SSPX Files Appeal to Retain Conciliar Membership

There is much that could be said regarding this move (e.g., citing the 1983 CIC in its appeal), but the most obvious feature is once again the contrast in spirit in comparison to the 1988 Letter to Cardinal Gantin, in which the collected District Superiors responded to Rome after the declaration of excommunications of the six bishops that, not only had they no wish to become members of the conciliar church, but in fact had never belonged to it in the first place.

Conversely (and especially in conjunction with the sad tone of Fr. Pagliarani’s response to Leo following the July 2 declaration of excommunication), it appears that an opposite sentiment now prevails in Menzingen: The SSPX has never wanted to part with the conciliar church, and in fact are desperate to regain membership in it.

I have the same impression I had from 2011-2019: The SSPX is obviously disturbed about its irregular (conciliar) canonical status, and wants in some way to rectify it. That message is contagious, and the faithful, picking up on the moral angst of the SSPX leadership, will also want to reconcile their canonical status (especially since they too are now implicated by the censure).

This move absolutely sends the wrong message…unless you are a modernist Roman prelate (in which case you might sense more fertile ground for a doctrinal breakthrough has presented itself than existed before the consecrations).

The Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X announced that it is formally challenging the Vatican decree issued on 2 July by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith that excommunicated its six bishops. On 11 July, it filed the required preliminary appeal under canon law. According to the Society, this filing temporarily suspends the enforcement of the decree while the appeal process is underway.

Communiqué of 13 July
The Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X announces that, in response to the decree issued on 2 July 2026 by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, it submitted on 11 July a preliminary recourse to the same Dicastery, in accordance with canons 1734 and following of the Code of Canon Law.

This request, which constitutes the mandatory preliminary step before the possible introduction of a hierarchical recourse, has the effect of suspending the execution of the decree, in accordance with canon 1353 of the Code of Canon Law.

By this recourse, the Society intends to exercise the right which the Church recognizes to any person who considers himself harmed by an administrative act to seek its correction, in a spirit of respect for ecclesiastical authority and of faithful attachment to justice, truth and the good of the Church.

The Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X entrusts this request to the competent authorities and commends this undertaking to the prayers of all the faithful.