On July 1, 2026, the conservative Society of St. Pius X (SSPX), a traditionalist Catholic group opposing reforms from Vatican II, ordained four bishops without papal approval, triggering automatic excommunications for the bishops and potentially for adherents. The Vatican declared this act a schism, emphasizing that consecrating bishops without the pope's consent constitutes insubordination. The SSPX, founded in 1970, maintains chapels in multiple Irish cities but operates from non-traditional spaces like a pizzeria basement in Belfast. It rejects Vatican II reforms, including celebrating Mass in local languages and greater lay participation. The Vatican cited a 1996 document to justify the excommunications, urging the SSPX to return to communion.
Ocena pristranskosti (Sredina): The article presents the event factually, citing Vatican documents and the SSPX's actions without overtly favoring either side. It explains the context of the schism and excommunication process neutrally, avoiding loaded language or one-sided sourcing.





