Sedevacantism? Have I fallen for this? Help

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JCV_24

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Recently I have learned what sedevacantism is and it has been hurtful because there were moments when it seemed that I may have questionably agreed to it from reading traditionalist blogs or watching trad youtube channels.

It may have been due to things to do with our current Pope since I do not always agree with him on things such recent deal he has made with China and there have been times when I have wished Pope Benedict XVI was back. I now have full knowledge that we must remain with the Pope whether we fully agree with him or not as he is the successor of St. Peter and that we must pray for him.

I have recently been going to SSPX mass because I just happen to like tradition. I do go to regular ordinary mass as well but if have the time I try to go to Latin mass. I would have rather preferred the FSSP or the Institute of Christ the King but unfortunately, they are not found in my area. SSPX clergy have never said anything against the Pope or anything like that during the mass and I have had the opportunity to talk to some of them and they seem nice from experience as well as have been patient during confessions (granted to them by Pope Francis during the year of mercy) while some priests at Novus Ordo mass have rushed me at some parishes during confessions. But I would rather go to Latin Mass with a parish in full communion

I am a guy in my twenties that has refound the Catholic faith after years of not being a practicing Catholic during my teens and am trying to learn more about my faith through reading the bible, learning history as well as learning about different saints that fought many different heresies.

I’m just worried about whether this is worth confessing at my next confession or not?

Help if you can, Thanks
 
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You are not sedevacantist by any stretch. There is a difference between saying the pope has done something wrong and correcting it charitably and saying the pope said x. therefore he is a heretic as we cannot judge him on that.

You can continue to got to the SSPX for Mass (see this link for the 2003 Ecclesia Dei response to if you can go to the SSPX’s mass to fufill your obligation) http://www.ewtn.com/v/experts/showr...word=&pgnu=4&groupnum=26&record_bookmark=6670
 
I would suggest that you stop attending SSPX mass. They don’t exercise legitimate ministry within the church.

I wouldn’t mention it in confession, especially if you didn’t even know for sure that you agreed with it.

Just remember: a bad Pope does not necessarily = an invalid pope.
 
The SSPX isn’t sedevacantist at all. Sedevacantism is the belief that the papacy is vacant right now, as the current pope is a pretender.
 
I wish these groups would have names that are simpler to identify. SSPX, FSSP, who knows what else, and it confuses the heck out of me.
 
SSPX: Society of St. Pius X. They’re in an irregular situation with the Church, though not schismatic. They operate outside the local Ordinaries and have their own illicit bishops.
FSSP: Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter. They split off from the SSPX after their illicit episcopal ordinations. They are in good standing with the Church and obey the local Ordinaries.
ICKSP: Institute of Christ the King. Another organization similar to the FSSP. I’m not as familiar with them, but they too are in good standing.
 
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JCV_24 said:
. SSPX clergy have never said anything against the Pope or anything like that during the mass
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SSPX is not sedevacantist.

They have a splinter group, however, that finds them too liberal, and if memory serves, is sedevacantist: SSPV

(yes, seriously; I am not making this up).

hawk
 
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Welcome back to the Faith! 😀
The trouble with attending SSPX Masses is that they are not in full communion with the Church, so while their Sacraments are valid, they are not licit (except their confessions during the Year of Mercy which has now ended). I can understand where you are coming from. I think it might be worth mentioning in confession just to see what Father would recommend or any other information he might have.
From what you have described it does not sound like you are a sedevacantist. It can be easy to go down the wrong path so just pray for God’s continued guidance and grace. I think you have very good intentions and sound like a wonderful person striving for holiness. God bless.
 
MD1 said:
(except their confessions during the Year of Mercy which has now ended
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Thanks for the advice and for the welcoming 😃

If you think its worth then I will mention it and see what father says. As for confessions I’m not sure if you are aware but Pope Francis has extended permission for them to hear confessions after the year of mercy and has not taken it away from them. So for the time being they valid until the Pope says otherwise.

