Well I've discovered who this ex-diocesan priest is. He is Fr Robert Morey from South Carolina. If his name sounds familiar, it's because he was the South Carolina priest that announced that he had refused communion to Joe Biden about four years ago when he stopped in South Carolina on the campaign trail. From my understanding of talking to some of the parishioners, he's semi-retired and I think is fed up with his bishop. He was offering the TLM at his diocesan church. I asked if Fr Morey was going to join the SSPX, and it seems that he's going to be more of a "friend of the Society" (probably like Bp Huonder is doing now). I don't remember if a reason was given for his unannounced visit to offer confessions. Maybe it's for pastoral reasons given the huge influx of indult refugees that have been attending the chapel this year.

While I have a lot of respect for this Novus Ordo priest for acting Catholic by publicly refusing Joe Biden communion, I would not approach this priest for any of the sacraments. Nothing personal against him, but since he was ordained in the new rite by a new rite bishop, I have doubts about his validity. It would be great if he would get conditionally ordained, but the neo-SSPX doesn't do that anymore. Hopefully he's only doing confessions as an extra option and isn't doing something like consecrating hosts for the chapel...

Well I've discovered who this ex-diocesan priest is. He is Fr Robert Morey from South Carolina. If his name sounds familiar, it's because he was the South Carolina priest that announced that he had refused communion to Joe Biden about four years ago when he stopped in South Carolina on the campaign trail. From my understanding of talking to some of the parishioners, he's semi-retired and I think is fed up with his bishop. He was offering the TLM at his diocesan church. I asked if Fr Morey was going to join the SSPX, and it seems that he's going to be more of a "friend of the Society" (probably like Bp Huonder is doing now). I don't remember if a reason was given for his unannounced visit to offer confessions. Maybe it's for pastoral reasons given the huge influx of indult refugees that have been attending the chapel this year.

While I have a lot of respect for this Novus Ordo priest for acting Catholic by publicly refusing Joe Biden communion, I would not approach this priest for any of the sacraments. Nothing personal against him, but since he was ordained in the new rite by a new rite bishop, I have doubts about his validity. It would be great if he would get conditionally ordained, but the neo-SSPX doesn't do that anymore. Hopefully he's only doing confessions as an extra option and isn't doing something like consecrating hosts for the chapel...

Thanks for finding out! 

Thanks for finding out!

You're welcome! Had this thread not have been made, I would have never known that Fr Morey had even been there. He hasn't been there since Maundy Thursday from what I can tell. I don't know if he plans to visit more in the future.

You're welcome! Had this thread not have been made, I would have never known that Fr Morey had even been there. He hasn't been there since Maundy Thursday from what I can tell. I don't know if he plans to visit more in the future.

That's the first time I have ever seen him, and I have been attending that parish for many years.

That makes me worried about the parish's future if this kind of thing is going to start happening. All of the current priests at the Walton priory are valid, so up until now I have not had any fears about sacramental validity. I wonder if this has any connection with the influx of indult people since, from what I've heard, the diocesan TLMs have been suppressed in Charlotte. It reminds me a lot of the Bishop Huonder situation...

👍. Couldn't thumbs up you because I am 1/5 percent of those who have done so.  😅

What you write here is what my thoughts and concerns are as well in general with the SSPX more and more.

If he is still associated to his diocese, should have received permission from his bishop to assist the SSPX. If he did get permission, then get ready to see more of him. Reach out to him and ask him to let him know of his next visit.

Here is an email: [color=var(--link_color)]rmorey@charlestondiocese.org[/color][/size][/email]

I don't think the email went through: rmorey@charlestondiocese.org

How many such priests are in the SSPX? Is there a list somewhere?

Has it ever happened that a church had a validly ordained priest and then he got moved and replaced by one of these?

There is no official list. However, this website tries to maintain a list of known priests in Traditional Catholic circles and information regarding their ordination. If a unknown priest shows up at my SSPX chapel, I usually start with this list. We should always follow up with the priest and ask him directly (respectfully) who ordained him and if we was conditionally ordained. You have a right to know with certainty that you are receiving valid sacraments.

https://catholiccandle.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/1-9-23-Catholic-Candle-List-of-priests-others-who-claim-to-be-priests.pdf

There are quite a few of the New Rite priest working for the SSPX. They run missions, teach at schools, etc. This is not something new in the history of the SSPX.

Is there an approximation of how many there are? Dozens? Hundreds?

Oh, it is not in the hundreds. there are only around 600 priests in the SSPX worlwide. Over the last few decades it probably has been at least a dozen or so in the United States but they come and go. I knew of one N.O. priest that taught at Las Salette. He got offended if you asked him about conditional ordination. However, I heard he left and received conditional ordination from a Resistance bishop. This is what you have to deal with when you get the sacraments primarily from the SSPX. it is during the summer months were this visiting priests are the most prevalent. At a mininum, be very cautious of the confessional.