The Vatican's declaration that the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) is in schism immediately ignited debate across Catholic social media. Why was the SSPX declared schismatic? Why not other controversial Catholics? In this episode, we move beyond the memes and culture-war talking points to explain what schism actually means in Catholic theology, the history of the SSPX, and why this moment has become such a flashpoint in online Catholic discourse. Together, we explore how questions of authority, history, and politics shape the stories Catholics tell about who's "faithful," who's "rebellious," and what the Church is actually responding to.

If you'd like to dive deeper into the SSPX and the separatist Catholic community in St. Marys, Kansas, check out Max and Emma’s long-form essay, "Out of Time: Catholic Separatism in St. Marys, Kansas," originally published as part of the “High Control Catholicism” series:

https://maxwellkuzma.substack.com/p/out-of-time-catholic-separatism-in

The article provides additional historical background on the SSPX, its culture, and the broader phenomenon of Catholic separatism that complements this week's conversation.