The Vatican declared the Society of Saint Pius X, its priests and formal adherents to be in schism after bishops were ordained in Switzerland without papal approval. The decree also said the group's sacraments are illicit and that it cannot validly officiate marriages or hear confessions.

VATICAN CITY, July 2 - The Vatican said on Thursday that priests and lay Catholics who are part of a breakaway right-wing Catholic group that ordained bishops without Pope Leo's approval are in schism with the wider Church and now excommunicated. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

VATICAN CITY, July 2 - The Vatican said on Thursday that priests and lay Catholics who are part of a breakaway right-wing Catholic group that ordained bishops without Pope Leo's approval are in schism with the wider Church and now excommunicated. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

The Vatican says priests and lay Catholics who are part of a breakaway right-wing Catholic group that ordained bishops without the Pope's approval...