Overview
- The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith formally declared the bishops and clergy of the Priestly Society of Saint Pius X to be in schism and imposed excommunications, a move announced by the Vatican on Thursday.
- The DDF circulated a step‑by‑step protocol to bishops through apostolic nuncios that explains how priests and lay faithful may seek restoration to full communion.
- Priests seeking return must find a local Ordinary willing to receive them ad experimentum, write a handwritten letter to the Pope asking remission of censures, submit their ordination certificate, and sign a Profession of Faith and a Formula of Adherence.
- After a bishop forwards the documents, the DDF will issue a rescript remitting censures and authorize a probationary reception of at least one year and no more than three years before permanent incardination can proceed.
- The rules treat lay penalties case by case by assessing imputability, citing examples like Third Order members or those who publicly share SSPX doctrine, while saying casual attendees who do not reject the pope or Church teaching need only approach a priest in full communion.