http://strobertbellarmine.net/Archbishop_Lefebvre_and_the_Sedevacantist_Thesis.pdf

A quotation:

When we review the various texts in which Archbishop Lefebvre appeared not only to reject the sedevacantist solution himself, but to condemn it, we find that in each case he was reacting to the pressure of circuмstances, and almost in every case he was referring to concrete cases of sedevacantist individuals rather than to the theoretical question itself. Thus when he stated that sedevacantism is “schismatic” he clearly meant that the mentality of the specific sedevacantists he was then addressing or reacting to had a schismatic mentality – that is, they valued their opinions more than the unity of the faithful. And this interpretation is confirmed by consideration of the various statements made by Archbishop Lefebvre over the years – those presented above as well as of those which will follow below. If he really thought that the notion that Paul VI or John Paul II was not a true pope was essentially schismatic, then how could he possibly have honestly permitted many of his seminarians and priests to hold it, and a fortiori to consider adopting it himself?

Seraphim, Archbishop LeFebvre did not think that sedevacantists were schismatic, nor did he ever dismiss the possibility that the position could be true.

One must remember there has been a lot that happened since Archbishop Lefebvre passed away, during this crisis, it is important to note YOU are not to follow Archbishop Lefebvre;  follow Jesus Christ.  He is the head of His Church, always has been, the Pope is His Vicar on earth, but we still have a head and His name is Jesus Christ.  

Right Myrna, but it's also important to understand the plain meaning of Archbishop Lefebvre's words when considering the current trajectory of the SSPX.

Archbishop Lefebvre approved sedevacantists as seminarians if they held the position privately.  Now how could he do that if he believed the position was schismatic?

Seraphim, Archbishop LeFebvre did not think that sedevacantists were schismatic, nor did he ever dismiss the possibility that the position could be true.

Nor did he embrace it.

Quote from: bernadette

Quote from: SpiritusSanctus

Seraphim, Archbishop LeFebvre did not think that sedevacantists were schismatic, nor did he ever dismiss the possibility that the position could be true.

Neither did he embrace it.

True, but the bottom line is he never dismissed it. He said it was quite possible. Read what Tele posted.

Listen SS...I've been down that road.  I don't advise it....nor did ABL...

This isn't about whether or not one should become a sede, bernadette. Seraphim claimed that ABL thought sedes were schismatics, whereas ABL's quotes show quite the contrary. All I'm saying is he thought it was a POSSIBILITY. He never condemned the position. He disagreed with it, but thought of it as a possibility.

I understand what you are saying...but the reality is, that it doesn't matter what ABL thought...if he thought that sedes were not necessarily schismatic..that was his opinion, but the if the pope says sedes are schismatic, that is what they are....in other words, people will not listen to a deceased "renegade" archbishop, but they will sure as hell listen to what the pope says...it has come down to being a matter of trying to win a losing battle.

Quote

And so it is sure that now it is not as difficult to see as it was one or two years ago, it is more clear and evident that they are no longer truly Catholic. No persecution or revolution in all history has so destroyed the Church as these years since the Council, because today the Faith is being destroyed by men of the Church, by the Pope himself, by Cardinals, by bishops, priests and nuns. It is the wholesale, worldwide and radical destruction of the Faith. Yet it is a great grace for us to live in this time. From before the destruction, we were chosen by God to continue the Catholic Church. Even if we are condemned by Rome, even if we are persecuted by the bishops, that is not important. What is important is to stay Catholic, to keep the grace we received at baptism, to save our souls. Nobody can say we are heretics or schismatics for believing as the Popes, Saints and Church of old believed for twenty centuries.

And fifty years on...has it really changed?  No, to a traditionalist, it has worsened.  Does anyone in the church concern themselves with the small minority of traditional Catholics?  Not really.  This makes the fact that the pope is even speaking with the sspx seem incredible...if you went to a NO church on any given Sunday and asked any Catholic person if they were familiar with the sspx...you'd get a blank stare.  The problems in the church are HUGE in the eyes of traditionalists (and rightly so), but nothing in the eyes of the rest of the 1.2 billion Catholics, worldwide...but one thing those 1.2 billion Catholics do believe, is that the pope is the pope....do we wash our hands of them?  Or do we not?  Just keeping it in perspective.

Seraphim, Archbishop LeFebvre did not think that sedevacantists were schismatic, nor did he ever dismiss the possibility that the position could be true.

Half right.

Half wrong.

St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary sells his English sermon, in which he unambiguously says that sedevacantists are schismatics.

Sorry if you don't like to hear that.

There is nothing you or Tele can say that will change what he says in the sermon.

I suggest you buy it.