Sedeprivationism

Sedeprivationism is a theory within the Catholic Church that posits the popes since the Second Vatican Council are not fully valid due to their espousal of modernism. This theory is a variant of sedevacantism, which holds that the papal seat has been vacant since the death of Pope Pius XII in 1958.

History

The term "sedeprivationism" was coined by the French priest and theologian Michel-Louis Guérard des Lauriers in the 1970s. Des Lauriers was a former professor at the Pontifical Lateran University and a consultant to Pope Pius XII. He was also one of the co-authors of the Ottaviani Intervention, a critical analysis of the Novus Ordo Missae.

Theory

Sedeprivationists believe that the popes since the Second Vatican Council are materially, but not formally, popes. This means that while they have been validly elected and hold the position of pope, they lack the fullness of papal authority due to their adherence to modernist teachings, which are considered heretical by sedeprivationists.

This theory differs from sedevacantism, which holds that the popes since the Second Vatican Council are neither materially nor formally popes. Sedeprivationists argue that their position is more consistent with the dogma of papal infallibility, as it allows for the possibility of a future pope declaring the post-conciliar popes to have been heretics and thus not true popes.

Criticism

Sedeprivationism has been criticized by both mainstream Catholics and other traditionalist groups. Mainstream Catholics reject the idea that the post-conciliar popes are not true popes, while many traditionalists argue that sedeprivationism is a compromise position that fails to fully reject the legitimacy of the post-conciliar popes.

See also

• Sedevacantism
• Conclavism
• Traditionalist Catholic