How do I refute my brother the sedevacantist?

[mgl]

I’ve been subscribing to This Rock since 1993! My brother holds to sedevacantism, the belief that the popes since John XXIII are invalid. He likes to send me emails filled with arguments for his position. He really sounds like he knows his stuff and I can’t refute it. He is single, with time on his hands; I have four kids, coach all their soccer teams, run a business, and am very involved in other stuff. Needless to say, I have no time for research to respond.

 

[Michelle_Arnold]

I have four kids, coach all their soccer teams, run a business, and am very involved in other stuff. Needless to say, I have no time for research to respond.

Tell him that. Well, in a kinder, gentler way, of course. You might say something like this:

Brother, dear, I very much appreciate your emails explaining your position on sedevacantism. I wish I could give those emails the time and attention they deserve because I know you are working hard at understanding our Catholic faith better. But, as you know, what with the business, the kids and their activities, and everything else going on right now, I just don’t have the leisure time I’d like to discuss this with you. Why don’t you contact Catholic Answers and ask their apologists for help? Oh, and if you are free on Saturday, do you think you could take a turn with the soccer team carpool?

That last suggestion, that your brother help out you and your family, was not just polite blather. Getting your brother more involved with family and/or community activities will give him less time to brood over his perceived “issues” with the Church. And, if you need to defend the suggestion to him, you could point out that his helping you out will give you more time “at some point” (you say as vaguely and non-committally as possible) to engage in email debates with him.

Recommended reading:

More Catholic than the Pope by Patrick Madrid and Pete Vere
The Pope, the Council, and the Mass by James Likoudis and Kenneth D. Whitehead