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SSPX Resistance

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Bishop Richard Williamson, founder of the SSPX Resistance, in 1991

The SSPX Resistance is a loosely organized group of traditionalist Catholics, founded by Bishop Richard Williamson, which broke away from the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX).[1]

History

Bishop Williamson was expelled from the SSPX in 2012. Prior to his expulsion, Williamson had been convicted of Holocaust denial by a German court in 2010.[2] After Williamson left the SSPX, the priests and faithful who followed him were dubbed the "SSPX Resistance."[1]

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.[3]

The SSPX itself was established by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre in 1970 in opposition to the changes brought by the Second Vatican Council.[4]

Episcopal Consecrations

Bishop Williamson 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.[5] Williamson's 2017 consecration of Zendejas, at St. Athanasius Church in Vienna, Virginia drew condemnation from the local bishop.[6]

Williamson also performed a conditional consecration of Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò.[7]

Structure

There are also Resistance chapels in Ireland, headquartered in Cork, overseen by Bishop Giacomo Ballini.[8] 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."[8][9]

The SSPX Resistance also has a presence in England, including in London, Kent, and Berkshire.[10]

Affiliated religious orders

Traditional group called "Dominicans of Avrillé", France, who were formerly affiliated with the SSPX, have aligned themselves with the SSPX Resistance.[11]

The Benedictine Monastery of the Holy Cross in Nova Friburgo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil is directly aligned with the Resistance.[12] This is also where Bishop Williamson consecrated Father Jean-Michel Faure as a Bishop on March 19, 2015.[13]

See also

References

  1. Back to citation occurrence 1.0 Back to citation occurrence 1.1 Davis, Michael Warren (2019-10-22). "SSPX: Back to the Bad Old Days?". Crisis Magazine. Retrieved 2025-05-31.
  2. Back to citation "British bishop convicted of Holocaust denial". NBC News. 2010-04-16. Retrieved 2025-05-31.
  3. Back to citation "SSPX falsely accused: "Resistance to what?" | District of the USA". sspx.org. 2013-05-20. Retrieved 2025-05-31.
  4. Back to citation "36 years after the schism, what does the Society of Saint Pius X represent?". La croix international. 2024-10-10. Retrieved 2025-05-31.
  5. Back to citation "Ex-Lefebvrist prelate illicitly consecrates a fourth bishop". La croix international. 2023-01-10. Retrieved 2025-05-31.
  6. Back to citation "Statement from Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge on the Consecration of Father Gerardo Zendejas, Member of an Independent Church". Catholic Diocese of Arlington. May 8, 2017. Retrieved May 31, 2025.
  7. Back to citation "Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò: A Controversial Figure in the Catholic Church". www.ilmessaggero.it. 2024-06-20. Retrieved 2026-07-03.
  8. Back to citation occurrence 8.0 Back to citation occurrence 8.1 Hosford, Paul (2025-04-01). "Gardaí probe safeguarding issues following complaint about fundamentalist Catholic group". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 2025-05-31.
  9. Back to citation McNulty, Chris (2025-03-20). "Bishop's concern over 'illicit' Masses". www.donegallive.ie. Retrieved 2025-05-31.
  10. Back to citation "My Sunday morning inside Southport's extremist Catholic sect". The Post. 2022-10-15. Retrieved 2025-06-01.
  11. Back to citation admin (2015-07-07). "The Friary's Position". Dominicans of Avrille, France. Retrieved 2025-05-31.
  12. Back to citation "Resistência". Mosteiro da Santa Cruz (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2026-05-21.
  13. Back to citation triregnum (2015-06-23). "Boletim da Santa Cruz Nº 51". Mosteiro da Sta Cruz (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2026-05-21.
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