Reason #46 why dogmatic sedevacantism is a terrible mistake.
Sedevacantism necessarily involves a judgment or series of judgments regarding concrete particular and contingent facts. Those who demand that only true catholics must become sedevacantists posits the notion that one accepts this opinion either on authority or that the simple faithful take up the texts of Vatican II, study them and come to the same conclusion. Furthmore, they demand that the simple faithful take these conclusions and apply them to persons.
Since no sedevacantist claims any real authority, the conclusion must be that they posit a moral duty to study the conciliar texts and come up with the same series of opinions. This position amounts to forcing simple faithful into the moral obligation of becoming theologians, or at very least, of trying to become theologians, in addition to forcing them to accept all of the other particular judgments that sedevacantists make regarding persons. But no catholic is under any such moral obligation and consequently to burden the faithful with such requirements is evil. No room is left for the simple faithful. For the study of the texts of Vatican II becomes a prerequisite for determining the where the Church is and what is necessary for salvation. This position is akin to sola scriptura and the protestant notion that everyone is morally obligated to read the bible and draw from it his own opinions that coincide with a peculiar sect.
To gather under the banner and unifying principle of an opinion that falls outside of the content of revelation is the sure sign of error and schism. The dogmatic sedevacantist essentially adds to the content of revelation. No room is left in the Church for the simple faithful.
Topic: Sedevacantism vs. the Catholic Faith (Read 17196 times)