Machabees wrote:
Sedevacantists, in likeness though a different application, do not believe in the correct understanding of the Church's "Divine constitution" (like you had written above); so they believe in something else and eventually fall away. Like in many cases into different kinds and tenets of sedevacantism -like Gerry Mattitics...and others. The road is difficult and requires a strong Faith in God's Divine attributes of His Church -which cannot err- only men can."]
Machabess,
I disagree with this conclusion. The reason why sedevacantism is not united is due to the lack of unity that comes through the Pope and the bishops in union with him. When this breaks down, unity suffers. This is why Our Lord established the Church with the office of St. Peter, to unite the Church in Faith and charity. The Pope is the center of the unity of the Church, hence the axiom, "where Peter is, there is the Church."
It is inevitable that during a period of long term sedevacante, with a heretical anti-pope deceiving the flock of Christ, and no members of the hierarchy leading the remaining Catholics, that all order has broken down and will keep breaking down. It is a fact that heresy, error, and schisms are everywhere.
But, with respect, it is a fantasy to only look at the sedevacantists regarding the breakdown. There is a constant breakdown in unity among those who adhere to the anti-pope. Some adhere to the anti-pope more than others, and that leads to constant divisions. The Society of St. Pius X has suffered divisions and still does to this day.
This is natural and it is a living proof that the Papacy is essential to the Church. We are witnessing the necessity of this doctrine before our very eyes.
When you say, "only men can (err)," that is true, but, the Church cannot err on matters of Faith and moral. She cannot teach heresy to the universal Church as happened at Vatican II. She cannot give evil laws to the universal Church. She is spotless and Holy. Evil cannot come from the Catholic Church.
Regarding Gerry Matatics, does he actually disagree on any matter of Faith and morals? From what I see he only disagrees on the judgment of whether epikeia can be used in our present circuмstance regarding the justification of the traditional clergy, i.e. bishops without a mission from the Pope, and priests not sent by bishops with a mission.
While I disagree with him on this, he is not bound to the judgment on epikeia that we have formed. He should at least be consistent though, and explain how he can publicly teach and write on matters of Faith relying on the principle of epikeia himself. To my knowledge, he has never done this.