SSPX Consecrations Raise Concerns About Church's Identity

Planned bishop consecrations by the traditionalist Society of St. Pius X could deepen rift with Rome, but some argue the group is not the real problem.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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The Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) recently announced plans to consecrate bishops without the consent of the Holy See, a move that could further strain its relationship with the Catholic Church. While some view this as an act of open defiance against Rome's authority, the author argues the SSPX is not the root cause of the Church's identity crisis. Rather, the Church's attempts to modernize and accommodate itself to modern society over the past six decades have led to widespread confusion about what it means to be in communion with the Church.

Why it matters

The SSPX's planned consecrations highlight the ongoing tensions between traditionalist Catholics and the Church hierarchy, as well as broader questions about the Church's identity and its ability to maintain unity and stability in the face of modernization efforts. The author suggests that simply declaring the SSPX in schism would not resolve the underlying problem of the Church's 'formlessness' and lack of clear, recognizable markers of Catholic identity.

The details

The author recounts his personal interactions with SSPX members, noting that while he does not agree with everything their leaders have said, he has generally found them to be 'decent people striving to live the Catholic Faith.' He argues that the planned consecrations, while likely an act of defiance against Rome, are more complicated than many make them out to be. The author suggests that Rome may be reluctant to publicly declare the SSPX in schism, as that could expose contradictions in how the Church has handled other groups that have defied its teachings.

  • The SSPX announced it will consecrate bishops without the Holy Father's consent in July of this year.

The players

Society of St. Pius X (SSPX)

A traditionalist Catholic group that has had a strained relationship with the Vatican for decades, often criticizing reforms made since the Second Vatican Council.

Pope Francis

The current Pope, who the author suggests has 'run roughshod' over certain Catholic groups and failed to protect Latin Mass communities from actions by some bishops.

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What they’re saying

“If defying Rome is all you need for schism, then parts of the Church have been in schism for decades.”

— Darrick Taylor, Author (lewrockwell.com)

“The SSPX are 'cosplaying' at Catholicism, promoting a fraud in place of Real Catholicism and therefore leading people astray.”

— Anonymous critic (lewrockwell.com)

What’s next

The Vatican will likely have to decide whether to formally declare the SSPX in schism if they proceed with the planned bishop consecrations without papal approval.

The takeaway

The SSPX's actions highlight deeper issues within the Catholic Church, as it has struggled to maintain a clear, recognizable identity amid decades of modernization efforts. Simply declaring the SSPX in schism would not resolve the underlying problem of 'formlessness' that has plagued the Church and left many Catholics unsure of what it means to be in communion with the Church.