Concerning an SSPX Dossier on Sedevacantism - Novus Ordo Watch

a) The Church is visible even during <strong>an</strong> interregnum. Therefore the absence of a Pope at <strong>an</strong>y given
time, even for <strong>an</strong> extended period, c<strong>an</strong>not essentially conflict with her visibility. Nor is she deprived
of her Head during such a vac<strong>an</strong>cy – her Head is Jesus Christ. She is merely deprived of a visible head
on earth, Christ’s Vicar.
But in <strong>an</strong>y case, what is visible must be Catholic, or it is of no value whatsoever. The Greek
schismatic Church is visible. It has a visible head, a body of bishops <strong>an</strong>d lesser clergy, a set of
doctrines to which all of its members subscribe, chapels, churches, even monasteries. If <strong>an</strong>ybody
seeks it he will find it readily. Any m<strong>an</strong> in the street in <strong>an</strong>y town in Greece c<strong>an</strong> point it out to him
with ease. But it is not Catholic, because it lacks the true Faith <strong>an</strong>d it lacks the true unity of
government <strong>an</strong>d worship which the Catholic Church always possesses <strong>an</strong>d must always possess,
because it refuses subjection to the Rom<strong>an</strong> Pontiff <strong>an</strong>d it refuses communion with Catholics.
Likewise, it is of no value to say that those who admit Benedict’s claim have a visible Church <strong>an</strong>d
those who deny him have <strong>an</strong> invisible Church. We readily gr<strong>an</strong>t that Benedict is more visible, th<strong>an</strong>,
for example, a traditional Catholic priest or even a traditional Catholic bishop. We also readily gr<strong>an</strong>t
that he constitutes a kind of figure-head for nearly all who call themselves “Catholic” (but obviously
not sedevac<strong>an</strong>tists).
But having gr<strong>an</strong>ted all that may be gr<strong>an</strong>ted, with all possible generosity, what have you? In truth
Benedict is nothing more th<strong>an</strong> a cardboard cut-out, for display purposes only (as Fr. Cekada has aptly
<strong>an</strong>d wittily commented). And this is true for both Conciliar “Catholics” <strong>an</strong>d for traditional Catholics.
As one sedeplenist traditional priest once said to me, “None of us really thinks he is really Pope.”
Which is true. And within the Conciliar milieu, there is no thought of treating Benedict really as
though he had personal <strong>an</strong>d direct jurisdiction over every Catholic. The collegiality-devoted bishops
treat him as merely a figurehead as much as the contraception-addicted laymen do.
When one loves the Pope one does not stop to debate about what he advises or dem<strong>an</strong>ds,
to ask how far the rigorous duty of obedience extends <strong>an</strong>d to mark the limit of this
obligation. When one loves the Pope, one does not object that he has not spoken clearly
enough, as if he were obliged to repeat into the ear of each individual his will, so often
clearly expressed, not only viva voce, but also by letters <strong>an</strong>d other public documents; one
does not call his orders into doubt on the pretext – easily adv<strong>an</strong>ced by whoever does not
wish to obey - that they em<strong>an</strong>ate not directly from him, but from his entourage; one does
not limit the field in which he c<strong>an</strong> <strong>an</strong>d should exercise his will; one does not oppose to the
authority of the Pope that of other persons, however learned, who differ in opinion from the
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