A Refutation of Bp. Athanasius Schneider’s Defense of the Society of Saint Pius X

Bad theology has consequences…

A Refutation of Bp. Athanasius Schneider’s Defense of the SSPX

Novus Ordo auxiliary bishop Athanasius Schneider in 2022
(image: Copyright 2022, KNA GmbH, www.kna.de, All Rights Reserved)

This post was updated after it was first published to correct an error in a translation from the original German.

In a recent interview given to the German Certamen association, Bishop Athanasius Schneider, auxiliary of the diocese of Maria Santissima in Astana, Kazakhstan, answers questions regarding his position on the tensions between ‘Pope’ Leo XIV and the Lefebvrist Society of St. Pius X (SSPX or FSSPX).

The SSPX has announced episcopal consecrations for July 1, which will merit their bishops a decree of excommunication from Rome because they are acting independently and without the canonically required ‘papal mandate’ from Leo XIV.… READ MORE

A Challenge to Lefebvrism: Some Inconvenient Questions for the Society of St. Pius X

Some things need to be asked…

A Challenge to Lefebvrism:
Some Inconvenient Questions for the Society of St. Pius X

Long-time readers of this blog know that we have critiqued and exposed the errors of the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX), founded by Abp. Marcel Lefebvre, many times. Here are some examples:

In view of the schism controversy surrounding the upcoming SSPX episcopal consecrations, it will be appropriate to reissue, in somewhat modified and updated form, a challenge to the clergy and/or lay adherents of the SSPX that was first published years ago.… READ MORE

NOT HAPPENING: SSPX Rejects Vatican Order to Cancel Episcopal Consecrations

Formal response to ‘Cardinal’ Fernandez…

NOT HAPPENING:
SSPX Rejects Vatican Order to Cancel Episcopal Consecrations

The Lefebvrist Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) has given its formal response to the Vatican’s conditions for theological dialogue, outlined on Feb. 12, 2026, by the Prefect of the Dicastery for the Destruction of the Faith and Vatican expert on kissing, ‘Cardinal’ Victor Manuel Fernandez.

SSPX Superior General Fr. Davide Pagliarani sent his formal response to Fernandez on Feb. 18, and it was made public today along with three appended documents and a press release:

… READ MORE

Podcast: The Society of Saint Pius X versus the Vatican (TRADCAST EXPRESS 222)

A review of the big drama so far…

Podcast: The Society of Saint Pius X versus the Vatican
(TRADCAST EXPRESS 222)

Our latest podcast episode, TRADCAST EXPRESS 222, has been published. Its main topic is the controversy between the Vatican and the Lefebvrist Society of St. Pius X or SSPX (internationally known as the Priestly Fraternity of St. Pius X or FSSPX) with regard to its announced intention to consecrate bishops without the required mandate from the person they recognize as the Pope of the Catholic Church, Robert Prevost (Leo XIV).

In particular, this TRADCAST EXPRESS episode considers:

  • The SSPX announcement on Feb.
… READ MORE

Vatican Proposal to SSPX: Call Off the Bishops’ Consecrations and We’ll Talk!

Fr. Pagliarani meets with ‘Cardinal’ Fernandez…

Vatican Proposal to SSPX:
Call Off the Bishops’ Consecrations and We’ll Talk!

In the words of the American baseball player Yogi Berra, “It’s déjà vu all over again.”

This morning, the Superior General of the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX), Father Davide Pagliarani, together with the two remaining bishops of the Society, Alfonso de Galarreta and Bernard Fellay, had a formal meeting with the Vatican’s Prefect of the so-called Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, ‘His Eminence’ Victor Manuel Fernandez.

The meeting had been announced last week after the SSPX Superior announced the Society would consecrate more bishops on July 1, regardless of whether Robert Prevost (‘Pope Leo XIV’) grants them a mandate to do so or not:

… READ MORE

Is It 1988 All Over Again? Watching a New SSPX Drama Unfold

Get your popcorn ready…

Is It 1988 All Over Again?
Watching a New SSPX Drama Unfold

Left to right: Fr. Davide Pagliarani, Tucho Fernández, Bob Prevost, cool giraffe eating popcorn

After the Superior General of the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX), Fr. Davide Pagliarani, publicly made known on Feb. 2, 2026, that new bishops would be consecrated on July 1, although the Vatican had refused the requisite permission (mandate), the anticipated drama began to unfold.

The news spread like wildfire, and the SSPX’s official web sites crashed, apparently overwhelmed by the volume of people trying to access them to see the news for themselves.… READ MORE

Video Discussion: On the Upcoming SSPX Episcopal Consecrations

Sedevacantist reality check for Lefebvrism…

Video Discussion:
On the Upcoming SSPX Episcopal Consecrations

The big story this week has been the episcopal consecrations announced by the Superior General of the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) for July 1, 2026, which will take place with or without the required approval of ‘Pope’ Leo XIV:

Yesterday, on Feb. 3, 2026, Kevin Davis of the Catholic Family Podcast hosted a live-streamed discussion about the SSPX’s decision to ordain more bishops. Among the invited guests were the former SSPX priest and now sedevacantist bishop, the Most Rev.… READ MORE

Society of St. Pius X Announces New EPISCOPAL CONSECRATIONS for July 1, 2026

Not authorized by their ‘Pope’, of course…

Society of St. Pius X Announces
NEW EPISCOPAL CONSECRATIONS
for July 1, 2026

Breaking news out of tiny Menzingen, Switzerland, on this beautiful feast of Our Lady’s Purification: The Superior General of the Fraternal Society of St. Pius X (FSSPX/SSPX) has announced that new bishops will be consecrated (ordained) for the Society on July 1, 2026:

A number of the main official web sites the SSPX maintains were inaccessible this morning, probably due to being overwhelmed by the traffic.… READ MORE

‘Eternal Rome’: Pope Pius XII Against Recognize-and-Resist

On the true and false meaning of a concept…

‘Eternal Rome’:
Pope Pius XII Against Recognize-and-Resist

In a Novus Ordo Watch tweet of Oct. 23, 2025, reacting to this article headline by The Remnant, we stated: “Just a quick reminder to The Remnant that there is no such thing as ‘Eternal Rome’. That term was invented by Abp. Marcel Lefebvre to accommodate his position of recognizing Modernists as true Catholic Popes while resisting their heretical magisterium.”

