Are SSPX Sacraments invalid?

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Quotations taken from :

STATUS OF THE SOCIETY OF ST. PIUS X
Msgr Camille Perl
Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei

N. 343/98
Rome, 27 October 1998

"about over a period of time as one slowly imbibes a schismatic mentality which separates itself from the teaching of the Supreme Pontiff and the entire Catholic Church classically exemplified in A Rome and Econe Handbook which states in response to question 14 that the SSPX defends the traditional catechisms and therefore the Old Mass, and so attacks the Novus Ordo, the Second Vatican Council and the New Catechism, all of which more or less undermine our unchangeable Catholic faith.

It is precisely because of this schismatic mentality that this Pontifical Commission has consistently discouraged the faithful from attending Masses celebrated under the aegis of the Society of St. Pius X.

b. Thus far the Church has not officially declared what Constitutes “formal adherence to the schism” inaugurated by the late Archbishop Lefebvre (cf. Ecclesia Dei 5, c), but the Code of Canon Law defines schism as “refusal of submission to the Roman Pontiff or of communion with the members of the Church subject to him” (canon 751). The above citation together with the other documentation which you have included in your dossier and your own exchange of correspondence with Father Violette clearly indicate the extent to which many in authority in the Society of St. Pius X corroborate that definition.

c. It may still be difficult to characterize the entire Society of St. Pius X, but the documentation which you have submitted witnesses to a consistent condemnation of the new Mass, the Pope and anyone who disagrees with the authorities of the Society in the smallest degree. Such behaviour is not consistent with the practice of the Catholic faith.

d. We reiterate what we stated above: “The Pope is the Supreme legislator in the Church.” Communion with him is a fundamental, non-negotiable hallmark of Catholicism which is not determined by those who set themselves up to judge him, but by the Pope himself (cf. Second Vatican Council’s Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Lumen Gentium #22-25)."

So. If the the SSPX is not in FULL communion with the Holy See are we to assume that their Sacraments are invalid?

I see so many traditional Catholics commend and support the SSPX, but in fact they are putting themselves in grave moral peril by being in favor of a group that essentially denies the divinely inspired revelation of the Second Vatican Council and distances itself from the Holy See by being so skeptical of church teaching after Vat. II.

What do you guys think about this issue? And more specifically, the Validity of the SSPX Sacraments?
 
Mass is illicit but not invalid.

Confessions and Marriage are invalid as they require faculties to be granted by the local ordinary (bishop). As the SSPX works outside of the diocese they do not have faculties.

Baptisms would be valid but again illicit as SSPX priests are automatically suspended at their ordination so they only validly baptism in cases of emergency, like near death.

Confirmation, I am not to sure on this one as the bishop does it but he is not the local ordinary so I do not think he has the right to do so, so most likely it is valid but illicit.

Anointing of the Sick is invalid as Confession is part of it, or at least the confession part is invlaid.

Ordinations are valid but the priest is automatically suspended.

This is the current view of the Church but I am sure many will cry that I am wrong.
 
Definitely they can consecrate the Bread and Wine into the Body and Blood of our Lord.
The SSPX have valid orders and do conduct the Mass with the proper intention, and valid elements.

The SSPX are in talks with the Vatican to be reconciled so those who are of the mind of we being united in the faith should all support the SSPX in reconciliation.

ByzCath is pretty spot on.

In Christ
Scylla
 
So your saying that these schismatics can validly consecrate the body and blood of Our Lord. I Think not.
There is no reason to think the priests of the SSPX cannot validly consecrate the Eucharist. You appear to misunderstand this issue at a basic level. Also you do not seem very supportive of the Pope’s efforts to reconcile with the SSPX. Your posts have a hostile tone towards them that is very different from the example set by the pope.
 
So your saying that these schismatics can validly consecrate the body and blood of Our Lord. I Think not.
Lets see, you ask a question, receive an answer, and reveal your mind is made up.

So, it is simply an attack on the SSPX. And btw, you are dead wrong.
 
