Almost immediately, these priests, with Kelly as their leader, formed the Society of Saint Pius V[5] (SSPV), which held that it is at least a debatable question whether the popes since 1958 have in fact been legitimate Roman Pontiffs.
[6] They reject any changes to the Mass (including changes made to the Holy Week Ceremonies by Pope Pius XII in 1951), and adhere to the preconciliar Code of Canon Law.
[9] In 1985, Kelly, Cekada, Dolan, and Sanborn sued Schmidberger, Williamson, Bolduc, and others related to the SSPX for libel.
[12][better source needed] On December 27, 2018, Kelly served as the co-consecrator in Santay's episcopal consecration of Father James Carroll, CSPV.
[15] A Solemn Pontifical Requiem Mass was celebrated for the repose of his soul in the chapel of St. Pius V in Melville, New York, on December 6.
His funeral, in the form of a Solemn High Requiem Mass, was celebrated on December 7 in St. Joseph's Novitiate Chapel in Round Top, New York, after which he was buried in the nearby cemetery.