SSPX Resistance

The SSPX Resistance is a loosely organized group of Traditionalist Catholics that grew out of the concern that the dialogue between the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) and the Holy See was leading the SSPX to accept the Second Vatican Council as a condition of the Society's recognition by Rome. The SSPX Resistance has continued to celebrate the Tridentine Mass and the pre-Vatican II (but post-Trent) rites, though independent of both the Catholic Church and the SSPX. They see themselves as holding true to the founding principles of Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, opposing any drift towards liberalism and modernism perceived as having crept into the SSPX.

SSPX Resistance
AbbreviationSSPX-SO (unofficial)
SSPX-MC
SAJM (France)
Formation2012
TypeUnofficial Traditionalist network of independent members,[1] not in communion with the Catholic Church[2]
HeadquartersLondon, England
Patronage
Richard Williamson[3]
Spokesman
David Allen White[4]
Key people
Websitestmarcelinitiative.com[6]

Origins

Though the dialogue with Rome ultimately failed in achieving reconciliation and recognition of the society, the possibility of further schism within the SSPX grew more serious. Bishop Williamson was the most prominent dissenter, challenging the authority and governance of the society publicly on multiple occasions. For example, in August 2012 Williamson administered the sacrament of Confirmation to about 100 lay people at the Benedictine Monastery of the Holy Cross in Nova Friburgo, Brazil, during an unauthorized visit to the State of Rio de Janeiro. The society's South American district superior, Father Christian Bouchacourt, protested his actions on the SSPX website saying that it was "a serious act against the virtue of obedience".[7] In early October the leadership of the SSPX gave Williamson a deadline to declare his submission, instead of which he published an "open letter" asking for the resignation of the superior general.[8] In October 2012 the society expelled Williamson in a "painful decision" citing the failures "to show respect and obedience deserved by his legitimate superiors".[9] Immediately after his expulsion, he publicly called for the establishment of a loose social network of what he called "Catholic Resistance" to any proposal by the society to drop its opposition to Rome.[1] Williamson served as the de facto bishop for various groups of the faithful and clergy sympathetic to Williamson and opposed to recent developments within the society.

The most notable and largest group in North America began to call itself the Society of St. Pius X of the Strict Observance (SSPX-SO). Five priests were either expelled from the SSPX or renounced their affiliation with the society, signing the "Vienna Declaration" and outlining their positions.[10] Since 2013, this group has become known by a number of names, including the Society of St. Pius X of the Strict Observance (SSPX-SO) and the Apostles of Jesus and Mary, but ultimately settled on the Society of St. Pius X–Marian Corps (SSPX–MC).[11] They are active, celebrating the Tridentine Mass and traditional form of the sacraments throughout Canada and the United States. Another group within the SSPX Resistance movement, in the Indian, East Asian, and Oceanic regions, uses the same name (SSPX-MC) and is served occasionally by priests affiliated with the North American SSPX-MC.[12] The SSPX-MC continues to follow the constitutions and rules of the Society of St. Pius X but provides a refuge for resistance priests and others who no longer believe they can fulfill their vows in the Society.

Another group within the SSPX Resistance is the Union Sacerdotale Marcel Lefebvre (English: Priestly Union of Marcel Lefebvre), founded at the monastery of the Avrillé Dominicans in Avrillé, France.[13] Relations between the Society of St. Pius X and the Dominicans of Avrillé soured after certain religious in the community were suspected of aligning with the resistance. Bishop Fellay ultimately postponed ordinations scheduled for June 2014 as a test of loyalty.[14] On July 15, 2014, Bishop Williamson celebrated Mass at the monastery and presided over the meeting and organization of French priests associated with the SSPX Resistance.[15] Thereafter, the Dominican Friars of Avrillé formally declared their disassociation with the SSPX and, together with other French SSPX Resistance priests, formed the Priestly Union of Marcel Lefebvre by a "Declaration of Catholic Fidelity", signed October 26, 2014.[16]

In 2013, a non-profit (501C3) organisation was set up under the title "St. Marcel Initiative", a trade name of BRN Associates, Inc.[6] This initiative of independent pockets of resistance without hierarchical structure[1] is patronized by Richard Williamson and overseen by David Allen White.[3][4]

2015, 2016, and 2017 consecrations

On March 19, 2015, Bishop Williamson consecrated Bishop Jean-Michel Faure at the Benedictine Monastery of the Holy Cross in Nova Friburgo, Brazil.[17] Father Faure, a Frenchman, was one of the first members of the Society of St. Pius X and was even initially considered for the episcopacy by Marcel Lefebvre in the 1988 consecrations, though Faure turned down the selection; Alfonso de Galarreta was chosen in his place. Faure served the society as district superior of both Argentina and Mexico for many years.[17] While both had already been expelled from the society, the SSPX condemned the consecration.[18]

On March 19, 2016, one year after the 2015 consecration, Bishop Williamson consecrated Miguel Ferreira da Costa (aka Thomas Aquinas) of Brazil at the same place. The SSPX did not comment on the new consecration.[19] On May 11, 2017, it was announced that Williamson intended to consecrate a third bishop, Mexican-American prelate Gerardo Zendejas. The consecration was held at St. Athanasius Church in Vienna, Virginia.[20]