There is no reason to think the priests of the SSPX cannot validly consecrate the Eucharist. You appear to misunderstand this issue at a basic level. Also you do not seem very supportive of the Pope’s efforts to reconcile with the SSPX. Your posts have a hostile tone towards them that is very different from the example set by the pope.
Exactly.
 
Note also that since their clergy has valid Orders, Confession is valid in extreme cases. So if you’re on a plane and the engines died and you’re on a glide for the next 30 minutes and you’re sitting next to an SSPX priest, you can receive a valid absolution.
 
Note also that since their clergy has valid Orders, Confession is valid in extreme cases. So if you’re on a plane and the engines died and you’re on a glide for the next 30 minutes and you’re sitting next to an SSPX priest, you can receive a valid absolution.
Yes, thank you, I forgot that. That would also mean that the Anointing of the Sick with Confession may be vaild in the extreme case also.

I hope and pray that all this will soon be a moot point and everything will be regularized.
 
There is no reason to think the priests of the SSPX cannot validly consecrate the Eucharist. You appear to misunderstand this issue at a basic level. Also you do not seem very supportive of the Pope’s efforts to reconcile with the SSPX. Your posts have a hostile tone towards them that is very different from the example set by the pope.
Yes I may appear to be hostile. But what I mean to say is that the SSPX is not in full communion with Rome. So, it is at least my understanding that in order to have the authority to administer the sacraments, which comes from Christ himself, One must be Fully part of the apostolic church to which this authority is given. If you are not part of the Church(in full communion), how can you have such Sacramental abilities. And also, I am not opposed to dialogue between the Vatican and the SSPX, but my tone is merely firm because of my belief that it is wrong of the SSPX to not place itself completely in line with the church. They need to come back to the Church. While they may prefer pre Vat. II tradition, they cant place such traditions in greater priority than full communion with the Holy See.
 
Confessions and Marriage are invalid as they require faculties to be granted by the local ordinary (bishop). As the SSPX works outside of the diocese they do not have faculties.
Can two Russian Orthodox be validly married by a Russian Orthodox priest?
Can two Lutherans be validly married by a Lutheran minister?
This is the current view of the Church but I am sure many will cry that I am wrong.
I am not necessarily one of them, but I do not perceive the reasoning behind some of what you wrote.
 
Yes I may appear to be hostile. But what I mean to say is that the SSPX is not in full communion with Rome. So, it is at least my understanding that in order to have the authority to administer the sacraments, which comes from Christ himself, One must be Fully part of the apostolic church to which this authority is given. If you are not part of the Church(in full communion), how can you have such Sacramental abilities. And also, I am not opposed to dialogue between the Vatican and the SSPX, but my tone is merely firm because of my belief that it is wrong of the SSPX to not place itself completely in line with the church. They need to come back to the Church. While they may prefer pre Vat. II tradition, they cant place such traditions in greater priority than full communion with the Holy See.
The SSPX is not in schism. Popes don’t lift excommunications on clergy in schism.
 
Confession to an SSPX bishop would be valid under canon 967 §1.

Although not a sacrament, annulments granted by the SSPX are not considered valid by the Catholic Church.
 
renewamerica.com/columns/mershon/080711

The PCED on the SSPX regarding:

Schism:

“Statements made by Cardinal Castrillón need to be understood in a technical, canonical sense. Stating that the Society of St. Pius X “is not in formal schism” is to say that there has been no official declaration on the part of the Holy See that the Society of St. Pius X is in schism. Up to now, the Church has sought to show the maximum charity, courtesy and consideration to all those involved with the hope that such a declaration will not eventually be necessary.”

Masses:

"Concretely, this means that the Masses offered by the priests of the Society of St. Pius X are valid, but illicit, i.e., contrary to Canon Law. "

“While it is true that participation in the Mass at chapels of the Society of St. Pius X does not of itself constitute “formal adherence to the schism” (cf. Ecclesia Dei 5, c), such adherence can come about over a period of time as one slowly imbibes a schismatic mentality which separates itself from the teaching of the Supreme Pontiff and the entire Catholic Church. While we hope and pray for a reconciliation with the Society of St. Pius X, the Pontifical Commission “Ecclesia Dei” cannot recommend that members of the faithful frequent their chapels for the reasons which we have outlined above. We deeply regret this situation and pray that soon a reconciliation of the Society of St. Pius X with the Church may come about, but until such time the explanations which we have given remain in force.”"

