The Present Crisis in the Church, Part III - Fr. Michael DeSaye 04-28-25

SummaryThis homily is the third in a series addressing the ongoing crisis within the Catholic Church, particularly focusing on the doctrinal errors and confusion surrounding the papacy today. Fr. Michael DeSaye critiques the “recognize and resist” system, a stance adopted by the SSPX and many traditional Latin Mass communities, which acknowledges Christ as head of the Church but refuses submission to the current Roman pontiff, whom they consider illegitimate. This position is identified as a grave error that fractures the visible unity of the Church and obstructs its salvific mission, as taught by Pope Pius XII.Fr. DeSaye rejects submission to the current claimant of the papacy, arguing that recognizing him as pope would require abandoning essential Catholic dogmas, particularly the Church’s indefectibility and visibility. The crisis is traced back to Vatican II, which incorporated errors that undermine these dogmas. The preacher advocates for the position of Sedevacantism—the belief that there is no valid pope currently reigning—while explaining how membership in the Church can still exist through “potential submission” to a future legitimate pope, even in the absence of an actual reigning pontiff.A key analogy is drawn between the papacy and a marriage: just as a marriage requires free and genuine consent to be valid, so too must the pope freely consent to accept and fulfill his office. If consent is simulated or absent, the papacy is null and void—a “simulated papacy.” Fr. DeSaye contends that the post-1958 papacies of John XXIII and Paul VI were simulated, evidenced by their promulgation of Vatican II teachings that contradict Catholic doctrine. Hence, these men were never true popes, and their papacies must be considered invalid.Fr. DeSaye concludes by noting that a simulated papacy, like a simulated marriage, is not permanent or irreparable. Solutions exist to restore a legitimate papal succession, which will be addressed in the forthcoming final sermon of the series.HighlightsThe “recognize and resist” system fractures the Church’s visible unity and is a dangerous error condemned by Pope Pius XII.Submission to the current claimant of the papacy requires sacrificing essential Catholic dogmas of indefectibility and visibility.Sedevacantism holds that there is currently no true pope but that potential submission to a future valid pope preserves Church membership and salvation.The papacy requires both proper election and genuine internal consent, similar to the consent required in a valid marriage.The post-1958 papacies of John XXIII and Paul VI are considered invalid due to simulation—lack of true consent—demonstrated by their promulgation of Vatican II errors.A simulated papacy is a temporary problem that can be remedied, not a permanent collapse of the Church.The next sermon will address solutions for restoring a legitimate papal successor.Key InsightsError of Recognize and Resist Undermines Church Unity: The system of recognize and resist professes Christ as head but rejects submission to his earthly vicar, the pope. This position, condemned by Pope Pius XII, causes a schism within the visible Church, damaging its unity and mission. This shows how partial adherence to doctrine creates fragmentation and confusion, emphasizing the necessity of full submission to Church authority.Faithfulness to Dogma is Non-Negotiable: The homily stresses that faith cannot be sacrificed for any reason, even amid crisis or persecution. Recognizing the current claimant as pope compromises the dogma of indefectibility—the Church’s promise never to err in its essential teachings. Conversely, recognizing a pope without visible unity sacrifices the dogma of the Church’s visibility. This highlights the intricate balance of Catholic dogma and the difficulty in navigating the crisis without compromising core beliefs.Sedevacantism Preserves the Church’s Continuity: By distinguishing actual submission from potential submission, Fr. DeSaye provides a theological framework allowing Catholics to remain in the Church without a reigning pope. This analogy to political succession (e.g., the presidency of the United States) clarifies that the Church’s existence and membership do not depend on the continuous presence of a visible pope but on readiness to submit to a valid successor when one appears.Analogy of Marriage Illuminates Papal Legitimacy: The comparison between the papal office and marriage effectively conveys the necessity of free and sincere consent for legitimacy. Just as a marriage without genuine consent is null, a papacy without true consent is invalid. This analogy aids understanding of complex canonical and theological concepts by relating them to familiar human experiences.Simulation of Consent Leads to Invalid Papacies: Fr. DeSaye argues that the defect causing the post-1958 papacies to be invalid was simulated consent—external acceptance without internal will to uphold Catholic faith. This notion of simulation explains how men could outwardly perform papal functions while effectively rejecting essential duties, thereby invalidating their papacies. It also accounts for why these papacies initially appeared legitimate.Vatican II as Definitive Evidence of Invalid Papacies: The promulgation of Vatican II documents, which introduce errors condemned by the Church’s magisterium, serves as conclusive proof that the post-1958 popes were not true popes. This connection frames Vatican II not only as a theological crisis but as a juridical and canonical crisis affecting the papal office itself.Hope for Restoration of Legitimate Papacy: By emphasizing that a simulated papacy is not permanent and can be rectified, Fr. DeSaye offers hope that the Church will eventually regain a valid pope. This counters despair and fatalism in the face of crisis and sets the stage for the next sermon, which will explore possible solutions. It reflects a pragmatic approach grounded in Catholic teaching and ecclesiology.TrueCatholicFaith.com