Are the SSPX in full communion with the Church or not?

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Holly3278

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I know that the SSPX’s excommunication was recently lifted but are they now in full communion with the Church or not? What is your opinion on this?
 
Holly

You have almost seven thousand posts and have been here for five years and don’t know the answer to this?

No.

Now the thread can be locked.
 
The SSPX that were excommunicated were the Bishops. The excommunications on those Bishops has been lifted. Nothing has changed regarding SSPX priests and Catholics who attend SSPX Masses. (technically only clergy belong to the SSPX)

Even for the Bishops involved, even though they are no longer excommunicated, they are without the authority to currently act as bishops in any diocese.

We should pray that reconcilliation comes soon.
 
Lormar said:
Holly

You have almost seven thousand posts and have been here for five years and don’t know the answer to this?

No.

Now the thread can be locked.
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Ummm sorry! 😊 I thought I knew the answer to this and I was right. But I wasn’t certain so I asked.
 
First, it bears pointing out that the SSPX are a society of priests (including 4 bishops) and do not include laity who attend their Masses.

They are suspended a divinis. I know one bishop in the US excommunicated the members in his diocese–I’m not sure of the status of those.
 
I find it troubling that this question is coming up once again.

Especially after the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, said;

the Society has no canonical status in the Church and its ministers cannot legitimately exercise any ministry.

In his Motu Proprio Ecclesiae Unitatem

So it really does not matter what anonymous individuals on an internet forum thinks, the Church has already said no.
 
Trying to avoid an antagonistic thread isn’t “playing nice”?

Make up your minds here.
 
Sheesh, I am really regretting having posted this thread. I was merely curious about the question and was not trying to start an argument and yet I get berated by the vast majority of posters in my thread for having created the thread! Sheesh people.
 
It is my understanding, with the ex-communications lifted, that there are no more SSPX that are out of communion with the Church. I know of no barrier to their communion with the Holy See. Thus, I was the first to jump on and say they are in full communion, as I understand it. At the same time, they are suspended and their Masses are illicit.
 
Lormar said:
Holly

You have almost seven thousand posts and have been here for five years and don’t know the answer to this?

No.

Now the thread can be locked.
Click to expand...
Imagine asking a question on CAF:eek: why would anyone do such a thing?

The day is coming, God willing, when the SSPX will return to full Communion and be reintegrated into the Catholic Church. Groups formely affiliated with them like Transalpine Redemptorists have already returned, So is it really such a bad question to ask?
 
pnewton said:
It is my understanding, with the ex-communications lifted, that there are no more SSPX that are out of communion with the Church. I know of no barrier to their communion with the Holy See. Thus, I was the first to jump on and say they are in full communion, as I understand it. At the same time, they are suspended and their Masses are illicit.
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This is a strange state to be in. Can you provide Canons that support such a state?

The Holy Father also said in the document linked above about the reason he lifted the excommunications was to;
With this decision I intended to remove an impediment that might have jeopardized the opening of a door to dialogue and thereby to invite the Bishops and the “Society of St Pius X” to rediscover the path to full communion with the Church.

So it would seem that Pope Benedict sees them as being out of communion or at least not “full” communion. Are there levels of communion with the Church?
 
ByzCath said:
With this decision I intended to remove an impediment that might have jeopardized the opening of a door to dialogue and thereby to invite the Bishops and the “Society of St Pius X” to rediscover the path to full communion with the Church.

So it would seem that Pope Benedict sees them as being out of communion.
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No doubt it is a matter best settled by a canon lawyer and not a poll. I see the sentence and see the impediment removed.

The thing is, in the CCC, the idea of partial communion is only reserved for Protestants, or the Eastern Orthodox Churches. Here is what 838 says:
With the Orthodox Churches, this communion is so profound "that it lacks little to attain the fullness that would permit a common celebration of the Lord’s Eucharist
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Now if this is said of the Orthodox Churches, then how much less would it be for the SSPX, who share more in common than the Orthodox. In fact, all that is lacking is of a disciplinary nature.

Therefore, between the two choices, I see “full” being the better answer. I would prefer to stick with the term irregular status. When it comes to whether they are in “full communion,” I would prefer to err on the side of charity, if I err at all.
 
pnewton said:
No doubt it is a matter best settled by a canon lawyer and not a poll. I see the sentence and see the impediment removed.