“Catholics who frequent the chapels of the Society of St. Pius X do not incur any sin or canonical delict by doing so.”

Marriages and Confessions:

“The Sacraments of Penance and Matrimony, however, require that the priest enjoys the faculties of the diocese or has proper delegation. Since that is not the case with these priests, these sacraments are invalid. It remains true, however, that, if the faithful are genuinely ignorant that the priests of the Society of St. Pius X do not have proper faculty to absolve, the Church supplies these faculties so that the sacrament is valid (cf. Code of Canon Law, canon 144)”

Authority of PCED response:

“As we already stated to you in our letter of 4 July 2007: “This Pontifical Commission does its best to transmit responses which are in full accord with the magisterium and the present canonical practices of the Catholic Church. One should accept them with docility and can act upon them with moral certainty.” We would further add that no dicastery of the Holy See will give other responses than those which we have given here.”

**It should be noted that these answers were given before the excommunications were remitted. What difference, if any, that would make in the PCED answers if the questions were asked today, I don’t know.
 
Can two Russian Orthodox be validly married by a Russian Orthodox priest?
Can two Lutherans be validly married by a Lutheran minister?
Any deacon or priest of the Orthodox Church can perform a valid and sacramental marriage. They receive their faculties from their bishop.

A Lutheran and even a justice of the peace can perform a valid marriage that is not sacramental. This is called a natural marriage. It is valid, but not a sacrament. However, becauese it is valid, it is binding until death. If the two parties are of the same faith and are married by a minister of their faith, the marriage may be sacramental. It’s going to depend on their baptism. No all Christian Churches have valid baptism. Some baptize in the name of Jesus, which is invalid.

These ministers do not need faculties or permission from the Ordinary Bishop of a Diocese. They do not fall under this law.

Every Catholic cleric must have permission from the Ordinary Bishop of a diocese to witness a marriage. Even those clerics who belong to an exempt religious order may not witness a marriage without the permission of the diocesan bishop, not even in the chapel or oratory of the religious community, which is really outside the jurisdiction of the bishop. What falls under his jurisdiction is the sacrament itself.

Only those whom the Church recognizes as having the right to witness a marriage can do so. There are cases where even lay persons can witness a marriage, making it valid and sacramental. But it must be authorized by the bishop. The bishop can only authorize what the Church allows him to authorize.

In the case of non Catholic ministers, priests and civil justices, the Church recognizes their right to witness marriages. The Orthodox are a non-question as all of their sacraments are valid and licit.

I hope that helps.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF 🙂
 
Can two Russian Orthodox be validly married by a Russian Orthodox priest?
Can two Lutherans be validly married by a Lutheran minister?
For their faithful yes, but the SSPX are ministering to Catholics who are under the authority of the local bishop. A marriage of Catholics by either an Orhtodox priest or Lutheran minister would be invalid as would the confession of a Catholic to an Orthodox priest.

Those two sacraments require faculties from the local bishop.

That is unless you are arguing that the SSPX are outside of the Church, that they have formed their own schismatic Church outside of the Catholic Church.

If you do then your argument is with the SSPX because they say otherwise.
 
To answer the OP simply: no. The Sacraments that the Society distribute/ confer are most certainly valid for those of us who are Confessing, receiving Communion, marrying, receiving Baptism, Confirmation, or Holy Orders. The Church supplies the jurisdiction for those of us who have nowhere else to turn.

Regardless of what the others say.
 
Reconciliation is the only one I know that is considered invalid by pretty much every canon lawyer (outside traditionalists circles). SSPX will quote canon 967, but if you read it, that is not for situations where one knowingly goes to a priests that does not have faculties. Roll the dice on that one if you must, but I would at least read the canon for yourself first.

Marriage seems to have a split opinion.

Confimation is still valid if an SSPX bishop confirms. Priests have to have permission of the local ordinary though.

I know of no one who considers their Mass invalid or any reason it would be.
 
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