How can a heretic provide valid sacraments and is it a mortal sin to support the SSPX?

1. How can a heretic provide valid sacraments?

It is a dogma that once a priest always a priest.  When a man is ordained he receives the character of the priesthood. This endows him with the power to confect the Sacrament of the Eucharist; and that power is not taken away if he becomes a heretic or a schismatic.

Pope Leo XIII, Apostolicae Curae, Sept. 13, 1896: “When anyone has rightly and seriously made use of the due form and the matter requisite for effecting or conferring the sacrament he is considered by that very fact to do what the Church does. On this principle rests the doctrine that a sacrament is truly conferred by the ministry of one who is a heretic or unbaptized, provided the Catholic rite be employed. On the other hand, if the rite be changed, with the manifest intention of introducing another rite not approved by the Church, and of rejecting what the Church does, and what by the institution of Christ belongs to the nature of the sacrament, then it is clear that not only is the necessary intention wanting to the sacrament, but that the intention is adverse to and destructive of the sacrament.”

The above assertion has always been the teaching of the Church. It is why the Eastern Schismatics (the Eastern "Orthodox") have valid sacraments, valid priests, valid bishops, and valid Masses, even though they have been separated from the Church for about 1000 years.  Heretical priests sin when they say Mass and it doesn't profit them unto salvation, but they do confect the Sacrament of the Eucharist validly if they observe valid matter and form (the traditional rite of the Church). You say, "some consider the SSPX to be heretics" as if you are not convinced?  Do you know why they are heretics?  If not, then you need to get a copy of our book Outside the Catholic Church There is Absolutely No Salvation and read the section on the SSPX.  The SSPX is heretical because it holds that souls can be saved in false religions without the Catholic Faith.  It is mortal sin to obstinately (i.e., after being aware of this information) donate anything to them.  They also are in union with John Paul II.  They are also schismatic in their positions.  Read the short article “The Heresies of the SSPX” on our website. You ask whether one can give them enough money just to pay for a room or gas?  No, one should not give them any money whatsoever for any reason, although giving them money solely for gas or a room is somewhat different from giving them free-willed donations.  But neither should be done, because one cannot facilitate priests in heresy to say Mass.

2. If no one gives the SSPX a penny, they will have no means to deliver the sacraments to the faithful

We've been in contact with many people who go to the SSPX and are followers of their Society. We've seen again and again how, despite appearances, many of those who agree with them are not sincere Catholics and are not on the road to salvation. They don’t believe that what they do is really necessary, because they believe in salvation outside the Church. They don’t really believe in Jesus Christ, because they believe that He has allowed his “Pope” to officially err in “Canonizing” Saints. They can appear pious and so forth when they attend Mass, but underneath the façade there is neither true Faith nor an interior dedication to God in those who obstinately embrace their positions. The bottom-line is that one cannot donate money to any organization that propagates heresies and leads souls to hell, as the SSPX does.  It is true that they do some good things which can benefit people, but so do the Greek Orthodox.  If one can donate to the SSPX, then one can donate to the Greek Orthodox or any schismatic group or the Indult priests which have valid sacraments.  Sacraments alone aren't enough for salvation.  One must have the faith pure and inviolate to be saved.  The faith comes before the Mass.  One cannot compromise the Faith to receive Sacraments. As we’ve said before, if one can donate to the SSPX then we are all wasting our time on these issues and we should pack up and head to St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary and laymen should begin funding it, and accept that it’s okay to believe that Jews, Buddhists, Hindus and Muslims can be saved and that the Catholic Church has officially erred in making Saints.