The Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) is reporting continued interest from Catholic priests around the world, including diocesan and religious clergy who have joined or established closer ties with the traditionalist priestly society despite ongoing tensions with the Vatican and disciplinary measures imposed by Church authorities.
According to LifeSiteNews, the SSPX recently published a list of priests from the United States, Europe and South America who have either entered the Society or maintained relationships with it, even as questions surrounding its canonical status remain unresolved.
The announcement follows a July 2026 Vatican decree declaring excommunications connected to the Society’s episcopal consecrations, a development that has intensified longstanding disagreements over Church authority, tradition and the reforms associated with the Second Vatican Council.
In a statement shared through its official French-language social media account, the SSPX declared, “After the ordinations, diocesan priests continue to turn toward Tradition.”
Among the American clergy highlighted was Father David Mary Engo, whose faculties and ministerial permissions were withdrawn by the Diocese of Knoxville, Tennessee, on October 2. According to the SSPX account cited by LifeSiteNews, the diocesan action followed his pastoral involvement with and support for the Society.
Another priest, Father Philip Conklin, who was ordained in Minnesota in 2024, reportedly became the subject of a canonical procedure after confirming his association with the SSPX.
Explaining his decision, Father Conklin stated, “I am a priest who simply could not ignore his conscience.”
According to the Society’s account, Conklin expressed his desire to celebrate the traditional sacraments exclusively and “preach 100% of Catholicism.”
The SSPX also highlighted Father David Fulton, who reportedly joined the Society in 2025 following 21 years of diocesan ministry and two years of preparation.
Similar developments have been reported in Europe.
In Poland, Father Wojciech Kmak of the Diocese of Łowicz began a probationary period with the SSPX in Warsaw on June 29. The Society also identified several other Polish priests who have entered or developed ties with its communities.
In Ireland, Father Ailbe Michael O’Reilly has continued his ministry with the Society and publicly challenged the Vatican’s disciplinary measures, describing the sanctions as “unjust” and “invalid,” according to the SSPX statement.
The Society additionally reported growing relationships with clergy who have not formally joined its ranks.
In Austria, a September gathering reportedly included 19 SSPX priests, four associated priests, and two diocesan priests described as friendly collaborators. The Society also identified informal networks of sympathetic diocesan clergy in Italy.
In Brazil, Father Rodrigo de Oliveira Silva reportedly continued developing ties with the SSPX despite disciplinary action by his diocese. According to the Society’s account, he was suspended in February and faced additional canonical sanctions in August while working toward establishing a new location for the celebration of the traditional Mass.
These developments illustrate the continuing appeal of the SSPX’s liturgical and theological positions among some Catholic clergy. However, the Society’s published examples include priests with varying degrees of involvement, and the announcement does not establish how many have formally become members or whether their numbers represent a broader increase.
The SSPX has long maintained that its mission is to preserve traditional Catholic doctrine and worship, particularly where it believes teachings associated with the Second Vatican Council require clarification or correction.
Its disagreements with the Vatican include questions concerning religious liberty, ecumenism, and the relationship between contemporary Church teaching and earlier doctrinal formulations.
The Vatican, meanwhile, has maintained that episcopal consecrations conducted without the required papal mandate raise serious questions of ecclesiastical authority and communion.
The canonical consequences of the July 2026 decree have also become a subject of dispute.
According to LifeSiteNews, canon lawyer Father Gerald Murray has argued that the Vatican document declaring excommunications does not itself impose excommunication on ordinary SSPX priests or lay Catholics who attend the Society’s Masses.
The Society has also challenged the decree through the Church’s canonical procedures. According to an official SSPX communiqué, it filed a preliminary canonical appeal against the July 2 decree and maintains that the appeal suspends the decree’s legal force.
The precise legal consequences remain contested, and the Society’s interpretation of its canonical position should not be understood as a definitive ruling by the Holy See.
Despite these unresolved questions, the SSPX continues to offer formation opportunities to priests who were ordained outside the Society.
Its seminaries, according to the recent announcement, welcome already ordained clergy seeking further doctrinal, spiritual, and liturgical formation.
The Society’s latest report highlights an enduring challenge for Church leaders: how to address the concerns of clergy drawn to traditional forms of Catholic worship while safeguarding ecclesiastical communion and the authority of the Roman Pontiff.
For Catholics following the dispute, the developments underscore the importance of both fidelity to the Church’s liturgical and doctrinal heritage and unity within the Catholic Church.
As canonical proceedings continue, the relationship between the Vatican and the SSPX remains unresolved, even as individual priests continue to make decisions about their involvement with the Society.
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