Crisis Series #44: How Can the SSPX Justify What it Does?

Last week, we looked at the status of the Society of Saint Pius X. Given that there is no regular canonical status for the SSPX, how then, can the priests of the Society exercise their functions? Canon Law is pretty clear on this point – for a priest to exercise his ministry, he must be under the authority and direction of the local bishop, or at the least, under the direct supervision of the Vatican. Since that does not exist, how can the priests of the Society justify, in all good conscience, what they do? Are they simply disobedient rebels?