Vatican says ordinations for traditionalist society 'illegitimate'

(July 06, 2011) The ordinations of 20 new priests for the traditionalist Society of St. Pius X are "illegitimate," said Vatican spokesman, Jesuit Fr. Federico Lombardi. Although Pope Benedict XVI lifted the excommunication of the society's four bishops in 2009, Fr. Lombardi said, he made it clear that until the society had reconciled fully with the Vatican, particularly regarding its position on doctrinal questions, its members have no official standing in the church. The group ordained four priests in mid-June in Minnesota, United States, 12 new priests in late June at its headquarters in Econe, Switzerland, and 4 new priests July 3 at its seminary in Zaitzkofen, Germany.
Responding to reporters' questions on Monday, July 5, Fr. Lombardi quoted from the letter Pope Benedict wrote in 2009 explaining the status of the society: "As long as the society does not have a canonical status in the church, its ministers do not exercise legitimate ministries in the church. In order to make this clear once again:- Until the doctrinal questions are clarified, the society has no canonical status in the church, and its ministers do not legitimately exercise any ministry in the church."
Fr.Lombardi said "The ordinations are, therefore, to be considered illegitimate."