It turns out that is not entirely correct. A reader made us aware that in 1949 the phrase “Eternal Rome” was actually used by Pope Pius XII (r.… READ MORE

The Unsolvable Pendulum Problem of the Society of St. Pius X

Forever torn between two mutually exclusive ideas…

The Unsolvable Pendulum Problem of the Society of St. Pius X

The Society of St. Pius X (SSPX or FSSPX), founded by Abp. Marcel Lefebvre in 1970, is once again in the news, this time on account of its Jubilee pilgrimage to Rome last week (see a few official photos here).

Some SSPXers are celebrating, whereas others are expressing concern. The reason for the inconsistent reactions to the same development is that some see it as Rome accepting the SSPX as Catholic and recognizing the rights of ‘Tradition’ (a Lefebvrist euphemism for what is simply the Catholic Faith); whereas others see it as a dangerous luring of the Lefebvrist leadership into the ecumenical zoo presided over by Modernist Rome.… READ MORE

Church of Inclusion: SSPX Pilgrimage Listed in Vatican Jubilee Calendar

Vatican extends courtesy to Lefebvrists…

Church of Inclusion:
SSPX Pilgrimage Listed in Vatican Jubilee Calendar

The Vatican’s jubilee logo (left) and the FSSPX coat of arms

The Novus Ordo Church is currently in the midst of a jubilee year, which opened on Dec. 24 of last year and will conclude this coming Jan. 6. It is being observed under the motto Peregrinantes in Spem (“Pilgrims of Hope”). The silliness of its logo is matched only by the creepiness of its mascot:

‘Pope’ Francis, at whose direction the 2025 Jubilee was put together, had been advocating for a ‘Big Tent’ Church for years — his motto was “everyone, everyone, everyone!”… READ MORE

The Church of Leo XIV: Heresy, Perversion, Sacrilege (TRADCAST EXPRESS 212)

A podcast that’s informative, witty, and compelling…

The Church of Leo XIV: Heresy, Perversion, Sacrilege
(TRADCAST EXPRESS 212)

‘Pope’ Leo XIV on May 12, 2025, at the Vatican
(image: Alessia Pierdomenico / Shutterstock.com)

Our latest podcast episode, TRADCAST EXPRESS 212, was published on July 12, 2025, and it covers a number of crazy news stories that document the insanity of the Vatican II Church, now under new management with Leo XIV.

Specifically, we look at Leo XIV’s expressed desire to make converts — for the environment, of course; the Vatican’s interest in World Kiswahili Language Day; the German diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart’s publication of prayers for the blessing of perverted relationships; the ‘papal’ nuncio to the United Kingdom’s celebration of a Novus Ordo Mass at the Anglican Cathedral of Canterbury; and the Society of St.… READ MORE

Society of Saint Pius X Priest Becomes Sedevacantist

Father Reid Hennick leaves SSPX

Society of St. Pius X Priest Becomes Sedevacantist

Ordained for the SSPX in 2016: Fr. Reid Hennick

Father Reid Hennick was ordained a priest for the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) on June 3, 2016, by Bishop Alfonso de Galarreta.

On Feb. 12, 2025, Fr. Hennick published a one-page letter in which he announced he was leaving the Society because he could not in good conscience continue his ministry in it, having adopted the sedevacantist position.

“…I have come to the conclusion that the Holy See has been vacant since the Second Vatican Council — a conclusion with profound implications for the apostolate”, Fr.… READ MORE

Former SSPX Bishop Richard Williamson Is Dying

Ordained by Abp. Lefebvre in 1988…

Former SSPX Bishop Richard Williamson Is Dying

[UPDATE 29-JAN-2025: Bp. Williamson died at 23:23 GMT.]

The Most Rev. Richard Williamson, one of the four bishops consecrated for the Society of St. Pius X (FSSPX) in defiance of ‘Pope’ John Paul II on June 30, 1988, by Abp. Marcel Lefebvre and Bp. Antonio de Castro Mayer, is reportedly near death and may already have died by the time this post is published.

According to Vatican journalist Edward Pentin, the 84-year-old bishop from England was admitted to the hospital yesterday evening on account of a brain hemorrhage and has received extreme unction:

… READ MORE

A Serious Accusation: Is Novus Ordo Watch Being Deceptive? Response to Matt Gaspers

Response to Matt Gaspers of ‘Inside the Vatican’…

A Serious Accusation:
Is Novus Ordo Watch Being Deceptive?

Here is the Evidence – YOU Decide!

[UPDATE: On Oct. 5, 2024, Mr. Matt Gaspers graciously apologized on Twitter and conceded that his interpretation of the New Commentary is likely incorrect. Of course we accept the apology.]

Sometimes sparks fly when people discuss matters of theology on social media, and that is not necessarily a bad thing. What ought not to happen during such skirmishes, however, is that one party rashly accuse the other of being dishonest about the issue under discussion.

Unfortunately, Mr.… READ MORE