Changes

On June 30, 1988, Archbishop Lefebre, alongside Brazilian Bishop Antonio de Castro Mayer, consecrated four Bishops in the traditional rite of Consecration.  The four priests consecrated were: Father Bernard Fellay, Father Richard Williamson, Father Bernard Tissier de Mallerais, and Father Alfonso de Galarreta.  Before consecrating the men, Archbishop Lefebvre made it clear that he was not breaking with Rome, nor was he renouncing the Papacy of John Paul II.  But he insisted that the Catholic Faith was not being voiced by Rome and, as a Bishop, he had a duty to preserve the Faith, whatever the cost. .<ref>http://www.sspx.org/SSPX_FAQs/appendix_iii_history_5.htm</ref>

On June 30, 1988, Archbishop Lefebre, alongside Brazilian Bishop Antonio de Castro Mayer, consecrated four Bishops in the traditional rite of Consecration.  The four priests consecrated were: Father Bernard Fellay, Father Richard Williamson, Father Bernard Tissier de Mallerais, and Father Alfonso de Galarreta.  Before consecrating the men, Archbishop Lefebvre made it clear that he was not breaking with Rome, nor was he renouncing the Papacy of John Paul II.  But he insisted that the Catholic Faith was not being voiced by Rome and, as a Bishop, he had a duty to preserve the Faith, whatever the cost. .<ref>http://www.sspx.org/SSPX_FAQs/appendix_iii_history_5.htm</ref>

On the 2nd July 1988, Pope John Paul II issued his Apostolic Letter 'Ecclesia Dei' in which he condemned the consecrations as 'unlawful', an act of 'disobedience' and, therefore, a 'schismatic act'.<ref>http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/motu_proprio/documents/hf_jp-ii_motu-proprio_02071988_ecclesia-dei_en.html</ref>  As a result, the Pope claimed that the Archbishop and four new Bishops had automatically incurred the penalty of excommunication. However, the Pope did not formally excommunicate the five men, nor was he speaking ex cathedra but only as a private theologian.

On the 2nd July 1988, Pope John Paul II issued his Apostolic Letter 'Ecclesia Dei' in which he condemned the consecrations as 'unlawful', an act of 'disobedience' and, therefore, a 'schismatic act'.<ref>http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/motu_proprio/documents/hf_jp-ii_motu-proprio_02071988_ecclesia-dei_en.html</ref>  As a result, the Pope claimed that the Archbishop and four new Bishops had automatically incurred the penalty of excommunication. However, the Pope did not formally excommunicate the five men, nor was he speaking ex cathedra but only as a private theologian. In either case according to the St Augustinian theory a bishop retains his power to ordain Priests and consecrate other bishops, even if excommunicated by the[[Roman_Catholic_Church | Roman Catholic Church]] so its bishops and priests are valid.

 

==The Society of St. Pius X Today==

==The Society of St. Pius X Today==

The Society of St. Pius X is governed by the Superior General  , who resides with his assistants, the Secretary General and the General Bursar, in the General House situated in Menzingen, Switzerland <ref>https://fsspx.org/en</ref>. SSPX is Organized into 14 districts worldwide similar to dioceses, each of which is entrusted to a local superior. Auxiliary bishops assist the districts. The USA is under one district a list of its churches can be found via this link <ref>https://sspx.org/en/list-sspx-chapels</ref>

The Society of St. Pius X is governed by the Superior General  , who resides with his assistants, the Secretary General and the General Bursar, in the General House situated in Menzingen, Switzerland <ref>https://fsspx.org/en</ref>. SSPX is Organized into 14 districts worldwide similar to dioceses, each of which is entrusted to a local superior. Auxiliary bishops assist the districts. The USA is under one district a list of its churches can be found via this link <ref>https://sspx.org/en/list-sspx-chapels</ref>