Vatican excommunicates 6 bishops from rebel Catholic group

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The Vatican excommunicated six bishops from the ultraconservative Society of St Pius X after they consecrated four new bishops without papal approval. The Vatican declared this act schismatic, threatening lay believers who support the group with excommunication.

The Vatican on Thursday excommunicated six bishops from the ultraconservative Society of St Pius X and said any lay believers who “formally adhere” to the group would suffer the same fate. The Vatican decree comes a day after the traditionalist breakaway group consecrated four new bishops, defying a plea from Pope Leo not to do so. The decree called the ceremony “an act of schismatic nature”. For the Holy See, consecrating bishops without the approval of the pope is a direct act of...