Traditionalist Catholic group plans bishop consecrations without papal approval

A traditionalist Catholic faction plans to consecrate four bishops without papal approval at its seminary in Econe, Switzerland, on Wednesday. The ceremony marks the 38th anniversary of a prior Vatican declaration that similar consecrations constituted a schismatic act.

The Society of St. Pius X has identified the new bishops as Pascal Schreiber of Switzerland, Michael Goldade of the United States, Michel Poinsinet de Sivry of France and Marc Hanappier of France. The group says the consecrations are needed because only two of the original four bishops remain to serve 800 places of worship in 77 countries.

Background on the group The French Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre founded the SSPX in opposition to reforms adopted at the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s. The society celebrates the Latin Mass and has accused the modern church of modernism, liberalism and ecumenism.

Under church law, consecrating bishops without a papal mandate results in automatic excommunication for both the new bishops and the bishop performing the rite. The SSPX maintains that a state of necessity justifies the action to continue ordaining priests and administering confirmations according to the ancient rite.

Pope Leo XIV warned in a letter that the consecrations without approval constitute a sin of extreme gravity. In response, the SSPX superior urged the pope to wait before declaring any penalty. Marc-André Mabillard, media manager for the society, said the group feels great sadness at not being understood by its leader but is changing nothing in its plans.

The SSPX website features a countdown clock and offers participants a souvenir wine set and baseball cap. Many Catholics, including some traditionalists, view the planned consecrations as an act of disobedience. The Rev. Robert Gahl of the Catholic University of America said tradition cannot be served while disobeying church authority.