Sedevacantism in Three Minutes - Catholic Crusader Films 10-01-16

SummarySedevacantism is a theological position held by some traditionalist Catholics who reject Jorge Bergoglio ("Pope" Francis) and his predecessors post-Vatican II as legitimate popes. They argue that since the Second Vatican Council (1962–1965), the Catholic Church’s official hierarchy has fallen into apostasy by promulgating doctrines that represent a substantial departure from traditional Catholic teaching. Because the Church is believed to be indefectible and protected by the Holy Ghost from doctrinal error, any significant doctrinal rupture implies that those responsible have lost ecclesiastical authority. Consequently, Sedevacantists maintain that the papal seat (the See of Peter) is vacant, hence the term “Sedevacantism.”The reasoning behind this belief is based on the empirical observation of doctrinal changes before and after Vatican II. The Church’s infallibility and indefectibility are dogmatic truths; denying these leads one outside full communion with the Catholic Church. The current hierarchy’s acceptance of Vatican II teachings means they lack legitimate authority, and the papal seat remains unoccupied. However, the election of a pope is a juridical act performed by the College of Cardinals, who continue to exercise their human faculty to elect a pope, even if they are heretics. Therefore, the see remains vacant until cardinals faithful to traditional Catholic doctrine elect a pope.The prolonged vacancy is explained by the fact that most cardinals continue to adhere to Vatican II teachings. Sedevacantists believe this situation will persist until one or more cardinals return to orthodoxy, allowing for the election of a true pope. While difficult, they trust in God’s power to accomplish this.The existence of this crisis is also understood through a theological lens: God permits this apostasy and ecclesiastical crisis to bring about a greater good. Sacred Scripture predicts a general apostasy in the Christian West that will eventually lead to the conversion of the Jewish people, similar to how the rejection of Christ by the Jews led to the spread of Christianity among the Gentiles. For true Catholics who embrace Sedevacantism, living in such times is considered a spiritual privilege and a call to deeper research and faithfulness.HighlightsSedevacantism rejects post-Vatican II popes, including Pope Francis, as legitimate.The Second Vatican Council caused a substantial and unacceptable change in Catholic doctrine.The Catholic Church’s infallibility and indefectibility are dogmatic truths central to Sedevacantist arguments.The papal seat is considered vacant due to doctrinal apostasy by the official hierarchy.Cardinals retain the human faculty to elect a pope, but since most support Vatican II, the vacancy persists.The crisis is seen as divinely permitted to ultimately bring about a greater good, including Jewish conversion.Sedevacantism calls for research and faithfulness from Catholics who see this period as spiritually significant.Key InsightsDoctrinal Change as a Basis for Sedevacantism: The movement’s foundation lies in the assertion that Vatican II introduced new doctrines incompatible with traditional Catholic teaching. This is critical because it challenges the continuity and unchangeability of Church teaching, a cornerstone of Catholic ecclesiology. Sedevacantists argue that such a rupture cannot be reconciled within the Church’s claim to infallibility, thus delegitimizing the post-conciliar popes.Infallibility and Indefectibility as Non-negotiable Dogmas: The Church’s infallibility (protection from error in faith and morals) and indefectibility (the Church’s permanence without doctrinal failure) are held as truths of faith by Sedevacantists. Denying these doctrines would, by their logic, exclude one from being a true Catholic. This highlights how deeply intertwined Sedevacantism is with traditional Catholic dogma, positioning itself as a defender rather than a dissenting group.Apostasy as an Obstacle to Ecclesiastical Authority: The argument that heresy invalidates ecclesiastical jurisdiction but not the human faculty of election is a nuanced canonical reasoning. It means that while cardinals can validly elect a pope, their heretical stance prevents the pope-elect from receiving true authority, resulting in a vacant see. This insight explains the paradox of a functioning conclave that nonetheless produces no legitimate pope.The Role of the Cardinals in Ending the Vacancy: The condition for ending the sedevacantist crisis rests on the conversion or return of one or more cardinals to traditional Catholic faith before a valid pope can be elected. This places significant ecclesiastical responsibility on a small group of individuals and underscores the perceived current spiritual crisis within the College of Cardinals.Theological Interpretation of Historical Crisis: Sedevacantism frames the post-Vatican II crisis within a providential context, seeing it as an allowed trial by God to bring about a greater good. This includes the prediction of a general apostasy and the eventual conversion of the Jewish people, echoing biblical typology. This spiritual interpretation provides adherents with a hopeful outlook amid crisis and suffering.Implications for Catholic Identity and Communion: By asserting that denial of infallibility and indefectibility excludes one from true Catholicism, Sedevacantism creates a sharp boundary between itself and the post-conciliar Church. This has significant ecclesiological and pastoral implications, as it challenges the legitimacy of the entire institutional Church hierarchy as currently constituted.Call to Research and Spiritual Vigilance: The narrator encourages those unfamiliar with Sedevacantism to investigate and understand the movement, emphasizing its importance and the stakes involved. This reflects a broader call within the movement for intellectual engagement and spiritual commitment to preserve what they consider authentic Catholicism during turbulent times.TrueCatholicFaith.com