Scottish bishop declares superior of monks’ congregation excommunicated following illicit episcopal ceremony

A congregation of monks called the Sons of the Holy Redeemer held an illicit episcopal consecration ceremony at their monastery on the island of Papa Stronsay in Orkney, Scotland, for its superior Father Michael Mary Sim July 25 without Pope Leo XIV’s approval, prompting a statement from the local bishop announcing the consequences. 

Bishop Hugh Gilbert of the Diocese of Aberdeen, Scotland, said in a July 25 statement that the congregation is within the diocese and subject to the bishop’s oversight. He said the diocese “has been pursuing a canonical process” against Father Sim, the rector major, after the congregation issued several statements regarding — and adopting — the “sedevacantist” (vacant seat) position, which holds that Pope Leo XIV is not a true Pope and that the chair of St. Peter is empty. The bishop said Father Sim has spearheaded this position, which also holds that neither Pope Leo “nor the bishops in communion with him are to be recognised.”

The bishop also said some statements and actions have implied doubt on the validity of ordinations in rites after Vatican II and that other statements have implied “an opposition between an ‘old’ and ‘new’ Church.”

“All of this is instinctively repugnant to the Catholic sense of the faith, exposes those involved to ecclesiastical penalties and, unless repudiated, separates them from the communion of the Catholic Church,” Bishop Gilbert said. 

The diocese’s canonical process is completed and pronounces its judgement on the situation, he continued. He said he regrettably finds Father Sim “guilty of the charges brought against him, most notably that of schism.” As such Father Sim is declared excommunicated, dismissed from ecclesiastical office, and prohibited from celebrating any sacraments or Mass, he continued. The bishop noted that Vatican officials are aware of the diocese’s steps and added that there is a possibility for the situation to change — depending on Father Sim. 

“In the event of a sincere change of heart on his part and the making of reparation, these penalties may be lifted,” Bishop Gilbert said. 

According to the bishop, Father Sim sought to be ordained by sedevacantist bishops who do not have the papal mandate — which gives permission for an episcopal ordination — and who do not have permission to act in the Diocese of Aberdeen. He said the ceremony carried out July 25 “compounds the situation and exposes Fr. Michael Mary and those who take part to a further range of canonical penalties. This is a clear break with the Church.”

Bishop Gilbert warned the faithful of the diocese to not interact with the monks. He also called for prayers for restorating of unity. 

“By means of these events, the Congregation and its now deposed Superior have removed themselves from the communion of the Catholic Church,” he concluded, “and the faithful of the Diocese should have no dealings with them. On her part the Church urgently invites those involved to repent and to return to that union which they once enjoyed. The Church, who is the Mother of us all, will welcome them warmly.”

The situation is similar to another high-profile illicit episcopal ordination carried out July 2 by the Priestly Society of St. Pius X (SSPX), which did not have the papal mandate for its July 2 ordinations either. In the wake of that schism, many bishops have called for prayers for unity to be restored. 

According to the website for the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer, the monks’ congregation was founded in 1987 with the blessing of Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, who founded the SSPX. The website states that the congregation was formally recognized in 2012 by Bishop Gilbert. 

In a statement responding to Bishop Gilbert’s excommunication announcement, Father Sim said his conscience remains at peace and reiterated his claim that post-Vatican II popes are “madmen” who teach error. 

He claimed that reading encyclicals “of the true popes” who reigned before Vatican II pronounces this judgement on post-conciliar popes and argued that learning “how to read” and “to face the reality that we live in does not stop anyone from being Catholic,” implying that his beliefs do not impact his status as a Catholic. 

“And the ‘punishments’ of the well-meaning count for nothing,” he concluded. “May Jesus and Mary reign in our hearts and consciences. May the voices of the holy popes not be silenced. May the reign of the blind and the fraudsters come swiftly to an end.”