SSPX Resistance

Last updated
Bishop Richard Williamson, founder of the SSPX Resistance, in 1991 Confirmation June 3, 1991 - 6914530078 (Richard Williamson).jpg
Bishop Richard Williamson, founder of the SSPX Resistance, in 1991

The SSPX Resistance (sometimes shortened to the "Resistance") is a loosely organized group of traditionalist Catholic priests and faithful, founded by Bishop Richard Williamson, which broke away from the Society of Saint Pius X ("SSPX"). [1]

Contents

History

Bishop Williamson was expelled from the SSPX in 2012. Prior to his expulsion, Williamson had been convicted of Holocaust denial by a German court in 2010. [2] After Williamson left the SSPX, the priests and faithful who followed him were dubbed the "SSPX Resistance." [3]

In his discussions with the SSPX, Pope Benedict XVI had indicated a willingness to grant the Society canonical recognition. Certain priests within the SSPX accused their superiors of abandoning the group's traditional principles, for considering this offer of canonical recognition. [4]

The SSPX itself was established by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre in 1970 in opposition to the changes brought by the Second Vatican Council. [5]

Episcopal Consecrations

Bishop Williamson has consecrated five bishops to serve the Resistance. The first bishop he consecrated was Jean-Michael Faure in 2015. Williamson later consecrated Tomás de Aquino Ferreira da Costa, Gerardo Zendejas, Giacomo Ballini, and Michał Stobnicki. [6] Williamson's 2017 consecration of Zendejas, at St. Athanasius Church in Vienna, Virginia drew condemnation from the local bishop, Bishop Michael Burbidge. [7]

Williamson also performed a conditional consecration of Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò.

Structure

There are also Resistance chapels in Ireland, headquartered in Cork, overseen by Bishop Giacomo Ballini. [8] Regarding the masses held in Derry, Bishop Donal McKeown warned the faithful: "The priests of SSPX Resistance Ireland are not in full communion with the Catholic Church and do not accept the full teaching authority of the Church." [8] [9]

The SSPX Resistance also has a presence in England, including in London, Kent, and Berkshire. [10]

Affiliated religious orders

Traditional Dominicans of Avrillé, France, who were formerly affiliated with the SSPX, have aligned themselves with the SSPX Resistance. [11]

References

  1. ↑ "Star launches podcast documentary on SSPX Resistance in West Cork". The Southern Star. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  2. ↑ "British bishop convicted of Holocaust denial". NBC News. 2010-04-16. Retrieved 2025-05-31.
  3. ↑ Davis, Michael Warren (2019-10-22). "SSPX: Back to the Bad Old Days?". Crisis Magazine. Retrieved 2025-05-31.
  4. ↑ "SSPX falsely accused: "Resistance to what?" | District of the USA". sspx.org. 2013-05-20. Retrieved 2025-05-31.
  5. ↑ "36 years after the schism, what does the Society of Saint Pius X represent?". La croix international. 2024-10-10. Retrieved 2025-05-31.
  6. ↑ "Ex-Lefebvrist prelate illicitly consecrates a fourth bishop". La croix international. 2023-01-10. Retrieved 2025-05-31.
  7. ↑ "Statement from Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge on the Consecration of Father Gerardo Zendejas, Member of an Independent Church". Catholic Diocese of Arlington. May 8, 2017. Retrieved May 31, 2025.
  8. 1 2 Hosford, Paul (2025-04-01). "Gardaí probe safeguarding issues following complaint about fundamentalist Catholic group". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 2025-05-31.
  9. ↑ McNulty, Chris (2025-03-20). "Bishop's concern over 'illicit' Masses". www.donegallive.ie. Retrieved 2025-05-31.
  10. ↑ "My Sunday morning inside Southport's extremist Catholic sect". The Post. 2022-10-15. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
  11. ↑ admin (2015-07-07). "The Friary's Position". Dominicans of Avrille, France. Retrieved 2025-05-31.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.