Doubtful Priests
From SSPXWatch
Here will be listed the names of priests working with the SSPX, who have been ordained by the New Order (Novus Ordo) rite, created in the wake of Vatican II in the late 1960's. They may be actual members of the Society of St. Pius X, or merely considered "Friends of the Society".
The names of such priests are kept fairly quiet by the SSPX.
However, we do have the names of two priest whom the Society directly works with and promotes who was ordained with the Novus Ordo rite:
"Father" Christopher Peroni (First to come over to the Society from the Novus Ordo)
"Father" Richard Voigt (working with the Society since 2005)
(Please, immediately write to info[AT]sspxwatch.com if this information is incorrect or you have additional information to offer.)
The existence of such priests in the world, though expected to be few, is still the main reason why it is morally forbidden to attend any SSPX Mass without first having secure knowledge of the following:
- Whether there are already consecrated Hosts in the tabernacle.
- If yes, who is that priest, who ordained him, and with what rite.
- Who ordained the actual celebrant of the Mass you wish to attend.
In Order of Difficulty
Number 1 can easily be learned without disturbing anyone with the inquiry, "Is the Blessed Sacrament reserved on that particular altar?"
Number 3 is a question that is a little more difficult. Although it is easy to learn the name of the actual celebrant of the Mass, it may be a little more difficult researching who ordained him, or uncomfortable actually asking. However, once it is learned about a particular priest, it would never be an open question henceforth. Asking that first-and-only time, in regard to any particular priest, may be disturbing to him depending upon the nature of the priest whom is asked. Most often the answer would be either Archbishop Lefebvre, or one of the five bishops he consecrated. As time goes on the chances become slimmer.
Number 2 is the most difficult problem with attending an SSPX Mass. The SSPX are known for traveling often. They are known to reassign their priests regularly. Any traveling, or visiting, priests may not be announced, and may celebrate a private Mass and consecrate Hosts for the tabernacle. If there are multiple priests already assigned to a parish in question, and because of their busy schedules, the chances are greater for failure to communicate amongst themselves who may have visited or traveled through. It must be understood that the average SSPX priest is fearful of questions of doubtful validity. It is not a subject they want to be raised. Because they trust the Society, naturally they personally may not look at the question as seriously as you do, and the answer may not be carefully given to you. It would be insecure and doubtful unless you get a categorical answer, such as, "Yes, Fr. Smith is certainly the priest who consecrated the Hosts currently reserved in that tabernacle".
This is so important because "a doubtful sacrament is no sacrament" and we would sin by participating in a doubtful rite and worshiping a doubtful Holy Eucharist. Unfortunately for the Society, they have gotten themselves into a condition where their principled view of what "doubtful" really means has become obscured and debilitated by the way they have handled the question of a doubtful pope. According to Catholic principle "a doubtful pope is no pope" (papa dubius papa nullus). The Society largely has reversed this principle and they consider a pope certainly validly UNLESS he is found to be certainly invalid. The middle ground of "doubt" has been removed and their very concept of "certitude" affected. They will effectively run from a detailed discussion of this subject.
In the end, repeated questionings about validity of priests, rites and names of consecrators will most likely result in a harsh response, one that will give evidence of their inner basis for their theology on this question - "You must trust the Society!"