Archbishop Bernard Hebda of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis released a statement Thursday, July 2 following news that the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX) had carried out the consecration of bishops at Écône, Switzerland against the Pope’s wishes. The SSPX was founded by French archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, in part to preserve the Latin Mass but also having issues with parts of the Second Vatican Council. Archbishop Lefebvre was excommunicated in 1988 after carrying out consecrations similar to those done last week against the Pope’s wishes. The SSPX was declared schismatic following the action last week, with the consecrating bishops, society priest, and laity who “formally” adhere to the Society excommunicated, or placed outside of communion with the Catholic Church. Laity who may have attended an SSPX Mass in the past but did not formally adhere to it were not excommunicated, providing they do not continue supporting the society. The Vatican put out instructions on how to reconcile with the Church following the announcement, while Archbishop Hebda’s statement on the SSPX consecrations is below:
“It was with great sadness that I read that the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X (referred to in English as the “SSPX”) had rejected Pope Leo’s pleas and had gone ahead with the consecration of four new bishops in Écône, Switzerland, without the requisite papal mandate.
“The seriousness of that action was reflected in the decree that came from the Holy See today, declaring (as had been warned) that the consecrating bishop, the co-consecrator, and the four newly ordained bishops, had all incurred the penalty of excommunication.
“Of particular note to Catholics in this Archdiocese is the clarification from the Holy See that any other clergy and lay faithful who formally adhere to the SSPX’s schism would also automatically incur the penalty of excommunication. The clarification that accompanied today’s decree notes, in particular, that the clergy of the SSPX must henceforth be treated as schismatics: the sacraments they celebrate from this day forward are illicit and, most significantly, the confessions that they hear and the weddings that they witness are invalid.
“In the ten years that I have led this local Church, I have met many sincere people who worship regularly or occasionally at the chapels of the SSPX within the territory of our Archdiocese. I have been impressed by the strength of their families and their commitment to traditional Catholic values. I realize that today’s excommunications will affect them in a particular way.
“It is my hope they will not follow the above-mentioned bishops in separating themselves from the Successor of Peter, Pope Leo XIV, and from the Church that he humbly leads. Throughout the centuries, our Catholic Church has consistently echoed the teaching of St. Ambrose: Ubi Petrus ibi ecclesia (Where there is Peter, there is the Church).
“At this difficult moment, we are blessed that the same traditional Eucharistic liturgy beloved by those who have worshiped with the SSPX in the past continues to be celebrated in six locations throughout the Archdiocese. I am confident that those who prefer the Traditional Latin Mass could find a home here.
“Please join me in praying for the clergy and faithful in our state who have until now been affiliated with the SSPX: may Mary, Mother of the Church, guide them at this difficult time and keep them within the Church established by her Son and led by his Vicar. Let us pray, more broadly, for unity in the Church, especially in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, and for Pope Leo XIV as he carries out his solemn duties as the shepherd and unifier of the Church.”