Synod Pre-Game Show VI: The Buckler of Patience

JMJ

I suspect that the Synod will be an occasion for scandal amongst the faithful. Many will perhaps suspect that Pope Francis really isn't Pope after all.

Outlined in the list below are the various sedevacantist opinions that I have encountered over the past decades. Opposed to each is the doctrine that they contradict and fallacies embedded within them.

For more detailed analysis and articles, please see the sedevacantist, heresy and infallibility articles.

Sedevacantist Conclusion (See of Peter is vacant)

Post-Conciliar Popes were heretics before election, heretics cannot be elected to the See of Peter

Contradicts doctrine of dogmatic fact: art1, art2, art3
Cum Ex Apostolis no longer in force - see cum ex apostolatus and loss of office

Pope fell into heresy after election

There are a number of problems with this 'conclusion'. The first of which is the understanding of heresy. The second is the provision of a verifiable act of heresy that is incontrovertible (explicity). The third is that the Authority of the Church has declared / acknowledged that the Pope has defected from the Faith.

Second Vatican Council explicitly taught heresy. Therefore the Pope who approved it cannot have been valid

Contradicts the indefectibility of the Church: Ott pg296
Generally the understanding of 'heresy' is incorrect: Heresy plain and not so simple

The Novus Ordo Missae is heretical, therefore the Pope who ...

Contradicts the indefectibility of the Church: Catholic Principles, Doctrine, and Dogma - Anchors for a Church Caught in a Tempest
Infallibility of the Church extends to disciplinary law, but not in the same manner: Does Churchs Infallibility extend to disciplinary law?
Contradicts indefectibility: Ott pg296
While ambiguous, the promulgated rite does not contain anything explicitly heretical.

The Conciliar Church is not the Catholic Church

If by the 'Conciliar Church' it is meant that the Church under the present pontiff (Francis at this writing) is not the Catholic Church - where is the organization with the Four Marks? Otherwise it contradicts indefectibility: Ott pg296
Article on the Four Marks drawing on the Catechism of the Council of Trent and Ott.

These are definitely trying times (ie the last 50+ years) for faithful Catholics.

However, it is crucial to use Catholic principles as a guide in making decisions centred on responding to the scandalous actions of the hierarchy and other Catholics.

Otherwise, we may become that which we strive against.

P^3

Prayer

Penance

Patience

Comments

SSPX and the Resistance - A Comparison Of Ecclesiology

Shining the light of Church Teaching on the doctrinal positions of the SSPX and the Resistance. Principles are guides used to aid in decision making. It stands to reason that bad principles will lead to bad decisions. The recent interactions between Rome and the SSPX has challenged a number of closely held cultural assumptions of people in both sides of the disagreement. This has resulted in cultural skirmishes in both Rome and the SSPX. Since it is the smaller of the two, the skirmishes have been more evident within the SSPX. The cultural fault-line that Bishop Fellay crossed appears to be linked to two points of Catholic Doctrine: Ecclesiology and Obedience. The cultural difference of view points is strong enough that it has resulted in the expulsion of a number of members. It should also be noted that some other priests expelled since the beginning of the latest interactions (starting in 2000) held the same view points and have joined with the l...

Morning and Evening and other sundry Prayers

+ JMJ Along the theme of P^3 (Prayer, Penance, Patience), and for my own reference ... here is a collection of Morning and Evening prayers from the Ideal Daily Missal along with some additional prayers. In this crisis of the Church, I do not think it is possible to do too much prayer, penance and have patience. P^3

The Curious Case of Steve Skojec and the Dangers of Deep Diving into the Crisis Sub-Titled: The Failings of Others

+ JMJ It's been a while now since Steve Skojec sold 1P5 and abandoned the Catholic Faith. I've been a 'Trad' since 1982 and in those 40+ years I seen this death-spiral before with a similar end point. It seems that anyone who jumps into the fray unprepared for the enormous task of righting wrongs will, eventually, become discouraged by not the task but the people who surround them. I remember when Skojec complained of the treatment his family received from a traditional priest. This seems to have been the start of the end for him. So what can we learn from the likes of Steve Skojec, Michael Voris (maybe?), Louie Verrecchio, Gerry Matatix and other celebrity Catholics? Probably quite a lot about what not to do. First, don't burn out on the crisis? When you burn out, on work or anything else, little things assume a more greater importance than they are due. This is one of my 'canary in the coal mine' signals that I've been stretching myself too th...

Church Militant TV and the SSPX - Again

+ JMJ The old narrative used to be that the SSPX was 'schismatic' and 'excommunicated'. Now the excommunication has been lifted for a number of years and the only ones who think it still has effect are the 'resistors'. That leaves the other opponents of the SSPX with the label 'schismatic'. Make it clear, the conservative Catholics have issues with the SSPX probably because they violate some of their assumptions about the Faith and this crisis of the Church. Church Militant TV is one of these the exists along the Catholic thought spectrum. They like the Traditional Mass but must ensure that they don't get tarred with the same 'schismatic' brush that the liberals use against the SSPX. So what do they do, they use the same brush against the SSPX. The funny thing is that even when the Church does speak, they don't want to listen and persist in calling the SSPX 'schismatic'. Here's a transcript of the latest s...

The Position of the SSPX on Canonizations by the Saint Factory

+ JMJ I have sometimes been criticized for including 'St' as a title for Pope John Paul II et al. I've given my reasons here in a discussion with Alex Long. The question is one of prudence in discussions with ntCatholics and in some cases with tCatholics. In discussions with: ntCatholics, I will use the title in order to continue the discussion and help them arrive at a realistic understanding of the crisis of the Church. tCatholics, I will use the title in order to broaden their perspective on the doctrine of dogmatic facts. This broader perspective is, in my opinion, essential maintaining a realistic understanding of the crisis of the Church. So from a doctrinal position, I have written the article Dogmatic Fact of Fancy and includes a reference on canonizations. Now, I know the position of the SSPX is that the canonizations are doubtful (see references below) and I also know of at least one non-SSPX theologian who agrees with the level of doubt du...

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