References
  1. "And Now?". Eleison Comments (277). St. Louis, MO: St. Marcel Initiative. 2012-11-03. Retrieved 2019-01-23. God […] wants a loose network of independent pockets of Resistance, gathered around the Mass, freely contacting one another, but with no structure of obedience such as served to sink the mainstream Church in the 1960s, and is now sinking the Society of St Pius X. — Quoted, but without identifying the source of information, by: West, Ed (2012-11-09). "Expelled bishop urges network of 'Catholic resistance'". The Catholic Herald. Archived from the original on 2018-11-06. Retrieved 2019-02-04 – via Exact Editions.
  2. "Note from the Secretary of State concerning the four Prelates of the Society of Saint Pius X (February 4, 2009)". La Santa Sede. 2009-02-04. Archived from the original on 2018-11-06. Retrieved 2018-09-12. A full recognition of the Second Vatican Council and the Magisterium of Popes John XXIII, Paul VI, John Paul I, John Paul II and Benedict XVI himself is an indispensable condition for any future recognition of the Society of Saint Pius X. — Cf. Richard Williamson's arguments against sedevacantism: "Church's Infallibility – I". Eleison Comments (343). St. Louis, MO: St. Marcel Initiative. 2014-02-08. Retrieved 2019-01-16. — "Church's Infallibility – II". Eleison Comments (344). St. Marcel Initiative. 2014-02-15. Retrieved 2019-01-16. — "Again, Sedevacantism – I". Eleison Comments (response to Donald Sanborn) (481). St. Louis, MO: St. Marcel Initiative. 2016-10-01. Retrieved 2019-01-17. — "Sedevacantism Again – II". Eleison Comments (response to Donald Sanborn) (482). St. Louis, MO: St. Marcel Initiative. 2016-10-08. Retrieved 2019-01-17. [S]edevacantists are thinking humanly, all too humanly.
  3. "Don Curzio Nitoglia-Libri-Video-Testi-Audio". 2012-11-03. Archived from the original on 2019-01-23. Retrieved 2019-01-23. "St. Marcel Initiative […] An Endeavour for all purposes of the Catholic Resistance Patronized by His Excellency Bishop Richard Williamson" Italian: "Iniziativa San Marcel […] Un impegno per tutti i fini della Resistenza Cattolica patrocinato da Sua Eccellenza Mons. Richard Williamson".
  4. "David Allen White" (biography). St. Louis, MO: St. Marcel Initiative. Archived from the original on 2018-12-21. Retrieved 2019-01-26. David Allen White is Vice Chairman of BRN Associates, Inc., and spokesman for the St. Marcel Initiative. […] Dr. White, on behalf of and in conjunction with His Excellency Bishop Williamson, acts as the "public face" of the St. Marcel Initiative, handling much of its official correspondence and bearing responsibility for the release, as approved by the Bishop, of news and announcements regarding His Excellency's activities. — "Brn Associates Inc". Williamsburg, VA: GuideStar. Archived from the original on 2019-01-26. Retrieved 2019-01-26. Principal Officer: Patrick McCarthy […] Main Address: […] Glenelg, MD […] Cause Area (NTEE Code): Roman Catholic (X22).
  5. "St. Marys Kansas Resistance | Resisting The New Direction Of The SSPX". St. Marys Kansas Resistance. Archived from the original on 2019-01-20. Retrieved 2019-02-04.
  6. "St. Marcel Initiative" (official website). St. Louis, MO. 2019-01-12. Archived from the original on 2019-01-03. Retrieved 2019-01-23.
  7. "Bishop causes more controversy for breakaway Catholic group". Retrieved 2015-05-21.
  8. "Communiqué of the General House of the Society of Saint Pius X (October 24, 2012) | DICI". www.dici.org. Retrieved 2015-05-21.
  9. "Communiqué of the General House of the Society of Saint Pius X (October 24, 2012) | DICI". www.dici.org. Retrieved 2015-05-21.
  10. "Declaration LeFebvre Priests Vienna, Virginia". www.cathinfo.com. Retrieved 2015-05-21.
  11. "Marian Corps (SSPX-MC)" (PDF). Ecclesia Militans. Retrieved 2015-05-21.
  12. "Information on the Society of St. Pius X Marian Corps (SSPX MC) in India and East Asia". SSPX (MC) India, East Asia, and Oceania. Archived from the original on 2015-04-23. Retrieved 2018-06-16.
  13. "France fidèle | Le site officiel français de l'Union Sacerdotale Marcel Lefebvre". France fidèle. Archived from the original on 2015-05-11. Retrieved 2015-05-21.
  14. "Christus Vincit! Christus Regnat! Christus Imperat! :: L'abbé de Cacqueray, un homme d'exception". christusvincit.clicforum.com. Retrieved 2015-05-21.
  15. "Priestly UNION SURGE MARCEL LEFEBVRE!". Cor Mariae. Retrieved 2015-05-21.
  16. "Déclaration de fidélité catholique quarante ans après celle de 1974". Dominicains Avrillé. Retrieved 2015-05-21.
  17. "The Recusant – Fr Faure". The Recusant. Retrieved 2015-05-21.
  18. "Consecration of Fr. Jean-Michel Faure". SSPX – District of the USA. Retrieved 2015-05-21.
  19. "Third Bishop". Eleison Comments (453). St. Louis, MO: St. Marcel Initiative. 2016-03-19. Retrieved 2019-01-23.
  20. "Statement from the Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge on the Consecration of Father Gerardo Zendejas, Member of an Independent Church". Roman Catholic Diocese of Arlington. May 19, 2017. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
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