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Cum Ex Apostolis no longer in force - see cum ex apostolatus and loss of office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

The Vatican and SSPX – An Organizational Culture Perspective

Introduction The recent and continuing interactions between the Vatican and the SSPX have been a great opportunity for prayer and reflection. The basis for the disagreement is theological and not liturgical. As noted by Dr. Lamont (2012), the SSPX theological position on the four key controversial aspects of the Second Vatican Council are base on prior theological work that resulted from relevant magisterial pronouncements. So it is difficult to understand the apparent rejection of the theological position of the SSPX.

A Reply to Martin Blackshaw’s FLAWED Remnant article titled: FLAWED: SSPX Advice on Abortion-tainted Vaccines

+ JMJ An article has appeared in the Remnant (link to article) and I am afraid that there are a number of flaws in it that need to be addressed. The author, Martin Blackshaw, believes that both the Church and the SSPX are misapplying the principle of Moral Theology called 'Cooperation In Evil'. Unfortunately, Mr. Blackshaw rests most of his arguments on citing authors that support his position, without considering the possibility that they are wrong. This highlights a key factor in this crisis: ignorance of the faith and its application . I don't am not singling out Mr. Blackshaw for this criticism, I have observed that it applies to laity and religious, superior and subject a like. No one seems immune in this enduring crisis, myself included. I further believe that this ignorance is why so many Catholics, both traditional and non, rely on their gut feeling or "Catholic conscience" for charting their way through this crisis of the faith. While...

Rome and the SSPX - the latest

+ JMJ Bishop Fellay gave a conference late last month and provided some more insight into the situation with Rome. There are comments on Deus Ex Machina Blog and Hilary White has now entered the fray. What is one Catholic to think about all these opinions? What a Catholic is to think: With the Church! What does the Church think about obedience? Virtue as it is? If there is no proximate occasion of sin and the other conditions are met, then one cannot resist the command.

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...

How many more must die for the throne? or How to combat FUD!

+ JMJ How many more must die for the throne? (Movie Quote: Prince Caspian) The Spread of Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt I've seen a lot of FUD spreading across the intergnat on various stats etc. So let's put this in context ... especially the perspective of those people in positions of authority who need to make decisions to protect the lives of their citizens. Yep, this is going to be that type of post. Like it or not the leaders of our governments have their authority from God. So, as Catholics should know, you need to have a very good reason to deliberately disobey the orders of their superiors. This is basic St. Thomas Aquinas ... so don't blame me for discussing things from a Catholic perspective. The leaders of our countries have taken action to protect the vulnerable of our countries. As much as the young and not-so-young may whine and complain - I have to ask how many more of our elderly have to die? What the armchair virologists and ec...

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