Congregation of Mary Immaculate Queen (CMRI)

The Congregation of Mary Immaculate Queen (CMRI) is a sedevacantist religious congregation. It holds that the post-conciliar popes are not valid popes and regards the Second Vatican Council as heretical (Wikipedia). In a 2024 research report, the scholar Magnus Lundberg described the CMRI as one of the largest sedevacantist groups worldwide (Lundberg).

Origins. The CMRI grew out of a community that Francis Schuckardt founded in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, in 1967. By the late 1960s Schuckardt had publicly declared Paul VI an antipope and the Holy See vacant. In 1971 an independent prelate, Daniel Brown, ordained him a priest and consecrated him a bishop (Wikipedia). The movement acquired Mount Saint Michael, a former Jesuit seminary in Spokane, Washington, in 1977–78 (Catholic Answers; Wikipedia).

In 1984 a leadership split ended with Schuckardt's departure, and the faction that stayed at Mount Saint Michael kept the CMRI name. Because the validity of Schuckardt's orders was considered doubtful, Bishop George Musey conditionally re-administered the sacraments Schuckardt had conferred and conditionally re-ordained the remaining priests (Wikipedia).

Leadership. Mark Pivarunas was elected superior general in August 1989. On 24 September 1991 he was consecrated a bishop by Moisés Carmona, a Mexican bishop whom Archbishop Ngô Đình Thục had consecrated in 1981 (Wikipedia; Catholic-Hierarchy).

Today. Mount Saint Michael houses St. Michael's Academy, serves as a parish centre for sedevacantists in the Spokane area and is the motherhouse of the congregation's sisters (Wikipedia).

Departures. In 2007, fifteen sisters who had come to accept the authority of the post-conciliar popes left the motherhouse. They were later received into the Catholic Church and formed the Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Church, in the Diocese of Spokane (Catholic World Report).

Canonical status. The congregation operates outside the Catholic Church's hierarchy. The reference site Catholic-Hierarchy lists Pivarunas as not in union with the Holy See (Catholic-Hierarchy).