Comparison Tables
To help you navigate where to attend a valid mass
Comparison Table 1:
Sedevacantism & Sedeprivationism as Catholic
vs. Recognize-and-Resist (R&R) as Heretical
The following table definitively proves that Sedevacantism and Sedeprivationism are Catholic, while Recognize-and-Resist (R&R) is heretical by providing clear definitions and theological justifications, explaining how each position envisions resolving the papal crisis, refuting Recognize-and-Resist (R&R) using pre-Vatican II papal teachings, clarifying apostolic succession, bishop validity, and Mass classifications.
| Category | Sedevacantist Catholics (Fully Catholic, Papal Throne is Vacant) |
Sedeprivationist Catholics (Fully Catholic, Papacy is in Privation) |
Recognize-and-Resist (R&R) False Catholics (Heretical and Contradictory) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Definition & Name Breakdown | "Sede" (seat) + "Vacante" (vacant) = "The seat of Peter is vacant." | "Sede" (seat) + "Privation" (lacking fullness) = "The papacy is in privation (not fully occupied)." | "Recognize" (accept as pope) + "Resist" (reject his teachings and authority). |
| Essentially Catholic? | Yes. Upholds all Catholic dogma, papal indefectibility, and the correct understanding of the Church. (Pastor Aeternus, Vatican I, 1870) | Yes. Upholds all Catholic dogma, papal indefectibility, and the correct understanding of the Church. (Pastor Aeternus, Vatican I, 1870) | No. Contradicts Catholic dogma, papal indefectibility, and obedience to the pope. (Unam Sanctam, Pope Boniface VIII, 1302) |
| Key Difference Between Sedevacantism & Sedeprivationism | Believes the papal throne is entirely vacant. | Believes the papacy is in “privation”—modern claimants are materially elected but lack formal authority. | Claims a pope can teach heresy but still be pope. (Contradicted by Cum Ex Apostolatus Officio, Pope Paul IV, 1559) |
| Correct Catholic View of the Church | The Church remains indefectible and cannot officially teach error. (Pastor Aeternus) | The Church remains indefectible and cannot officially teach error. (Pastor Aeternus) | Claims the Church can officially teach error but remain the Church. (Contradicted by Satis Cognitum, Pope Leo XIII) |
| Correct Catholic View of the Papacy | A true pope cannot teach error in faith and morals. (Pastor Aeternus) | A true pope cannot teach error in faith and morals. (Pastor Aeternus) | Claims a true pope can err in faith and morals but remain pope. (Contradicted by Satis Cognitum) |
| How Can a New Pope Be Elected? | Three debated possibilities: divine miracle, imperfect conclave by traditional clergy, or surviving valid cardinal. (Vacantis Apostolicae Sedis) | A Vatican II “pope” could become a true pope if he abjures heresy and embraces the true Faith. (St. Robert Bellarmine) | No coherent solution. Recognizes but disobeys false popes, contradicting papal authority. (Pastor Aeternus) |
| Apostolic Succession & Validity of Bishops | Yes. Apostolic succession preserved through pre-Vatican II consecrations. | Yes. Apostolic succession preserved through pre-Vatican II consecrations. | Questionable. Many bishops consecrated using the invalid 1968 Novus Ordo rite. |
| What Happens If No Valid Bishops Remain? | Traditional clergy may elect a pope via imperfect conclave. | Same—imperfect conclave by valid clergy. | R&R has no valid solution and continues in contradiction. |
| Mass Classification: “Una Cum” vs. “Non-Una Cum” | “Non-Una Cum” — excludes false popes from the Canon of the Mass. | “Non-Una Cum” — excludes false popes from the Canon of the Mass. | “Una Cum” — includes false popes in the Canon (e.g. SSPX), contradicting the rejection of their authority. |
| Should True Catholics Assist? | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
Sedevacantism and Sedeprivationism are fully Catholic and upholds the correct view of the Church and papacy. However, they differ in their perspectives on how the current crisis should be rectified.
Sedevacantists believe that a pope should be elected through an imperfect conclave or divine intervention.
Sedeprivationists believe that a Vatican II “pope” could become a true pope if he publicly renounces modernist errors and fully embraces traditional Catholicism.
Recognize-and-Resist (R&R) is self-contradictory, heretical, and not Catholic, as it violates multiple infallible Catholic dogmas and has no way to resolve the papal crisis.
Comparative Table 2:
Traditional Catholic Groups and Their Episcopal Lineages
| Should True Catholics Assist? | Group | Lineage from Pre-Vatican II Bishops | Bishops (Current & Deceased) | Position on Papacy | Validity of Sacraments | Use of 1958 Missal? | Rejection of Feeneyism | Cassiciacum Thesis? | Totalist Position? | Communion with Other Sedevacantists | Chapels / Seminaries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ✅ Highly Recommended | CMRI | Bp. Ngô Đình Thục (1897–1984) | Schuckardt, Musey, Pivarunas, Espina Leupold | Sedevacantist | Valid | Yes | Some Yes, Some No | No | Some Yes, Some No | Yes | Omaha, U.S., Worldwide |
| ✅ Highly Recommended | RCI (Bp. Sanborn) | Bp. Robert McKenna (1927–2015) | Sanborn, Selway | Sedeprivationist | Valid | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Works with IMBC; avoids CMRI & SSPV | Florida, U.S., UK, Australia |
| ✅ Highly Recommended | IMBC (Bp. Stuyver) | Bp. Michel-Louis Guérard des Lauriers | Stuyver | Sedeprivationist | Valid | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Works with RCI; avoids CMRI & SSPV | Italy, South America |
| ✅ Highly Recommended | SSPV | Bp. Alfredo Méndez-Gonzalez (1907–1995) | Kelley, Santay, Carroll | Sedevacantist | Valid | Yes | Yes | No | Some Yes, Some No | Rarely cooperates with others | U.S. Chapels |
| ❌ Not Recommended | SSPX | Abp. Marcel Lefebvre (1905–1991) | Fellay, de Galarreta, Tissier de Mallerais, Williamson | Recognize & Resist | Valid but Illicit | 1962 Missal | Yes | No | No | Rejects sedevacantists | Worldwide |
| ❌ Not Recommended | FSSP, ICKSP, IBP | Various Vatican II Bishops | No bishops (priests ordained by Novus Ordo bishops) | Recognize False Pope | Valid but Illicit | 1962 Missal | Yes | No | No | Rejects sedevacantists | Worldwide |
| ❌ Not Recommended | Vatican II Diocesan TLMs | Various Vatican II Bishops | Bishops and priests consecrated in Novus Ordo rites | Recognize False Pope | New Rite of Ordination | 1962 Missal | Yes | No | No | Rejects sedevacantists | Worldwide (Diocesan Parishes) |
✅ Highly Recommended
CMRI, RCI, IMBC, SSPV
Fully sedevacantist, valid sacraments, pre-1968 episcopal lineage.
❌ Not Recommended
SSPX, FSSP, ICKSP, IBP, Vatican II Latin Masses
Compromised doctrine, invalid or doubtful sacraments.
⚠️ Warning
⚠️ Beware of groups that recognize false popes or operate under modernist dioceses — even if the Mass appears traditional. Validity and orthodoxy are not guaranteed.
⚠️ While various groups may have had valid ordinations in the past, most priests and bishops ordained under the 1968 Novus Ordo Episcopal Consecration Rite are invalid due to defects in form and intention.
⚠️ Sedevacantists (true Catholics) must ensure that any Mass they attend is offered by a priest ordained by a validly consecrated bishop from before 1968 or by a sedevacantist bishop consecrated in the traditional pre-Vatican II rite.
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