WHY RECOGNIZE AND RESIST MAKES LESS SENSE THAN SEDEVACANTISM AND FRANCISVACANTISM

WHY RECOGNIZE AND RESIST MAKES LESS SENSE THAN SEDEVACANTISM AND FRANCISVACANTISM

I came across this short video. I don't know who this guy is but "Novus Ordo Watch" has been around for a very long time. When I was studying the various Trad groups in the mid 2000s, I consumed much of their materials to get the Sedevacantist view, or at least their version of it. After distancing myself from the Trad community several years ago I thought myself to be somewhat in the R&R camp still because I had a lot of distaste for the Francis pontificate. In many ways, still do, to be quite honest. It should be obvious. But as I've had my private chats with Sedevacantist apologist Gerry Matatics and my two interviews with him, it became clear to me I'm really more in line with a Sedevacantist mentality that believes Francis is the true pope. That may sound like a strange way to describe myself. But bear with me, and it sounds like Gerry would back me on this (not that he holds the view himself, obviously). 

To keep it simple, if a Catholic like Gerry were to somehow be convinced that Francis and all popes since Pius XII are true popes, then the whole ball of wax that came along with their pontificates are acceptable. We may not like it, but who cares, we are the "church learning/believing" (ecclesia credens); we are not the hierarchy. We receive what to believe from the "church teaching" (ecclesia docens). Therefore, the Sedevacantist claim is that neither the SSPX nor "conciliar Trads", who pay lip service to Francis' validity, yet practically ignore him or opposes almost all of his program, are actually acting as Catholics ought to; they are acting like schismatics. They should accept, by default, the validity of the Second Vatican Council, and it's dogmatic teaching, if any, even it's pastoral or practical application by the guidance of the living magisterium, the new ordination rites, the new liturgy, the new sacramental rites, the new catechism. All of it. And if there is a reservation, the critique is along the proper channels of authority. Not the social media magisterium, of all brands, from "Popesplainer" to "Tradsplainer".

So, all that to say, it seems to me, in the simpler days of old, you didn't bother to be in the know, let alone concerns yourself with the politics of churchmen, you just connected to the local parish which you trusted to be your spiritual guide. If that local parish is intolerable, well then, one of the benefits of modern life is, you can move relatively easily to find yourself in the sphere of more tolerable spiritual ecologies. 

It must be exhausting to live in crisis mode 24/7. 

It's not good for physical health, mental health, nor spiritual health.

I choose to not be there.

Not all the time anyway. 

8-5, M-F, is enough for me. ;-)