The Priestly Society of St. Pius X announced plans to consecrate new bishops on July 1 without approval from the Vatican.

The traditionalist Catholic group said it would proceed with the consecrations after not receiving a response from the Holy See regarding their requests for new bishops. Father Davide Pagliarani, the SSPX superior general, had requested an audience with Pope Leo XIV in August but received a letter this month that did not address the society's needs.

The SSPX, which exclusively celebrates the Traditional Latin Mass, has had longstanding disagreements with Rome over reforms from the Second Vatican Council, Fox News reported. Consecrating bishops without papal approval is considered a serious breach of Church law and could result in automatic excommunication under canon law.

SSPX History of Tension with Rome

The issue has sparked intense debate among Catholics worldwide, with many seeing this as a potential full schism from Rome. For conservatives, this isn’t just a theological spat—it’s a stand against the creeping modernization of sacred traditions.

Let’s rewind to the roots of this clash: the SSPX was founded by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, who was excommunicated in 1988 by Pope John Paul II for ordaining four bishops without papal blessing. Those bishops, too, faced excommunication, though Pope Benedict XVI lifted these penalties in 2009 without granting full ministry. The society’s insistence on the old Latin Mass and rejection of Vatican II reforms has kept them on the fringes of Church authority for decades.

Efforts to reconcile have been bumpy at best, with Popes Benedict XVI and Francis attempting to bring the SSPX back into the fold. Francis even permitted SSPX priests to hear confessions and conduct marriages, though he stopped short of official ministry until they embraced Vatican II. Yet, talks with the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith last year seem to have collapsed, per Monday’s report from The Catholic Herald.

Current Leadership Stands Firm

Father Pagliarani isn’t mincing words about the Vatican’s dismissal of their plea for more bishops, of which the SSPX currently has only two: Bishop Bernard Fellay and Bishop Alfonso de Galarreta. He stated that the Vatican’s letter “does not in any way respond to our requests.” For traditionalists, this snub is yet another sign of Rome’s disconnect from the faithful who cling to pre-modern liturgy.

This isn’t about petty rebellion; it’s about preserving what many see as the true heart of Catholicism against a tide of progressive erosion. The SSPX claims it doesn’t want a schism, but their actions speak louder—consecrating bishops on July 1 could be a point of no return. Conservatives watching this unfold can’t help but admire the guts it takes to defy a bloated bureaucracy in the name of faith.

Look at the timing: this announcement comes on the heels of Pagliarani’s November 2024 statement marking the 50th anniversary of SSPX’s founding. He declared, “The Society of Saint Pius X does not seek first and foremost its own survival: it seeks the good of the universal Church primarily.” That’s a noble aim, but one that rings hollow to Vatican loyalists who see only defiance.

Potential Fallout Looms Large

What’s next could be seismic for the Catholic world, as a schism would formalize a divide that’s simmered for over half a century. For those of us who value tradition over trendy reforms, the SSPX’s stand is a rallying cry against a Church that often seems more concerned with political correctness than spiritual purity.

The Vatican’s silence on ordaining more bishops this month isn’t just bureaucratic inertia—it’s a deliberate message to traditionalists: conform or be cast out. But forcing compliance on matters of deep conviction rarely ends well, and Rome risks alienating a significant chunk of devout Catholics who are tired of watered-down doctrine.

Historically, the SSPX’s founder, Lefebvre, faced harsh consequences for similar acts of independence, and the same could await Pagliarani and his cohort. Yet, there’s a sense among conservative Catholics that such punishment only fuels the resolve of those who believe the Church has lost its way post-Vatican II.

Conservative Catholics Weigh In

The broader implication here isn’t just about liturgy or bishops—it’s about who gets to define Catholicism in an era of relentless cultural shift. For many on the right, the SSPX represents a bulwark against a world hell-bent on rewriting sacred truths to fit secular fads.

If July 1 comes and new bishops are consecrated without approval, expect a firestorm of reaction from both sides of the Catholic aisle. Traditionalists will likely hail it as a victory for authenticity, while progressives in the Church will decry it as reckless division. Either way, the fault lines are deepening.

Ultimately, the SSPX’s gamble could force the Vatican to confront a hard truth: ignoring the cries of traditionalists doesn’t make them disappear—it makes them louder. For conservatives, this saga is a microcosm of a larger battle against the slow surrender of timeless values. The question remains whether Rome will bend or break under the weight of this impending showdown.