(LifeSiteNews) — The archbishop of Seattle reportedly denied the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter (FSSP) permission to prepare its congregants for the Sacrament of Confirmation or have the sacrament conferred in the traditional form.
“Our archbishop just informed our FSSP parish that we can’t do any Confirmations and the students will instead have to register at a NO (Novus Ordo) parish and do a 2-year catechism class there before receiving the sacrament,” an unidentified parent wrote in a message shared to X by Father Martin Navarro, Ob.S.A.
It is unclear where the message was posted. The parent went on to ask other parents whether they thought Confirmation preparation at Novus Ordo parishes was “questionable” or insufficient and whether parents had the option to catechize their own children in preparation for the sacrament instead.
Navarro said the message was written by a Catholic residing in the Archdiocese of Seattle, which is led by Archbishop Paul D. Etienne.
Because the FSSP has not been granted its own bishops by the Holy See, Confirmations of its congregants are typically conferred by the local diocesan bishop. Until late 2021, FSSP congregants could expect to be confirmed with the traditional rite of the sacrament found in the Pontificale Romanum.
However, after Pope Francis enforced severe restrictions on the celebration of the Traditional Latin Mass (TLM) via Traditionis Custodes, the Vatican issued a Responsa in December 2021 deigning to further restrict the traditional sacraments.
The document specifically ruled out bishops granting permission for the use of the Pontificale Romanum, which contains the Sacraments of Confirmation and Holy Orders.
However, as liturgist Dr. Peter Kwasniewski noted to LifeSiteNews, “it is a canonical right” for institutes such as the FSSP “to have these sacraments — it’s part of their recognized ‘deal’ with Rome. Card. Roche’s Responsa does not have sufficient authority to overturn the constitutions of these institutes.”
Thus, there has since been a general continuation of bishops granting canonically erected communities such as the FSSP permission to administer traditional rite confirmations, with a few exceptions.
The Vatican’s 2021 Responsa stipulated that diocesan bishops may only grant permission to administer the other traditional sacraments, found in the Rituale Romanum, and that this permission is only to be granted in “canonically erected personal parishes” such as those of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest (ICKSP), the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter (FSSP), or the Institute of the Good Shepherd (IBP).
LifeSiteNews contacted the FSSP based in the Archdiocese of Seattle to inquire about the report regarding confirmations there. The pastor, Father John Shannon, directed LifeSiteNews to FSSP headquarters for further information.
LifeSiteNews asked for confirmation of the report and further information from FSSP headquarters. The North American Province has “no comment.”
This article was updated on August 14, 2026.