One bishop after another are issuing letters to their flocks in the wake of the SSPX episcopal consecrations. Uniformly, they repeat a factual error in the “Explanatory Note” about the faculties of the SSPX to receive sacramental confessions and validly absolve. In sum: since a Pope gave the faculty, a Pope has to remove it. Also, the “Explanatory Note” doesn’t have any juridical force.
Error aside, there is something good in this letter for Milwaukee.
Here is the text of Archbp. Grob’s letter. My emphases and comments.
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
On July 1, 2026, bishops of the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) consecrated four priests as bishops without the mandate of the Holy Father and against his expressed will. On July 2, the Holy See declared that the bishops who carried out these consecrations and those who received them committed schismatic acts and incurred automatic excommunication. This is a sorrowful moment for the whole Church, and I share that sorrow with you.
I write to you today because this decision by the Society’s leadership has legitimate consequences for the faithful of this local church, especially for the faithful who have worshipped at St. Pius V Chapel in Mukwonago.
To state those consequences plainly, know first that the Holy See has declared that the clerics of the Society now administer the sacraments illicitly, and, that the confessions they hear and the marriages at which they assist are invalid. [It is hard to imagine that bishops will want to grant delegation for marriages now that this has happened, but, again, this is something that Francis gave, not the Dicastery. If you accept that Francis was Pope – some people don’t think he was but I suspect most American bishops do – then we have to have clarity about the issue of valid confessions and marriages. This next part…] Anyone with questions about a marriage already celebrated, or about any particular situation, is welcome to contact the Chancery or the Metropolitan Tribunal, and they will help you. [This is very good. This is an invitation to those who may have doubts, offering a route to clarity about the status of their marriage and a path towards regularization.]
Furthermore, to those who have attended the liturgies of the Society of St. Pius X, let me also offer a word of reassurance. The Holy See itself has made clear that this excommunication does not fall upon those who attended these liturgies simply out of love for the sacred liturgy, and who have never rejected the Holy Father or the teaching of the Church. I know that this describes many of you and of the strength of your families, your reverence, and the seriousness with which you pass on the faith to your children. However, knowing the situation as it now stands, such persons must simply resolve not to continue to participate in future SSPX sacramental worship or pastoral ministry. [It’s a little more complicated than that. There are reasons provided for in law by which people might be able to frequent Masses of SSPX chapels. What is necessary is that people not attend them out of a schismatic motive.]
Furthermore, I would remind the faithful of our local church that the Mass celebrated according to the 1962 Missal, is offered in full communion with the Church here throughout this Archdiocese at multiple locations. I would especially highlight the reverent sacramental care provided at St. Stanislaus Oratory in Milwaukee, where the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest offers the traditional Latin Mass and sacraments each day. [Channeling our inner Oliver, please, Archbishop, may we have some more? Note this next part…]
To any priest of the Society who is weighing what these events mean for his priesthood, know that the Holy See has established a path for your reconciliation, and that I will receive any such request with what the Holy See itself has asked of me: through listening and cordial availability, remaining especially mindful of the human and spiritual weight such a decision carries. [I think this is terrific. I haven’t yet seen anything like this in the letters of other bishops. Please, dear readers, if you know of another, please let me know. The Archbishop has offered an open door, at least for … something. Would that more bishops were this open. I hope that that “human and spiritual weight” part means that he knows that these priests will not want to use the Novus Ordo. I am minded of “back in the day” when it was desperately hard for SSPX priests to find a bishop. I remember several cases, both sad and also joyful. What I would also like to see – PLEASE GOD – bishops who don’t just say, “okay you can come, I guess”, but perhaps to reach out and invite priests. And this extends beyond the SSPX. There are any number of priests who have been cancelled or semi-cancelled, who are perfectly sound but their bishops won’t treat them with decency because they are too “traditional”. What I would like to hear, and frankly despair of hearing is not “okay, I guess you can come”, but rather, “Please, do come.” That makes all the difference.]
The Church has labored for decades toward the full reconciliation of the Society, under St. John Paul II, Benedict XVI, Francis, and now Leo XIV. That labor has been gravely harmed by the acts of July 1, but the Church does not stop praying for unity, because Christ Himself prayed for it on the night before He died, that they may all be one (John 17:20-23). [Prayer is great. However, as in our individual lives, we need concrete deeds as well. Otherwise, the intention seems a little vaporous.]
I entrust all those affected by this moment to the intercession of Our Lady, Mother of the Church, and I assure you of my prayers,
Yours in Christ,
Most Reverend Jeffrey S. Grob
Archbishop of Milwaukee
It would be wonderful if all American bishops sought to address the problem of the SSPX by more generously allowing the Traditional Latin Mass in their dioceses. Looking at a map of the locations of sanctioned TLMs in the US it appears that the locations are spotty, with them located in clusters in some areas and few in other areas. Although bishops actually have the authority to be flexible in allowing TLMs and many have taken that approach, others are like are Bishop and have relied upon a narrow legalistic approach to limit TLMs. The only explanation we received when he shut down our parish TLM, the sole remaining TLM in the Diocese offered at a regular parish, was Traditiones Custodes and his obligation to follow the Pope. After all, our pastor had actually had the nerve to “wrongly publicize” the TLM by simply listing it in the schedule of Masses in the Parish bulletin. The Bishop’s action is in spite of the fact that the two adjoining dioceses have both deemed it appropriate to offer multiple TLM locations, while we are left with a single dedicated location well over an hour away from us and even further for many. Unfortunately, sad to say, Pope Leo by his continued inaction and silence has left us at the mercy of such ill disposed bishops.