I had the privilege of venerating the tomb of the first Pope and Apostle Saint Peter. During my visit, I noticed that Pius XII, the last Pope’s, tomb was directly across from Peter’s. No other Pope is across from Peter on any side (his is from the back). I don’t believe that is a coincidence; it is providential.
THE "SYNODAL CHURCH" IS A FALSE SECT, REGARDLESS OF WELL-MEANING CATHOLICS IN IT
THE WM REVIEW argues the Conciliar-Synodal Church (the Novus Ordo Church) isn't a "false sect" because it lacks a true society's unified end and is an "accidental aggregation" containing true Catholics.
This opinion is a grave error. It confuses a structure's nature with its members' subjective status.
Under scholastic ecclesiology, it IS a false sect:
1.
SECTS ARE DEFINED BY OBJECT AND AUTHORITY, NOT MEMBERSHIP ROASTER
Theologians and Canonists define a non-Catholic sect by objective notes, not subjective purity of membership.
A sect exists the moment you have a body of men with:
- A novel rule of faith (e.g. the Vatican II religion).
- A governance structure imposing and normalising this novel religion while repressing dissent.
This creates a distinct moral body directed toward a proper end, albeit an erroneous and evil one.
Labeling it an "accidental aggregation" misses the point.
Sheep inside a wolf-trap don't change the nature of the trap.
2.
MATERIAL HERETICS IN TRADITIONAL THEOLOGY AND LAW
Theologians have always conceded that validly baptised persons can exist inside non-Catholic sects (like the Eastern Orthodox Church or Anglican Church) as MATERIAL HERETICS.
If a soul intends to believe all God revealed but remains in invincible ignorance, they don't lose membership in the Church nor wull they face the eternal condemnation of Hell for infidelity. If they ate condemned, it will be for other sins for which they are truly guilty.
This is why the Church doesn't require abjuration from converts under the age of puberty.
Fr. Mackenzie clarifies this beautifully in his doctoral dissertation, "The Delict of Heresy." Excerpt attached.
The presence of well-meaning Catholics within the Novus Ordo Church does not sanitise the sect or change its nature as a juridically distinct non-Catholic sect.
The individuals don't make it a mere "accidental aggregation"; the sect simply fails to ruin them due to a lack of culpability.
3.
COLLAPSING ARTIFICIAL CATEGORIES
THE WM REVIEW splits members in the Novus Ordo Church into categories such as "Conditional Moderates" and "Indult Traditionalists."
These describe the exact same reality:
MATERIALLY: Physically/legally attached to a sect whose hierarchy is imposing a false religion.
FORMALLY: Intending to submit to the true Catholic Church.
This simply describes material heretics in a non-Catholic sect.
By trying to prove these individuals remain Catholic, the article shields the Novus Ordo Church from what it objectively is.
That there are true members of the Catholic Church who are externally members of a non-Catholic sect is not a new concept: these are material heretics is a non-Catholic sect, and their presence in the sect does not change the nature and status of the sect.
We must maintain the scholastic distinction: the body is a false sect, a non-Catholic sect; the well-meaning souls are absolved of heresy due to inculpable ignorance.
No new concept of "accidental aggregation" is needed for this non-Catholic sect, the Devil's most successful baby, which features a definite evil religion, a globally organised and recognised government, and a clear objective to suppress dissent.
God bless you.