Is It Ever Ok To Attend An Sspx Mass?

[kafka]

To clear up a few things about people who attend SSPX:

No one is excommunicated for merely attending an SSPX Mass. One would have to formally join their schismatic group and thus depart from the Catholic Church in order to fall under the excommunication. So your friends are not excommunicated. However, a priest or bishop who joins them certainly is.

The following is taken from APOSTOLIC LETTER "ECCLESIA DEI" OF THE SUPREME PONTIFF
JOHN PAUL II GIVEN MOTU PROPRIO:


"Everyone should be aware that formal adherence to the schism is a grave offence against God and carries the penalty of excommunication decreed by the Church's law."

Here is the full Motu Proprio

[url="http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_commissions/ecclsdei/documents/hf_jp-ii_motu-proprio_02071988_ecclesia-dei_en.html"]http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontific...sia-dei_en.html[/url]

That being said I besides the obvious schism, the SSPXs have many unhealthy views. better to steer clear of them.

[brendan1104]

The new Motu Proprio supercedes the other two (Quattuor Abhinc Annos and Ecclesia Dei). It is now a matter of interior reconciliation, according to Benedict XVI. Also, according to the Ecclesia Dei commission, the priests are only suspended, not excommunicated.

Also, Bishops Salvador Lazo and John Bosco Manat come to mind. They weren't excommunicated for taking the SSPX stand.

Edited August 14, 2007 by brendan1104

[Ora et Labora]

The bottom line is (Brendan) that one is NOT supposed to attend an SSPX Mass unless there is not another Catholic Mass around. They are certainly NOT recommended. If it's not recommended (even though it doesn't mean excommunication) you shouldn't do it.

Good luck Katie! I'm not necessarily speaking for your situation...that's a difficult one. I'll pray for you and your father.

[Moneybags]

The Vatican [u][b]does allow[/b][/u] Catholics to visit SSPX Masses and contribute modest donations to them. So, yes, it would be acceptable to attend one of the Masses since they are valid Masses.

[Dave]

St. Benedict, SSPX are valid, yes, but they're also ILLICIT. Please go up to the first thing I posted in this thread and take a look at the link I provided. Read EVERYTHING at that link please. I know you're referring to Msgr. Perl's letter, but it actually did NOT give Catholics permission to attend SSPX Masses whenever they wanted. But like I said, you need to go to that link and read everything there to learn more.

[Dave]

double post

Edited August 14, 2007 by Dave

[Aloysius]

Attending an SSPX mass, when there are other Catholic Masses (but no latin masses) available, should follow the same guidelines as attending an orthodox divine liturgy. It should not be seen as devilish poison, nor should it be seen as legitimate and licit. beautiful worship of God in the finest tradition of the Church takes place there; and though the priests are suspended and thus their very actions are illicit, the beauty remains; and this suspension and this schism are internal matters within the Church, as Summorum Pontificum indicates, which are currently in the process of being healed; it has been said that the Pope considered lifting the excommunications a far easier task than releasing this motu proprio; since he has done the more difficult, it seems only a matter of time before the less difficult will be done. so I would not recommend making the SSPX mass your sunday obligation mass, but I don't think a visit to one such mass should be avoided like the plague or scorned by any fellow Catholics. just be sure to attend the public worship of the Church as the local ordinary provides as well.

[Moneybags]

Note: I do not believe SSPX priests are in schism and I do not believe that their bishops are excommunicated. Go to the main website of the SSPX and click on "SSPX FAQs" in the left sidebar. I learned a lot from that site. They quote Canon Law to explain their situation.

[Dave]

[quote name='St. Benedict' post='1358970' date='Aug 14 2007, 11:31 PM']Note: I do not believe SSPX priests are in schism and I do not believe that their bishops are excommunicated. Go to the main website of the SSPX and click on "SSPX FAQs" in the left sidebar. I learned a lot from that site. They quote Canon Law to explain their situation.[/quote]

Dude, don't you know that ALL schismatic groups of any kind would vehemently deny being in schism and instead essentially claim that it's the rest of the Church that's gone into schism?

You need to go to [url="http://jloughnan.tripod.com"]http://jloughnan.tripod.com[/url] and [url="http://sspx.agenda.tripod.com"]http://sspx.agenda.tripod.com[/url] and read them carefully, thoroughly, and with an open mind.

I'm sorry, but I think you're putting yourself in danger of being relegated to the "separated brethren" group here on Phatmass, not to mention possibly heading toward schism yourself. I don't want to see either of those happen. Do you?

[White Knight]

I'm kind of ignorant on this matter but what extactly is a Sspx Mass? are they a excommunicated group of some kind, do they not acknowledge the Papacy?

Their Mass is in latin right?

[brendan1104]

[url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Society_of_St._Pius_X"]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Society_of_St._Pius_X[/url]

[Moneybags]

[quote name='White Knight' post='1359083' date='Aug 15 2007, 02:12 AM']I'm kind of ignorant on this matter but what extactly is a Sspx Mass? are they a excommunicated group of some kind, do they not acknowledge the Papacy?

Their Mass is in latin right?[/quote]

They are not sedevecantist; the SSPX does acknowledge the Papacy and that Benedict XVI is the Vicar of Jesus Christ. Check out the Wikipedia article on them for some basic information.

[b]May I post links to videos of their Masses on this forum?[/b]

Edited August 15, 2007 by St. Benedict

[cmotherofpirl]

[quote name='St. Benedict' post='1358970' date='Aug 14 2007, 11:31 PM']Note: I do not believe SSPX priests are in schism and I do not believe that their bishops are excommunicated. Go to the main website of the SSPX and click on "SSPX FAQs" in the left sidebar. I learned a lot from that site. They quote Canon Law to explain their situation.[/quote]


I really doesn't matter what you believe Brendan. The fact is they are outside the Catholic Church by their own sinfully free will.
Why should anyone go to a website sponsered by heretics and read what they have to say is beyond me. The devil is quite good at making himself look good and so is the SSPX. Remember even the Devil can quote scripture...

[cmotherofpirl]

[quote name='St. Benedict' post='1359166' date='Aug 15 2007, 11:39 AM']They are not sedevecantist; the SSPX does acknowledge the Papacy and that Benedict XVI is the Vicar of Jesus Christ. Check out the Wikipedia article on them for some basic information.

[b]May I post links to videos of their Masses on this forum?[/b][/quote]

I don't see why you would, can't you find a Mass by FAITHFUL Catholics???

[Maggyie]

I don't think the SSPX adherents qualify as heretics, and I don't think it's bad to read what they say about themselves on their website. Dialogue is difficult if you don't know what the other parties believe about themselves - how annoying when Protestants question us about our "beliefs" in the divinity of Mary and statues!

But all the parsing and straining to try to prove that they are not schismatic should send off alarm bells. If you have to ask if a group is in communion with the Holy Father (if it's not obvious in their words and actions) then it's best to steer clear.

Unless you're intending to convert them. Of course then you should have at it!