Body" explained - a Traditional Catholic view - Rorate Caeli . To date my only real reaction the 'Theology of the Body' has been that what little I read doesn't 'feel right'.  The more specific term for this sensation is Cognitive Dissonance or Cultural Dissonance. In short, what I read of the basic tenets of 'Theology of the Body' seemed to contradict I believed about the Catholic Church's teaching on the purpose of marriage.  The explanations that I received from 'modern' Catholics, didn't do anything to allay my concerns. This article goes to the heart of why it didn't feel right.
Post a Comment
Read more

Can Catholics Pray with Protestants??? Part 2

By
 + JMJ While I have explicit permission from the Canadian, US and FSSPX.News sites, as a follow-up to Part 1, I am going to post here an article on the FSSPX.UK website to provide a bona-fide resource for other Traditional Catholics looking for the truth as opposed to just belief on this topic. FSSPX.UK: Matters arising – May We Pray with Non-Catholics? P^3 Matters arising : May we pray with non-Catholics? Rev. Nicholas Mary, C.SS.R. Fr. Nicholas Mary answers topical questions in the light of moral theology and canon law. Public prayer As always, before we can answer a question adequately, terms must be defined and distinctions made. The general principle is clear, as Cardinal Newman writes: From time immemorial, from the earliest ages, members of the Church have been forbidden  communicatio in sacris  [i.e. participation in religious rites] with those who were external to it. This prohibition is not intended as the expression of any judgment on this...
Post a Comment
Read more

The myth of the Hermeneutic of Continuity - Rorate Caeli

By
+ JMJ Interestingly the complete acceptance of the Second Vatican Council (without reservations) is required of the SSPX. Just when people are starting to wonder how it came to this! Courtesy of Rorate Caeli P^3
Post a Comment
Read more

Validity of new rite of episcopal consecrations - Courtesy of SSPX.org

By
+ JMJ In the blogosphere there are number of responses to this crisis in the Catholic Church that lead to conclusions that run counter to Catholic Doctrine and Dogmas - if taken to their logical conclusion. The validity of the New Rite of Episcopal consecrations is one such hotspot within more extreme sections of the 'traditionalist' culture. Validity of new rite of episcopal consecrations Courtesy of SSPX.org Why the new rite of episcopal consecration is valid Introduction This comprehensive study was compiled to settle a debate that has been circulating in traditional Catholic circles. Some writers have examined the new rite of episcopal consecration and concluded that it must be invalid. Since this would cause manifest problems if it were true and due to the heightened awareness of such a theory, we present a study of this question concluding that it is valid. Following the Council, in 1968 a new rite for the ordination of bishops was promulg...
1 comment
Read more