Answering Objections: "Is Sedevacantism Too Difficult To Understand?" Defending Sedevacantism - Part 6
Refutation of the Video’s Objections
Summary
The video presents an objection to sedevacantism followed by a homily by Fr. Denis.
Objection to Sedevacantism:
The speaker dismisses sedevacantism, stating that he does not take it seriously and does not believe others should either.
His main reason is that the amount of research and mental effort required to determine that John XXIII was the first false pope is too overwhelming.
This objection is not based on theological or logical arguments but rather on personal convenience.
Homily by Fr. Denis:
Fr. Denis challenges the audience to study the teachings of the Catholic Church as found in sources like the Baltimore Catechism and compare them with the Vatican II Church.
He argues that there is a significant and objective difference between pre-Vatican II Catholicism and the post-Vatican II liturgy and sacraments.
He criticizes the reluctance of people to research these claims seriously, noting that many dismiss such concerns without investigation.
He emphasizes that if people were told 25 years ago that their local parish Mass was invalid, they would be shocked, whereas today people respond with apathy.
He highlights that the words of consecration have been altered in the new liturgy, which invalidates the Mass according to Pope St. Pius V.
He warns against relying on parish priests for validation, as they will not admit to offering an invalid Mass. Instead, he insists that individuals must investigate these claims for themselves.
He concludes that one cannot dismiss sedevacantist claims simply because they are uncomfortable or difficult to accept—truth must be determined by research, not emotions.
Key Quotes
Objection to Sedevacantism:
"I don’t have the time or energy to do all the research and mental gymnastics that are necessary to arrive at the conclusion that John XXIII was the first fake Pope."
"I don’t take it seriously, and I don’t think you should either."
Fr. Denis' Homily:
"I would challenge all of you… to take the time [to] review the teachings of Holy Mother Church… and compare them with what’s going on today in the Vatican II Church."
"If you do this and pray as you’re doing it, you’re going to be made aware of the fact that there is a definite difference."
"We’re saying literally that the Liturgy in your local parish is not a valid liturgy, and I can prove it by repeating the words of Pope Saint Pius V."
"The words of consecration were destroyed."
"Just because you don’t like what you hear… doesn’t mean it’s not true."
Analysis
The Weakness of the Objection to Sedevacantism:
The argument against sedevacantism is not based on doctrine, theology, or historical analysis but rather on laziness and a refusal to investigate.
The speaker admits he does not want to do the research, which undermines the credibility of his position.
The Catholic Faith is based on truth, not convenience, and dismissing a serious theological matter because it is too difficult to study is intellectually dishonest.
Truth requires effort; many saints and theologians have spent their lives studying doctrine. Would they have dismissed the Arian crisis because it was "too complicated"?
Fr. Denis’ Call for Investigation and Comparison:
Fr. Denis highlights the importance of studying traditional Catholic teachings and comparing them with the post-Vatican II changes.
This is exactly what sedevacantists argue: that the modern Vatican II religion is substantially different from Catholicism as it has always been taught.
The emphasis on the Baltimore Catechism is significant because basic catechisms before Vatican II clearly define Catholic doctrine, which conflicts with the Novus Ordo changes.
The Invalidity of the New Mass:
Fr. Denis rightly brings up Pope St. Pius V’s Quo Primum (1570), which codified the traditional Latin Mass and anathematized changes to the form of consecration.
If the words of consecration have been altered, as they have in the Novus Ordo Missae, this invalidates the Eucharist according to traditional Catholic theology.
The sedevacantist position holds that because Vatican II introduced a new theology of the Mass, a Protestantized liturgy, and a defective sacramental form, it cannot be the Catholic Church.
The Danger of Apathy and Blind Trust in Clergy:
Fr. Denis criticizes Catholics who blindly trust their parish priests instead of researching for themselves.
This is a common problem: people assume that because a priest says Mass, it must be valid. However, priests themselves may be misled or complicit in error.
Sedevacantism argues that because Vatican II introduced a new, non-Catholic religion, its clergy are no longer true Catholic priests.
The Necessity of Investigation and the Danger of Emotionalism:
The homily emphasizes that truth is objective and cannot be dismissed simply because it is uncomfortable.
Many reject sedevacantism not because they can refute it, but because they do not want to accept its implications (i.e., that they have been deceived).
This mirrors historical heresies where people refused to acknowledge the truth due to fear, convenience, or ignorance.
As St. Paul warns in 2 Thessalonians 2:10-11 (Douay-Rheims):
“And in all seduction of iniquity to them that perish; because they receive not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. Therefore God shall send them the operation of error, to believe lying.”The refusal to investigate sedevacantist claims is a refusal to love the truth—a grave spiritual danger.
Takeaways
Dismissing Sedevacantism out of Laziness is not a Valid Argument:
The rejection of sedevacantism based on "lack of time to research" is intellectually lazy and spiritually dangerous.
The Catholic Faith demands rigorous study of doctrine, not blind emotionalism.
The New Mass and Sacraments are Defective:
Fr. Denis emphasizes that Vatican II changed the sacraments, particularly the form of consecration in the Mass.
According to traditional Catholic theology, this renders the new sacraments invalid, supporting the sedevacantist claim that the Novus Ordo church is not Catholic.
Vatican II Created a New, False Religion:
By calling for a study of traditional doctrine, Fr. Denis implicitly supports the sedevacantist claim that Vatican II contradicts the historic Catholic Faith.
A Catholic must follow what the Church has always taught, not what a modernist hierarchy imposes.
Emotional Rejection of Truth is a Spiritual Danger:
People reject sedevacantism not because they refute it, but because they refuse to examine the evidence.
This is a fulfillment of 2 Thessalonians 2:10-11, where God allows those who reject truth to be deceived by error.
Conclusion
Fr. Denis’ homily aligns closely with sedevacantist arguments. He urges Catholics to study traditional doctrine, compare it with the post-Vatican II changes, and recognize the substantial differences. The objections to sedevacantism are shown to be weak, based on laziness rather than theology. The key message is clear: truth requires effort, and if one honestly investigates Vatican II, they will see that it contradicts true Catholicism.
