I asked AI: Yes, the SSPX repeatedly sought episcopal ordinations during Pope Benedict XVI's pontificate, notably during Cardinal Müller's tenure as head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF). [1, 2] The Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) sought episcopal consecrations to continue ordaining their priests, but the Holy See consistently made any canonical regularization or approval contingent on the SSPX’s full acceptance of the Second Vatican Council. [1, 2] Here is how those negotiations and requests unfolded during Pope Benedict's reign: Dialogue and Doctrinal Discussions: From 2009 to 2011, Vatican theologians and the SSPX engaged in intensive doctrinal discussions. Pope Benedict XVI had lifted the excommunications of the surviving bishops in 2009 in hopes of facilitating full reconciliation. [1, 2] Müller's Appointment & Demands: Pope Benedict appointed Archbishop Gerhard Müller as Prefect of the CDF and President of the Ecclesia Dei Commission in July 2012. In late 2014, Cardinal Müller received SSPX Bishop Bernard Fellay in Rome. [1] The Impasse: Cardinal Müller, acting on behalf of the Holy See, demanded that the SSPX explicitly accept the teachings of the Second Vatican Council and the legitimacy of the post-conciliar Mass. [1] Unresolved Requests: Because the SSPX leadership refused to fully accept Vatican II, they were denied a pontifical mandate for new bishops, leaving their status "canonically irregular". [1, 2, 3, 4, 5] Would you like to know more about the doctrinal obstacles the SSPX cited, or how the Vatican's ongoing negotiations and recent 2026 episcopal consecrations have impacted their status? [1]
Cardinal Müller served as Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith for only about six months under Pope Benedict XVI, from July 2012 until Benedict's resignation in February 2013, and by that point the Pope's authority had already been significantly weakened. Later, Pope Francis was elected, and the direction of Church policy changed by 180 degrees. It is unlikely that any serious negotiations took place during such a short period. If both sides had known what would happen, I believe they would have acted differently, assuming, of course, that Pope Benedict had remained in better health. If the Pope was willing to allow the return of the bishops, why wouldn't he also have permitted ordinations? We simply do not know what was happening behind the scenes or what kind of pressure the Pope may have been under at that time.
I heard one Cardinal grabbed him, shook the poor man and threw him against the wall threatening him. Pope Benedict himself said his authority ended at the office door.
Bishop Fellay has described how Pope Benedict did apparently appoint bishops to the order and created a personal prelature for them, but Muller covered that up and refused to send on the letter and then Benedict had to resign etc.
The Father is a hoot , I love to listen to him. I am very surprised his fellow Jesuits have not lynched the poor man.
SSPX in Schism, Liturgy Wars, and Vatican II (Jacob Phillips) A good discussion between Matt Fradd Jacob Phillips, an erudite English Catholic
Pope Benedict, God bless him, continues to grow in my estimation. I certainly won’t be holding my breath for his canonisation.
Do we know these things for certain? We do know for certain that the SSPX has chosen self-excommunication.
I agree. There is so much info which is undocumented. I don’t pay attention to it. And we do know that the SSPX has chosen self-excommunication.
Read St Gallen's Mafia. That will give a good indication of the goings on. Honestly, my summation or approach is, with eyes wide open, pray pray pray for our Church/own diocese, pray for ongoing grace discernment, keep our eyes open to acknowledge when the worst comes from Rome. Jesus is taking care of us all, Mother Mary is protecting us. We know very well we're on a bumpy road & it will become much more bumpy!
Right or wrong deciding to be disobedient and going into schism and being excommunicated or supporting those who do so is a really, really big deal and not to be done lightly. I find it so sad that a number of people who have done so I admired very greatly and I suppose was in their fan club, for want of a better word. But now, if I can no longer trust them in such a basic thing as obedience to Rome I have had to impose a great reserve in paying attention to anything they say or write from now on in.. So sad. They may very well be right and I may very well be wrong. But what can we do but follow the voice of our own consciences? I don;t judge these people harshly but actions have consequences/. Logically if I can no longer trust them in something so basic I can't really trust them in anything. So it is a kind of parting of the ways. So very,very sad.
Breaking with obedience in order to ordain some bishops isn't a matter of conscience. It's a weird hill to choose to die on. Something is wrong. They could have invited ordained bishops to join as an alternative.
