Catholic Candle note: The article below refers to Rome’s betrayal of the Catholic Faith. However, a reader would be mistaken if he assumed that Pope Francis’ betrayal somehow means that he is not the pope.

 

Sedevacantism is wrong and is (material or formal) schism. Catholic Candle is not sedevacantist. On the contrary, we published a series of articles showing that sedevacantism is false (and also showing that former Pope Benedict is not still the pope).

 

We recommend a small book explaining the errors of sedevacantism. It is available:

 

➢   Here, for free: https://catholiccandle.neocities.org/faith/against-sedevacantism.html or

 

➢   Here, at cost ($4): https://www.amazon.com/Sedevacantism-Material-Quanta-Cura-Press/dp/B08FP5NQR6/ref=sr_1_1

 

Here is what St. Bernard of Clairvaux, Doctor of the Church, teaches concerning the need to recognize and respect the authority of a superior – such as the pope – even when he is bad:

 

Even should the life of any superior be so notoriously wicked as to admit of no excuse or dissimulation, nevertheless, for God’s sake, Who is the source of all power, we are bound to honor such a one, not on account of his personal merits, which are non-existent, but because of the divine ordination and the dignity of his office.[1]

 

However, even while recognizing the pope’s authority and our duty to obey him when we are able, we know we must resist the evil he says and does. Read more about this principle here: https://catholiccandle.neocities.org/faith/against-sedevacantism.html#section-7

 

 

A Lost N-SSPX Society

A “lost” Society of St. Pius X sought anti-Catholic conciliar church acceptance from Rome after Archbishop Lefebvre died.  The N-SSPX Ship of State lost its compass and rudder on the storm-tossed religious sea of Vatican II.

There are those who say that Archbishop Lefebvre wanted to reunite with Rome, but the critical difference is that he was adamant that that could not happen unless and until Rome converted back to the Catholic Faith.  This was l988 and he had just survived the trap of the conciliar church proposing to recognize him and the Society, with impossible conditions, and from then on he refused to even discuss making a practical deal with Rome until Rome converted.

I believe that Rome has lost the Faith (as Our Lady of La Salette predicted it would) and is the seat of the anti-Catholic conciliar church of VC II.  If you think about it, you have to wonder why the Society would want to negotiate and seek acceptance from the conciliar church in Rome.  Rome, in pursuit of religious liberty, makes little pretext any more of believing that there is only one true Church, founded by Christ, and is the only possible path to salvation.

It becomes clearer if you keep in mind that there exist:

1.    The true Catholic Church; and

2.    A false, revolutionary conciliar church from Vatican II which is Catholic in name only and headquartered in Rome.

This Conciliar church is not merely a liberal way of thinking.  It is a human organization (which deceptively uses the name “Catholic”) and has its own:

➢   false doctrines (e.g., the teachings of VC II, accepting the COVID vaccine);

➢   false and sacrilegious worship (e.g., Novus Ordo mass);

➢   places for sacrileges (viz., the conciliar churches stolen from the Catholic Church);

➢   false priesthood (new concept of priesthood; doubtfully valid ordinations);

➢   false laws (e,g,, the new 1983 Code of Canon Law);

➢   false catechisms (e.g., the new conciliar Catechism of the Catholic Church);

➢   false bibles (e.g., replacing the Douay Rheims Bible);

➢   new, politically-correct “Decalogue” (i.e., new humanist 10 Commandments issued by Pope John Paul II);

➢  new, politically-correct “Beatitudes” (issued by Pope Francis);

➢   new Mysteries of the Rosary (the so-called “Luminous Mysteries”);

➢   new (supposed) “saints” and new canonization process (e.g., so-called “St. John Paul II”);

➢   new (supposed) “miracles” and “apparitions”; and

➢   new (supposed) “sacraments” with conciliar names and formulae: for Catholics, it’s Confession; for conciliars, it’s “Reconciliation”, and on Occasion it’s “Group Reconciliation”.

The above are merely some of the changes that the Society and its followers will have to overlook and be willing to accept for canonical recognition from Rome. I expect that the N-SSPX will never have an additional bishop unless Rome approves.

Now, as these above changes clearly indicate, this conciliar church is a different (and false) religion.  It uses the power structures of the Catholic Church for its own ends, punishing (including excommunicating) those who resist it.

But if followers of the Society were expecting the N-SSPX to make a powerful, public stand against Rome’s latest heresies (e.g., accepting the COVID vaccines, approval of the unnatural life style, religious liberty, celebrating Luther, etc.), then they usually wait in vain.  If they had hoped for a strong defense against heresy from the N-SSPX, they get a mere mention of it instead.  It’s well understood that when those in a position of authority (like the N-SSPX) fail to call a “spade” (heresy) a “spade” (heresy), the silence indicates acceptance.  Or, when derogatory statements about the Faith go unchallenged, it reveals a lack of zeal for the Faith.

This is just one of the Society’s problems: I believe they have lost their zeal for the Faith.  The leadership of the N-SSPX no longer has the burning desire to fight daily against the anti-Catholic conciliar church, as Archbishop Lefebvre did.

Unfortunately, loss of zeal leads gradually to loss of faith.  This is very similar to what happened in the 1960s, after Vatican II, when the crisis of faith came from the top down (the pope), and was bewilderingly accepted by the clergy and the people in the pews.  The return to the holy Catholic Faith seems likely to be from the bottom up, for Rome and (if the N-SSPX ever returns) for the N-SSPX too.

So, what is in store for the followers of the N-SSPX on their slippery slope of compromise?  They want to believe the Society knows best, and will go along to get along.  However, The Imitation of Christ states that: “We frequently judge that things are as we wish them to be, for through personal feeling, true perspective is easily lost.”[2]  In other words, just because they would like to believe that today’s N-SSPX is the same Society as it was under Archbishop Lefebvre, that doesn’t make it so.

Belonging to the Society today is the easiest path for followers, when most of the people they know join them on the slippery slope, and it “proves” to them that they are correct in their position.  And if there are only a very few who hold a contrary view and are willing to stand up and fight for Christ the King and against liberalism, then “those people” must be kooks and radicals.

Most members of the N-SSPX don’t want to work hard to understand or study the Faith, no matter how little energy and time it takes.  Plus, they think they are too busy, and that God will understand.  Wrong!  God expects Catholics to earn Heaven and keep the Faith.

So, what does the future look like, being that Rome has not converted?  This means real trouble for uncompromising traditional Catholics.  But keep in mind that they are not alone, for Christ is surely with them, with extra graces and love. 

We must pray hard, continue to sacrifice, and be on guard for-N-SSPX and conciliar traps, like accepting a hybrid Mass, being married or confessed in the Society (with its indults for the two Sacraments).

Let us trust in God, with strong hearts! Faithful and informed Catholics are sure to succeed.  They have Christ with them.