#4 SSPX is in schism… Perception or Reality?

Let it be known, that I am not taking sides on this matter nor have I ever attended an SSPX Mass. Frankly, the various positions on this topic are exhaustive. Unfortunately it is the topic du jour at the moment…so many discussion, arguments, diatribes. The topic will exist in the Church for years and possibly decades and more! Well, that is our Catholic history.

Let’s start with reality. So what just happened to the SSPX? On July 2, 2026 Pope Leo XIV declared a “Latae Sentitiae” to the SSPX hierarchy and newly consecrated bishops. Under 1983 Code of Canon Law, specifically Canon 1364 SS1, an apostate from the faith, a heretic, or a schismatic incures an excommunication (latae sententiae) meaning the penalty is automatic, ipso facto upon the commission of the offense, without the need for judicial process. This also means that the Pope did not need to declare the action…it automatically happened. If the breach coincides with the said guidelines spelled out in the Canon.

Here is a great article by Kevin Tierney on the subject…https://open.substack.com/pub/kmtierney/p/one-take-the-sspx-and-the-crisis?r=kp8uw&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email