I shall pray for God’s grace and guidance. God bless
 
Oh thank you for the information! I was not aware of that, but that is great news. God bless!
 
It is not sinful to attend the SSPX Mass. Whether it is prudent is another question.

Even though there is no FSSP or similar order in your area, find out if there is a diocesan approved Latin Mass nearby. In my diocese, as in some others, diocesan priests take turns offering the Latin Mass for a community which is co located in a diocesan parish. If there is none at this time, suggest it to your bishop. You never know what might already be under consideration, maybe someone else also has requested it.
 
Sedevacantism is a matter of degree, not all or nothing. Even if an organization is officially non sedevacantist, some of its members may have varying degrees of acceptance of the current pope or their local ordinary.

Some members may say Francis is technically a “pope” in the sense there is no proof (yet) of ballot box rigging or guns in the conclave. But for them, he may not be a “Pope” in the sense of Pope Pius XII. They may say they will follow the pope or local bishop when they are teaching truth, but their template for defining “truth” is certain prior “Popes” of their choosing. There is lots of room for variation here, even within the same organization.

I also think people modify their position on the Sede scale, depending on who is pope, and other good and bad changes they see.
 
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JCV_24 said:
I do not always agree with him on things such recent deal he has made with China and there have been times when I have wished Pope Benedict XVI was back.
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You and me both! But that doesn’t make either me or you belong to the sedevacantism group(s). That’s the basic meaning of “Catholic” = universal
There is plenty of room for different opinions within the Catholic Church, as you can see by reading any of the threads here or by looking at the various opinions generated by the recent Synod of the Family.

You really have to work at it to put yourself beyond the pale, so to speak. “True” sedevacanists (look at their web sites) deny that the current pope(s) is a valid pope, thus their name. That’s pretty far out there. You can disagree with pretty much everything a pope says (except an infallible pronouncement–which is EXTREMELY rare) and still be a good Catholic.

Don’t worry about it. On the other hand, try to understand why different groups hold different positions. You don’t want to be one of those people who criticizes a group, person, or position without knowing anything about it.
 
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Erikaspirit16 said:
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JCV_24:
I do not always agree with him on things such recent deal he has made with China and there have been times when I have wished Pope Benedict XVI was back.
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You can disagree with pretty much everything a pope says (except an infallible pronouncement–which is EXTREMELY rare) and still be a good Catholic.
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The part of infallibility that is extremely rare would be the “extraordinary” magisterium. (I agree with you on Pope Emeritus)
 
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Another thought: an analogy.

I probably disagree with every word Trump says. But do I think he is the legitimately elected president? Yes, I do. Sad, but true!

If I joined a group who thought Trump was NOT the legitimate president, I would put myself outside the bounds of acceptable political thought in the US. I would be a wild-eyed extremist who probably wears aluminum foil hats.

There’s a big difference between disagreeing with someone and rejecting their legitimacy.
 
You’re not a sedevacantist because you recognize Francis as Pope

Also, i recommend you don’t go to SSPX, i love the TLM too but unfortunately there is no TLM in my country, never been into one, but the problem with the SSPX is, ok, most of what they teach is sound and great, but 1. They reject Vatican II, which i know a lot of problem came after it, same goes for the New Mass but hey,a valid ecumenical Council is a valid ecumenical Council and you can’t just reject it, also, remember what Pope Benedict XVI, they’re not excommunicated BUT their priests do not “legitimately excersise ANY ministry in The Church”
 
Erikaspirit16 said:
You can disagree with pretty much everything a pope says (except an infallible pronouncement–which is EXTREMELY rare) and still be a good Catholic.
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No, no, you can disagree with the Pope on PRUDENTIAL and NON MAGISTERIAL matters, not everything but infallible pronouncement, remember there also exists the universal ordinary magisterium, you’ve got to obey that, now, can you disagree with what the Pope says on a plane interview? Sure! In an encyclical? That’s a different story
 
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