The thing is, in the CCC, the idea of partial communion is only reserved for Protestants, or the Eastern Orthodox Churches. Here is what 838 says:
Now if this is said of the Orthodox Churches, then how much less would it be for the SSPX, who share more in common than the Orthodox. In fact, all that is lacking is of a disciplinary nature.

Therefore, between the two choices, I see “full” being the better answer. I would prefer to stick with the term irregular status. When it comes to whether they are in “full communion,” I would prefer to err on the side of charity, if I err at all.
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Problem is the Holy Father chose to use the word “full communion” and it appears by the document that he sees them out side of that.

The Orthodox are a different case as they are outside of the Church and it also states that they do not have a “full communion” but that not much is needed for them to achieve it.

I believe that the SSPX are also very close and can with a very small move on their part enter into “full communion”.
 
pnewton said:
It is my understanding, with the ex-communications lifted, that there are no more SSPX that are out of communion with the Church. I know of no barrier to their communion with the Holy See. Thus, I was the first to jump on and say they are in full communion, as I understand it. At the same time, they are suspended and their Masses are illicit.
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I agree. They are indeed in communion full enough to receive the sacraments. Their suspension has nothing to do with that; it has to do with canonical status.

I can understand the argument that the Pope himself mentioned something about less than full communion. But would he say the same about divorced and remarried Catholics, who are actually excluded from the sacraments?
 
ProVobis said:
I agree. They are indeed in communion full enough to receive the sacraments. Their suspension has nothing to do with that; it has to do with canonical status.
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Then can you explain the Holy Fathers own words to me so that I may understand?

With this decision I intended to remove an impediment that might have jeopardized the opening of a door to dialogue and thereby to invite the Bishops and the “Society of St Pius X” to rediscover the path to full communion with the Church.
I can understand the argument that the Pope himself mentioned something about less than full communion. But would he say the same about divorced and remarried Catholics, who are actually excluded from the sacraments?
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Divorced and remarried Catholics separate themselves from the Church and can receive none of the Sacraments until they correct their state of sin.
 
ByzCath said:
I believe that the SSPX are also very close and can with a very small move on their part enter into “full communion”.
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You can probably tell by my guarded reply that I have little confidence in my opinion. In fact, I am suspicious of those who aver with certainty on a topic that the Holy See has kept so close to the chest. I appreciate the civil response. I think this is one question we need to preface with, “I may be wrong, but…”
 
I am a member of SSPX and I cannot believe that there is so much hatred by the Novus Orde catholics towards a society which I am sure will be thanked in the future for preserving the Roman Catholic Church from sliding headfirst into an abyss brought about by trying to reconcile God with modern man on man’s terms; an absolute contradiction in terms.

One does not worship God on our terms, but worship Him on His terms. When will the egocentric world realise this? When catastrophe befalls us and all say “Why did God allow this? He did not stop it, There is no God?” Instead renew our efforts to live our lives according to the model of Our Lord Jesus Christ, to give God glory in all things, offer prayers and sacrifice (a swear word in the modern World) for all people of the world. Then, maybe, as Abraham found ten good men in the city of sinners, God may spare us His just wrath and take us to our heavenly home.
 
First let me say - I am not a member of SSPX. But their Bishops Apostolic Orders are valid. their Priests are validly ordained. And whether or not their status with the Magisterium is licit or illicit is not an issue when it comes to the Sacraments. And Catholic can satisfy their Sunday Obligation by frequenting SSPX Sacraments. Remember - once a priest alway a priest. Even if they are excommunicated - they can confect the sacraments provided they use the proper form matter and intent.

Look - the people who adhere themselves to modenism or to liberalism or the Conservative Folks who attend the Novus Ordo Missae have been providing misinformation about this for years . Read the Motu Proprio by Benedict. Or several Cardinals inlcuding Cardinal Hoyos on the subject. Yes the Church has spoken and the Sacraments themselves are valid. Prior to the Motu Proprio the TLM was off limits and bad according to those same people. A Sacrament to be Valid has to have proper Form Matter and Intent. So until these same people who make these claims can provide that Proof regarding the Ordination of Priests of SSPX - or irregularities in their Masses that proves conclusively they are invalid - the rest is just opinion.

Pax
 
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