SSPX appeals Vatican decree of excommunication, says request suspends decree’s execution

The Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX) announced July 13 that it has filed a formal request appealing the Vatican’s July 2 decree declaring that the SSPX bishops involved in illicit July 1 episcopal consecrations committed a schismatic act and incurred excommunication. 

The SSPX stated that it submitted a preliminary recourse to the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) July 11 “in accordance with canons 1734 and following the Code of Canon Law.”

“This request,” the SSPX continued, “which constitutes the mandatory preliminary step before the possible introduction of a hierarchical recourse, has the effect of suspending the execution of the decree, in accordance with canon 1353 of the Code of Canon Law.”

The society added that in filing the recourse, it “intends to exercise the right which the Church recognizes to any person who considers himself harmed by an administrative act to seek its correction, in a spirit of respect for ecclesiastical authority and of faithful attachment to justice, truth and the good of the Church.” 

The Code of Canon Law is the ecclesial law governing the Church, as the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops explains. It is an expansive resource outlining norms or rules pertaining to the sacraments, churches, sacramentals, canonical penalties, and other aspects of the Church. 

Canon 1353, which the SSPX cited as the basis for claiming that the decree’s execution has been suspended, states: “An appeal or a recourse against judgements of a court or against decrees which impose or declare any penalty has a suspensive effect."

Concluding, the SSPX stated that it entrusts the July 11 request “to the competent authorities and commends this undertaking to the prayers of all the faithful.”