Applying the Sedevacantism Kill Chain

JMJ

Theoretical Models are pretty when written down in a research paper. Their real worth is whether or not they function in the real world.

As it turns out Pope Francis has providentially provided an opportunity to apply the model to a fresh real-life example.

So what did Pope Francis say?

Abortion is not the lesser of two evils. It is a crime. It is to throw someone out in order to save another. That’s what the Mafia does. It is a crime, an absolute evil. On the ‘lesser evil,’ avoiding pregnancy, we are speaking in terms of the conflict between the fifth and sixth commandment. Paul VI, a great man, in a difficult situation in Africa, permitted nuns to use contraceptives in cases of rape. ... On the other hand, avoiding pregnancy is not an absolute evil. In certain cases, as in this one, such as the one I mentioned of Blessed Paul VI, it was clear. I would also urge doctors to do their utmost to find vaccines against these two mosquitoes that carry this disease. This needs to be worked on. (Source)

And what do we have from 1997:

The Church has always taught the intrinsic evil of contraception, that is, of every marital act intentionally rendered unfruitful. This teaching is to be held as definitive and irreformable. Contraception is gravely opposed to marital chastity, it is contrary to the good of the transmission of life (the procreative aspect of matrimony), and to the reciprocal self-giving of the spouses (the unitive aspect of matrimony); it harms true love and denies the sovereign role of God in the transmission of human life" (Vademecum for Confessors, 2:4, Feb. 12, 1997).(Source)

I could go on with Humani Vitae and its footnotes - but that isn't really necessary. Suffice to grant from this point that 'every marital act intentionally rendered unfruitful' is intrinsically evil, mortally sinful and that this is 'definitive and irreformable'.

Let's apply this to the kill chain.

Baptism

At this point, I believe it is safe to assume that Pope Francis was baptized as this is one of the documents that needs to be produced for entry into the seminary.

External Denial or Doubt of Catholic Doctrine

Obviously, what the Pope said publicly contradicts Church Doctrine.

Doctrine In Question is a Catholic Dogma

Here we face the first serious difficulty, is the doctrine that the Pope contradicted at the De Fide doctrinal level?

This is a critical link in the chain, if this be broken, the argument stops at this point.

A little research, I found a short and good article on the levels of Doctrine on EWTN's website. The following line is of particular interest:

SENTENTIA COMMUNIA (common teaching) like the Church's prohibition & proscription of artificial contraception.

So the link is broken and any further argument is baseless.

Conclusion

While definitely against common teaching and worthy of condemnation, the Pope's words do not constitute heresy. The reason being that the teaching of contradiction is not a De Fide teaching of the Church.

No De Fide, no heresy is possible.

Lord Protect us from rash judges!

P^3

For further reading:
The SSPX's first response was to simply place the Pope's words in the context of the Teaching of the Church. Their second response went somewhat deeper.

Further, Dr. Joseph Shaw has also written an excellent article on this topic which I have linked here.

Is it sinful to attend the Novus Ordo (New Mass) - Is it Sinful to Not Attend the Novus Ordo on Sunday?

+ JMJ A non-SSPX Catholic is upset over the SSPX statements on not attending the Novus Ordo Missae. Ladies and gentlemen, what the SSPX, or at least its website editor, is advocating is a mortal sin against the Third Commandment. Unless the priest deviates from the language of the Sacramentary, the consecration, and thus the rest of Mass is to be considered valid. No one may elect not to attend Mass simply because abuses are occurring therein. Might I suggest that such absenteeism is its own abuse? The Third Commandment binds under mortal sin. Father So-And-So from the SSPX has no authority whatsoever to excuse attendance at Mass, be that Mass ever so unpalatable. Source:Restore DC Catholicism Well, this is interesting. First why does the SSPX issue this statement? Because it is sinful to put your faith in danger by attending a protestant service. It is likewise dangerous to put your faith in danger by attending a protestantized mass (ie the Novus Ordo Missae

Regarding Post: Fr. Joseph Pfeiffer no longer ... now Bishop Joseph Pfeiffer (Can't see this being a problem...)

+ JMJ I've been watching the popularity of the post about Fr. Pfeiffer's attempted episcopal consecration and its continued top listing on the 'popular posts' list at the bottom of posts. After some thought, I decided that I don't want to be responsible for anyone joining Fr. Pfeiffer's 'group', however unlikely that would be at this time. So I have reverted the article to the draft state. If anyone wants it reinstated, I would ask that they comment on this post with a rationale for reinstatement. P^3

What the heck is a congregation of "Pontifical Right"

+ JMJ In a discussion with a friend the question occurred to me that I didn't actually know was is involved in being a religious order of 'pontifical right'. I had a vague notion that this meant they reported to Rome as opposed to the local diocese. I'm also aware that, according to the accounts I have heard, the Archbishop received 'praise' and the written direction to incardinate priests directly into the SSPX. This is interesting because it implies that the SSPX priests were no longer required to incardinate in the local diocese but in the SSPX. This is something that belongs to an order of 'pontifical right'. Anyway here's some definitions: Di diritto pontificio is the Italian term for “of pontifical right” . It is given to the ecclesiastical institutions (the religious and secular institutes, societies of apostolic life) either created by the Holy See or approved by it with the formal decree, known by its Latin name, Decretu

Auctorem Fidei

Can the SSPX be right about the Novus Ordo? Revision: Feb 11, 2013 On another web forum, I was engaged in a rather heated discussion about the documents of Vatican II.

Morning and Evening and other sundry Prayers

+ JMJ Along the theme of P^3 (Prayer, Penance, Patience), and for my own reference ... here is a collection of Morning and Evening prayers from the Ideal Daily Missal along with some additional prayers. In this crisis of the Church, I do not think it is possible to do too much prayer, penance and have patience. P^3

Tradicat

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