An accusation, one of many, is made by the papal accusers, those who accuse multiple Popes and multiple Ecumenical Councils of grave errors and grave failings of faith (contrary to dogma). The claim is that Pope Francis or Vatican II is denying or suppressing the Kingship of Christ. I’ve read this false accusation against the Church multiple times. It seems to be something that those who oppose Pope Francis and Vatican II treat as fact. But it seems clear to me that the opposite is true.

Those who oppose Pope Francis, accuse him of grave errors and failings of faith, and also accuse the Second Vatican Council similarly. They have extended their accusations over time to many other Popes, including Pope Saint John XXIII, Pope Saint Paul VI, Pope Saint John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, and many past Popes. They have extended their accusations against Vatican II to Vatican I, and even Lateran V (“it arises from the necessity of salvation that all the faithful of Christ are to be subject to the Roman Pontiff”). Some go so far as to accuse the Church of falling prey to one conspiracy or another, and to claim that the Church’s doctrine and discipline have been corrupted thoroughly by said conspiracies. The worst of these claims states that the conspiracy continued for the last 150-plus years (from the book “Infiltration”).

All these claims are contrary to dogma.

Dogma: the Church is indefectible. Therefore, no alleged conspiracy by the so-called “St. Gallen mafia” or the freemasons or anyone else whatsoever can possibly succeed in corrupting the doctrine or discipline of the Church for ANY length of time. It is not indefectibility to say that the Church is corrupted and ceases to be one or holy or catholic or apostolic, and later recovers Her true nature. All such claims contradict the constant ancient dogmatic teaching of the Church, based on the words of Christ in Mt 16:18-19, which I tire of having to constantly quote, and which every Catholic should memorize.

So whoever says otherwise is contradicting the words of Christ, the constant and infallible teaching of Christ’s Church and thereby DENYING His authority, that is to say, they are denying the Kingship of Christ not only over the world (which they often blame for such conspiracies) but they also deny His Kingship over His Church. The Church is the body of Christ, with Christ as Her Head. So She cannot become corrupted any more than Christ can be corrupted. Please do not believe any of these corrupt stories about the Church, the Second Vatican Council, the recent Popes, or anything else contrary to dogma.

Is not Christ in control of His own body, the Church? Is Christ not King over all? Then how can they claim that His Church would be corrupted so easily and so often? And what is the nature of this corruption? Every time the Church contradicts the distorted, false, and often heretical opinions of the conservative or traditionalist subculture, they claim the Church has gone astray. They have replaced Christ as King with a subculture which they themselves either worship or both worship and control. Certain Catholic media outlets, website, and personalities have great influence over the subculture, and they insist that whenever the Church differs from that subculture, in doctrine or discipline, She has gone astray. Well, that would only be true if the subculture were infallible, or were a god to be worshiped, or if the subculture were King instead of Christ. Such is not the case, but that is the way they speak and act.

These claims of conspiracies corrupting the doctrine and discipline of the Church are always based on lawful authority in the Church, authority from Christ the King and Lord, contradicting the subculture. And the complainants are often the ones who control that subculture. They benefit by power and money from fighting Church authority, and from trying to convince Catholics to follow their own ideas instead of the autoritative decisions of the Church on doctrine and discipline.

Dogma: each Roman Pontiff has the charism of truth and of never-failing faith. This has been taught by the ordinary universal Magisterium, by many Popes, Saints, Doctors, and by two Ecumenical Councils. It is an infallible teaching of the Church, and the constant teaching of the Church since Luke 22:32, which I also tire of quoting and wish all to memorize.

Therefore, no Roman Pontiff can ever teach grave error, nor fail gravely in faith. No Roman Pontiff can ever lead astray or go astray from the true faith, as that would be contrary to the charism of truth and of never-failing faith. No Roman Pontiff can ever teach or commit heresy. No Roman Pontiff can ever harm the Church gravely by a decision of doctrine or discipline. For all these things are contrary to truth and faith.

So all claims to the contrary, whether against Pope Francis or other Popes or against any Ecumenical Council approved by the Pope, are heretical and schismatic. What you think the Pope should say or do is not dogma. What you wish an Ecumenical Council would teach is not binding on anyone. Whoever rejects any Ecumenical Council or any Pope is a schismatic.

“Ultramontanism!!” they say. Read what the Church teaches on the Roman Pontiff. While the Pope is not always infallible, he is always free from grave error in decisions of doctrine and discipline. His authority is supreme. He is judged by no one but God. There is no appeal of his decisions. Subjection to the Roman Pontiff is from the necessity of salvation. If you call those teachings “ultramontanism” (and I don’t), then ultramontanism is dogma. For those teachings are dogma; they have been the constant teaching of the Church from ancient times, which is proof that a teaching is infallible under the ordinary universal Magisterium.

“Recognize and Resist!!” they say. Even an atheist recognizes that Pope Francis is the Roman Pontiff. And resisting the Pope is in itself a schismatic act. In the case of “Recognize and Resist”, it is public formal schism, and carries the penalty of automatic excommunication. One cannot Resist any Pope or approved Ecumenical Council and remain in Communion with the Church.

As for suggestions that Pope Francis is not the true Pope, the Church is indefectible and apostolic. So whenever the Apostolic College accepts a Pope as its head, they cannot be mistaken. Such acceptance makes the legitimacy of the Pope a dogmatic fact, otherwise the Church would cease to be one and apostolic, if the successors to the Apostles went astray following a false successor of Peter. So the acceptance of Pope Francis by the body of Bishops, and the same acceptance of all the Roman Pontiffs, confirms their legitimacy as successors of Peter and thereby confirms their charism of truth and of never-failing faith.

Whoever rejects or resists any Roman Pontiff or Ecumenical Council, whoever accuses any Pope or Ecumenical Council of failing gravely in faith or of erring gravely in doctrine or discipline, is denying the dogmas of the Church and is denying the authority and power of Christ over His own Church. If you believe that Christ is King and Lord, why do you fight against His Church?

[Acts]
{9:4} And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”
{9:5} And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he: “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goad.”

Who persecutes any Pope, any Ecumenical Council, or the Church Herself, persecutes Christ and denies His Kingship and Lordship. And then they have the gall to accuse the Pope, an Ecumenical Council, or the body of Bishops led by the Pope of denying the Kingship of Christ. Such behavior is entirely faithless. Maybe some of these persons have a little faith remaining in them. But their claims and behavior shows no trace of faith.

Ronald L. Conte Jr.