The SSPX Resistance (sometimes shortened to the "Resistance") is a loosely organized group of
traditionalist Catholic
Traditionalist Catholicism is a movement that emphasizes beliefs, practices, customs, traditions, liturgical forms, devotions and presentations of teaching associated with the Catholic Church before the Second Vatican Council (1962–1965). ...
priests and faithful, founded by
Bishop Richard Williamson, which broke away from the
Society of Saint Pius X
The Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX; ("Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X"), FSSPX) is a canonically irregular traditionalist Catholic priestly fraternity founded in 1970 by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. Lefebvre was a leading traditionalis ...
("SSPX").
History
Bishop Williamson was expelled from the SSPX in 2012. Prior to his expulsion, Williamson had been convicted of
Holocaust denial
Historical negationism, Denial of the Holocaust is an antisemitic conspiracy theory that asserts that the genocide of Jews by the Nazi Party, Nazis is a fabrication or exaggeration. It includes making one or more of the following false claims:
...
by a German court in 2010. After Williamson left the SSPX, the priests and faithful who followed him were dubbed the "SSPX Resistance."
In his discussions with the SSPX, Pope Benedict XVI had indicated a willingness to grant the Society
canonical recognition. Certain priests within the SSPX accused their superiors of abandoning the group's traditional principles, for considering this offer of canonical recognition.
The SSPX itself was established by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre in 1970 in opposition to the changes brought by the Second Vatican Council.
Episcopal Consecrations
Bishop Williamson has consecrated five bishops to serve the Resistance. The first bishop he consecrated was
Jean-Michael Faure in 2015. Williamson later consecrated
Tomás de Aquino Ferreira da Costa, Gerardo Zendejas, Giacomo Ballini, and Michał Stobnicki. Williamson's 2017 consecration of Zendejas, at St. Athanasius Church in Vienna, Virginia drew condemnation from the local bishop, Bishop Michael Burbidge.
Williamson also performed a
conditional consecration of
Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò.
Structure
There are also Resistance chapels in Ireland, headquartered in Cork, overseen by Bishop Giacomo Ballini.
Regarding the masses held in Derry, Bishop Donal McKeown warned the faithful: "The priests of SSPX Resistance Ireland are not in full communion with the Catholic Church and do not accept the full teaching authority of the Church."
The SSPX Resistance also has a presence in England, including in London, Kent, and Berkshire.
Affiliated religious orders
Traditional Dominicans of
Avrillé, France, who were formerly affiliated with the SSPX, have aligned themselves with the SSPX Resistance.
See also
*
Society of Saint Pius X
The Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX; ("Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X"), FSSPX) is a canonically irregular traditionalist Catholic priestly fraternity founded in 1970 by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. Lefebvre was a leading traditionalis ...
References
{{SSPX
Society of Saint Pius X
Traditionalist Catholicism
Catholic dissident organizations