**Vatican Expels Members of Rebel Catholic Group Over Unapproved Ordination**
The Vatican has officially excommunicated members of a breakaway right-wing Catholic group, the Society of St Pius X, following their unauthorized ordination of bishops. This decision was announced in a decree by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, the principal authority overseeing doctrine within the Roman Catholic Church, which serves approximately 1.4 billion adherents worldwide.
The decree, issued on July 2, 2026, states that the priests and lay Catholics associated with the Society of St Pius X are now considered to be in schism with the broader church. The Vatican emphasized that the group, which is based in Switzerland, has been celebrating sacraments in an illicit manner, meaning that their officiation of marriages and the hearing of confessions are not recognized as valid by the Catholic Church.
This action comes in the wake of the Society's decision to consecrate four new bishops without the approval of Pope Leo XIV, who had explicitly requested that the group refrain from such actions. The ordinations took place in Switzerland on July 1, 2026, and were described by the Society as a necessity due to "exceptional circumstances." However, the Vatican maintains a strict policy that only the pope has the authority to authorize the consecration of new bishops, a tradition rooted in maintaining the continuity of the church's apostolic succession back to Jesus's original disciples.
The decree specifically names the two bishops who led the unauthorized ordinations, along with the four priests who participated in the ceremony, all of whom have been excommunicated. The Vatican's decision underscores the seriousness with which it views the actions of the Society of St Pius X, which has been known for its ultraconservative stance and its rejection of several key teachings of the Catholic Church.
As of now, the Society of St Pius X has not publicly responded to the excommunications. The group's prior statements indicated a commitment to its practices, even in the face of papal disapproval, suggesting a continuing divide between the Society and the Vatican.
This incident highlights ongoing tensions within the Catholic Church regarding adherence to doctrine and the authority of the papacy, particularly among more conservative factions. The Vatican's firm stance against the Society of St Pius X serves as a reminder of the church's efforts to maintain unity and doctrinal integrity among its members.