Why (Not) Sedevacantism? Answering Objections and Concerns

Highly informative, pleasantly non-polemical…

Why (Not) Sedevacantism?
Answering Objections and Concerns

On Aug. 8, 2025, Anthony Abbate of Avoiding Babylon published a 12-minute video on Twitter/X in which he shared some thoughts about why he does not think Sedevacantism is the right position to adopt in these incredibly difficult and confusing times.

Realizing that addressing Anthony’s points and answering his objections could not reasonably done on Twitter, yours truly decided to respond at sufficient length on an episode of the Catholic Family Podcast with Kevin Davis.

We played Anthony’s video in full, pausing it occasionally to react and provide commentary as needed. The result was an incredibly informative 90-minute conversation that avoided polemics and simply focused on the issues, charitably and thoughtfully.

So far, the overall feedback has been tremendously positive. It seems that people are hungry for charitable, insightful conversation that sheds light on the issues while acknowledging limitations. Anthony himself has responded positively, too.

Here is the complete response video, published on Aug. 16:

(direct link here)

The SHOW NOTES for this episode of Catholic Family Podcast are as follows:

• Anthony Abbate’s tweet with video (Aug. 8, 2025)
• Vatican Directory for the Application of Principles and Norms on Ecumenism (1993)
• Code of Canon Law, promulgated by ‘Pope’ John Paul II (1983)
• Pope Pius XII, Encyclical Mystici Corporis (1943)
• Pope Gregory XVI, Encyclical Mirari Vos (1832)
• Video: Sedevacantism Debate with SSPV Clergy and Indult Traditionalists (1990s)
• ‘Pope’ John Paul II, Encyclical Ecclesia de Eucharistia (2003)
• ‘Pope’ Francis, Apostolic Exhortation Amoris Laetitia (2016)
• ‘Pope’ Francis et al., Abu Dhabi Declaration ‘A Document on Human Fraternity’ (2019)
• The Novus Ordo Missae (‘New Mass’) of ‘Pope’ Paul VI (1969)
• The Canonization of ‘Pope’ Paul VI (2018)
• The Canonization of ‘Pope’ John Paul II (2014)
• Video: Partial Communion Ecclesiology of Vatican II
• Vatican II, Declaration Nostra Aetate (1965)
• The Invalidity of ‘Pope’ Paul VI’s New Rite of Episcopal Consecration (1968)
• ‘Pope’ John Paul II, Apostolic Constitution Fidei Depositum (1992)

Of great relevance to this discussion is also our latest podcast episode, TRADCAST EXPRESS 213, which discusses the Catholic teaching regarding the Great Apostasy, and can be found here:

(direct link here)

To access the SHOW NOTES or to download the podcast audio in mp3 format, please click here.

And now… please spread the word!