Charlotte diocese releases letter addressing SSPX Catholics after excommunication

Nora O'Neill, The Charlotte Observer on Jul 20, 2026

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The Diocese of Charlotte wants Catholics attending SSPX chapels to know two things: You’re welcome back, and you shouldn’t keep going.

Nearly three weeks after the Vatican declared the Society of Saint Pius X in schism following its unauthorized consecration of four bishops in Switzerland, Charlotte Bishop Michael Martin issued his first public response Friday, including a pleading letter and a detailed question-and-answer guide aimed at Catholics who worship at SSPX chapels. The statement encourages faithful to seek reconciliation with the Catholic Church, warns Catholics against attending SSPX masses, and answers practical questions about excommunication, prior sacraments and how to return to full communion.

“If you have been attending a chapel of the Society of Saint Pius X and are now uncertain about your place in the Church, know that you are loved,” Martin wrote in an introductory message. “The Church is your home. I invite you to come speak with one of our priests. We desire to walk with you, answer your questions honestly, and help you experience the peace that comes from full communion with the Catholic Church. The door is open, and you are welcome.”

The statement marks the first time the Diocese of Charlotte has publicly addressed the Vatican’s July 2 declaration that the Society of Saint Pius X entered into schism after proceeding with episcopal consecrations without Pope Leo XIV’s approval.

The issue has particular significance in the Charlotte region, home to St. Anthony of Padua in Mount Holly, the largest SSPX congregation in the Carolinas. Members there told The Charlotte Observer they remain hopeful the Vatican’s declaration will be reversed through a canonical appeal and have continued moving forward with plans for a major expansion, including the purchase of 26 acres in Lincoln County for a future church campus.

Martin’s letter acknowledges that many Catholics associated with the society were drawn there out of sincere religious conviction rather than opposition to the Church.

“Many of you were baptized in the Catholic Church, love Our Lord Jesus Christ, and cherish the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Saints,” he wrote. “I recognize the sincerity of many who have been drawn to the Society over the years. Your desire for holiness, fidelity, prayer, and devotion is not in question.”

Even so, Martin said unity with the pope is an essential element of Catholic life.

“Authentic Catholic faith is never separated from communion with Peter and the bishops united with him,” he wrote. “The unity of the Church is not merely an administrative arrangement; it is a gift of Christ Himself.”

Martin said the Vatican concluded the July 1 bishop consecrations “have brought about a new and grave rupture in ecclesial communion” after decades of dialogue and reconciliation efforts.

Martin urged Catholics attending SSPX chapels to pray and examine their relationship with the church, and said the Diocese of Charlotte is prepared to help those who wish to “regularize” their status and return to full communion.

The bishop also offered a clear warning that Catholics “should now be aware that attending liturgical rites celebrated at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Mount Holly, NC (or any other SSPX location) could be construed as a schismatic act and should therefore be avoided.”

The accompanying frequently asked questions document covers whether everyone who has attended an SSPX chapel is automatically excommunicated.

The answer, the diocese said, is nuanced.

According to the guidance, Rome distinguishes between those who have “formally adhered” to the Society of Saint Pius X and those whose personal circumstances must be evaluated individually. The diocese says no one should assume his or her own canonical status without first speaking with a priest or diocesan representative and reiterated that Catholics are now called to refrain from participating in SSPX liturgies.

The diocese also outlines what returning to full communion would require.

Catholics seeking reconciliation should contact their parish priest or the diocesan office and, for many people, the process “may be straightforward and pastoral rather than complicated or juridical,” according to the diocese.

The diocese says returning Catholics must accept the authority of the pope, recognize the Second Vatican Council as legitimate and acknowledge that Mass after the council under St. Paul VI is “valid and legitimate.”

The diocese also addressed concerns about baptisms, confirmations, marriages and confessions previously received at SSPX chapels, saying those questions can involve important canonical distinctions and should be reviewed individually with a priest or diocesan tribunal.

For Catholics worried about how they would be received, the diocese repeatedly emphasizes reconciliation over punishment.

“To those who may be fearful, uncertain, or wounded by these events, I say: do not be afraid,” Martin wrote. “The Church desires not punishment but reconciliation; not exclusion but communion.”