EPISTLES

Fr. Gerald Murray and Raymond Arroyo discussed the canonical and spiritual consequences of the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) performing unauthorized episcopal consecrations. Fr. Murray explains that such acts constitute schism and incur automatic excommunication, emphasizing the Church’s authority vested in the Pope.

The conversation also addresses Bishop Athanasius Schneider’s call for Pope Leo to “build a bridge” with the SSPX, which Fr. Murray critiques as a mischaracterization of the situation, noting that the issue is obedience to papal authority, not a gap or chasm to be bridged.

Fr. Gerald Murray: “There are two bishops now in the Society of St. Pius X, if either one of them or both participate in a ceremony to consecrate or ordain new bishops, then everyone—both the bishops performing it and those receiving it—are automatically excommunicated. This is because there is a canon that forbids such actions under pain of excommunication.
Secondly, the Vatican has already said that this is a schismatic act, and there is automatic excommunication for committing an act of schism. Schism means to reject the legitimate authority of the pope and the bishops in communion with him. This cannot be minimized as simply a divergence or a discussion; this is a matter of breaking with the pope. I’m glad with what Cardinal Müller say that not just a theoretical submission to the pope, but an actual submission to his authority.
It’s is a very bad thing. The Society should not do this. We have the Fraternity of St. Peter, which is an organization made up of former members—at the beginning, former members of the Society of St. Pius X—and they celebrate the Latin Mass and do other Sacraments. Their priests are ordained by diocesan bishops. So, ‘there is no state of emergency’ and ‘we could never get another priest ordained unless they do this.’ That’s not an accurate claim. And, quite frankly, how can you claim to be Catholic while being exempt from the pope’s authority? You cannot.”

Raymond Arroyo:
“Diane Montagna is reporting that Bishop Athanasius Schneider is calling for Pope Leo to build a bridge between Rome and the SSPX to avoid schism. He says, ‘Holy Father, grant the apostolic mandate for the Episcopal consecrations of the SSPX. Stand aside from the partisanship of others, and with a paternal and truly Augustinian spirit, demonstrate that you are a builder of bridges, as you promised before the whole world.’”

Fr. Gerald Murray: “I disagree with the characterization of Bishop Schneider here. ‘Building bridges’ assumes there is a chasm between the Pope and the Society of St. Pius X. Well, there is no chasm—simply a disagreement. The issue is: who decides—the Society or the pope? If they believe in the Catholic religion, then, of course, the pope decides.
This goes back to the origin of the problem. Archbishop Lefebvre signed an agreement, and Pope Benedict—then Cardinal Ratzinger—was responsible for getting to that point through negotiation. He signed an agreement that Rome would grant a bishop to the Society of St. Pius X, but Rome would decide who he was not the Society.
The next day, Archbishop Lefebvre walked away from it and performed illegal consecrations. That same spirit is operative here. They want to name their own bishops for themselves, which is not how the Catholic Church works. You can propose bishops, but you cannot bind the pope. It’s up to him. Bishops are the successors of the apostles, and the chief apostle (the Pope) is the one who’s going to determine which candidates make it to become ordained.”

Source: Bishops vs. the President at the Supreme Court… & the SSPX Showdown [Video]. YouTube.