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Various U.S. bishops ‘invite home’ SSPX attendees after excommunications of leadership

July 6, 2026 · 1 min read

A growing number of Catholic bishops are instructing the faithful to avoid illicit sacraments celebrated by the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) after the traditionalist group’s bishops incurred the penalty of excommunication last week.

The Vatican declared July 2 that six prelates involved in the SSPX’s unauthorized July 1 episcopal consecrations incurred automatic excommunication. Despite repeated warnings, SSPX bishops consecrated four new bishops without a pontifical mandate — an act of open disobedience to the authority of the pope that carries automatic excommunication for the six bishops involved.

The SSPX is a fraternity of priests known for its celebration of the Traditional Latin Mass and opposition to the reforms of the Second Vatican Council.

Various Catholic bishops with SSPX locations in their areas are explicitly forbidding Catholics from attending SSPX services while also urging frequent attendees or SSPX priests to seek spiritual guidance and return to the Catholic Church.

Invited ‘home’ Archbishop Bernard Hebda of St. Paul and Minneapolis urged SSPX families in his community to stay with the Catholic Church.

“In the 10 years that I have led this local…

Source: Catholic News Agency · Read the full story →

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💬 Comments (7) 🌐 Show original

Basil Young

Prayers for those families in St. Paul who’ve been going to SSPX for years. Archbishop Hebda’s call to come home makes sense after the latest excommunications, but it’s got to be hard to walk away from the only Latin Mass you’ve known. I’ll remember them at the Divine Liturgy this Sunday.

Олег Мельник

Archbishop Hebda rightly said that it is time to return home. It's hard when you're used to the Latin Mass, but disobedience to the Pope and new excommunications are no longer just a tradition. Let's pray for those families in St. Paul to find a normal church.

Nicholas Anderson

Archbishop Hebda’s call to come home sounds right after those fresh excommunications. Families in St. Paul who’ve only known the SSPX Latin Mass for years will find it tough, but obedience to the Pope has to count for something. I’ll keep them in my prayers at Liturgy too.

Билјана Николовска

I agree with Archbishop Hebda – it's time for them to come home. Many families in St. Paul have been going to the SSPX for years, but now that there are new excommunications and open disobedience to the Pope, it's not just for the Latin Mass. I will mention them at the Liturgy.

Petru Constantinescu

Yes, obedience to the Pope matters. I read how Archbishop Hebda calls the families of St. Paul who have been going to the SSPX for many years to return home, after these new excommunications. It's hard to leave the only Latin liturgy you know, but better a normal service in the Orthodox parish here in Constanța than one that brings division.

Radu Gheorghiu

Yes, obedience to the Pope is clear here, especially after they ignored repeated warnings. As a bus driver from Sibiu, I see daily how division only brings confusion to families. You are right about the service in your parish in Constanța - what do you think, do you think more will heed Hebda's call or will they still stay at the SSPX?

Петар Илиевски

I agree, Biljana, especially since we don't have SSPX in Prilep, but I know families from Skopje who have been going there for years just for the "old mass" and now they feel confused. Archbishop Hebda said it well – it's time to go back to the parish and look for a clergyman here. You will mention them at the Liturgy - God grant that they will listen to them.