US priest affiliates with FSSPX, canonical proceedings started.
Rev. Philip Conklin, 38, a priest of St. Paul and Minneapolis, has affiliated with the Priestly Fraternity of St. Pius X (FSSPX), and his archbishop has initiated a canonical process against him.
It will presumably see the priest declared excommunicated.
Archbishop Bernard Hebda wrote on September 30 in the archdiocese’s newspaper: “After confirming with Father Conklin that he does not intend to cease this affiliation, I have felt compelled to commence a canonical process to clarify the situation and his status.”
Rev. Conklin was ordained a priest by Archbishop Hebda relatively recently, on May 25, 2024.
In March 2026, he went on a six-month leave of absence to discern his priestly vocation.
There are some interesting biographical details. Before entering seminary, he trained as a pilot, served for six years in the U.S. Air Force as an air traffic controller, and subsequently worked as a civilian air traffic contractor at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan.
He entered seminary in 2017. A 2024 parish introduction listed Pius X, Therese of Lisieux, and Angelina of Marciano as his favorite saints.
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