THE SEDEVACANTIST’S
IRRATIONAL RESPONSE
TO THE BOOK, TRUE OR FALSE POPE?
“True or False Pope?” by John Salza and Robert Siscoe has
not yet hit the shelves and the
Sedevacantists are already scrambling. Websites
have been set up, and at least three videos produced so far, in their attempt
to counter the book that none of them
have read. Why do we see such an
irrational response, which has no equal in
recent times, to this particular book? And why was almost nothing heard from these
same individuals when another book was published against the errors of
Sedevacantism only a few months ago?
In his personal diaries, Fr. Joseph
Clifford Fenton commented about a book that he intended to write after the
close of the Second Vatican Council (the diary entry was written during the
Council). He noted that he would have to word everything very carefully, since,
as he said, any important book is sure to
be publicly attacked. In light of
this, the irrational attacks on True Or
False Pope? are indeed an encouraging sign. These Sedevacantists know that
their position will now be under the microscope like never before.
Following several interviews with the
authors of the book, which quickly spread across the
internet, Fr. Anthony
Cekada, the Sedevacantist priest from northern Cincinnati, released a “damage
control” video in which he tried to convince his viewers that the only reason
anyone would not embrace Sedevacantism
is because of “fear,” since, as he claims, Sedevacantism is simply the logical
answer to the current crisis. Needless
to say, it is Fr. Cekada and those like him whose livelihood and reputations
are connected to the ongoing survival of Sedevacantism who have the real
“fear,” since they have the most to lose after the Sedevacantist ship has sunk.
Unfortunately, Fr. Cekada’s tactic did not work out as he had planned, as the comments
below his recent video reveal. After Fr. Cekada himself posted his new video on
a message forum, one commenter wrote:
“Father, I have not seen the video, but
please do not attribute feelings, thoughts, and reactions to non-sedes that we
do not hold. This is one of the worst
tendencies of sedes, and it's right in the title of your thread here, setting
up a false premise which then puts non-sedes in the uncharitable and unjust
position of having to defend feelings, thoughts, positions, and reactions they
do not have. … ‘Fear’ is most certainly not what keeps me from being an SV'er.”
Another commenter said:
“I am not afraid of Sedevacantism and
even sometimes I wish it could be true as an emergency exit but alas, it is
not, as it compromises major Catholic dogmatic certainties and it presents far
more problems than what it solves. In these unfortunate times we live in,
Sedevacantism can rapidly and easily become a temptation for imperfectly formed
Catholics, who in their despair, believe they have finally found the answer to
the utter ecclesiastical chaos and social oblivion unfolding daily under their
eyes. At first, Sedevacantism may seem as the most logical explanation to the
crisis, but only until you dig a little deeper using sound theological
foundations, and then encounter unsolvable dilemmas which are conflicting with
the Catholic Religion of All Ages.”
After watching Fr. Cekada’s entire
video, a third commenter wrote:
“Well, I suffered through the whole
video and find it another recruiting tool for those who are just waking up, who
in their ignorance and confusion do not know any better, but faithful Catholics
should have little trouble seeing right through the scandal. And trads who actually
spend time looking into ‘the pope problem’ soon find that sedevacantism is not
a teaching of the Church, rather, it is disastrous teaching only taught by
other sedevacantists who can trace their tradition all the way back to about 1967,
to its founder, Francis Schuckardt, the original sedevacantist. The video demonstrates what the Salza / Siscoe
book will be in for by Fr. ‘getting the jump’ on it before reading it's
contents, and before it even hits the shelves.”
Clearly, Fr. Cekada’s damage-control tactic
did not have the desired effect. It will
be interesting to see what other schemes he comes up with to discredit the book
he hasn’t yet read, and even more interesting to see what other novel theories
he creates to extricate himself after he actually reads the book.
The Rational Response
Clearly, setting up websites, producing
videos to attack a not-yet published book, sending the authors e-mails in all
caps telling them that “THE HERESIES IN THE BOOK WILL BE DEMOLISHED… WAIT ‘TILL
YOU SEE WHAT WE HAVE PLANNED,” etc., is an irrational response that itself is clearly
rooted in fear. Would not the rational, unfearful response be to read the book first, and then draw a conclusion? Can a
person truly be secure in their position if they have only seen one side? Since no Sedevacantist claims to be
infallible in his judgment, wouldn’t the
more prudent and Catholic course of
action be to read the counter arguments to their position – especially when the
salvation of their soul is at stake? The authors are confident that any
Sedevacantist who reads the book with an
open mind will abandon the position, yet, at the same time, they also recognize
that those whose lives are identified with the movement (e.g., Fr. Cekada) will
have the greatest obstacles to seeing the truth. Those individuals, such as Fr. Cekada, who
have spent decades publicly promoting Sedevacantism, while publicly mocking and
ridiculing non-Sedevacantists, will have the most difficult time admitting
their error to themselves and others. Such a public admission would take a
tremendous act of humility; and let’s face it, if there is one virtue that is
clearly lacking in Sedevacantist apologists, it the virtue of humility. But the
prudent, reasonable and scholarly approach is to always consider both sides of
a position before forming a judgment; or, after a judgment has been formed, to
possess the sincerity and humility to consider counter arguments and adjust
one’s position when necessary. Those Sedevacantists who have irrationally
attempted to rebut a book they have not yet read, reveal that they are not
being guided by reason and prudence, and hence will likely not be capable of
forming a correct judgment on the matter.
