“For several years I have occasionally attended Sunday Mass at an SSPX chapel. I have never regarded myself as anything other than a faithful Catholic in communion with the Holy Father, but the recent decree concerning the Society has made me wonder whether I should continue. Am I permitted to attend SSPX Masses? Do they still fulfil my Sunday obligation, and has anything changed for ordinary Catholics since the recent episcopal consecrations?”
The short answer is that Catholics should not attend Masses celebrated by priests of the Society of St Pius X. The recent actions of the Society have only reinforced that point. At the same time, merely attending an SSPX Mass from time to time does not, of itself, place someone in schism or incur the penalty of excommunication. The reasons for this require a little explanation.
