Skip to main content

Skojec: Francis's Validity "is Infallibly Certain," but "Infallibility appears to be Tautological at Best... Superstition at Worst"

One Peter Five publisher Steve Skojec is giving me some good laughs.

Today, on Twitter, Skojec seriously wrote:

"[A] pope universally accepted upon his election is infallibly certain. A dogmatic fact."

"Francis was universally accepted. That's a dogmatic fact."

He is claiming that it is "dogmatic fact" that Francis's papal validity "is infallibly certain," but the funny thing is that he said on Twitter on September 3 that he believes the Vatican I infallible dogma of papal "infallibility appears to be tautological [meaningless circular reasoning or logical fallacy] at best and borders on superstition [a unfounded belief] at worst."

So, apparently, Skojec's "infallible certain" belief in the "dogmatic fact" of Francis's papal validity is meaningless circular reasoning or a logical fallacy "at best" or a unfounded belief "at worst."

Humor aside, the ironic thing is that when you really investigate Skojec's "universal acceptance" idea in it's totality it turns out to be based on unfounded beliefs and logical fallacy.

One quick example is the cornerstone theologian that Skojec relies on for the whole edifice of his idea: "universal acceptance" theologian John of St. Thomas.

He has to rely on him because he has no infallible dogma, Doctor of the Church teaching or even saint teaching to back up his idea.

But, even the non-saint and non-Doctor of the Church John of St. Thomas said "This man in particular LAWFULLY ELECTED and accepted by the Church is the supreme pontiff."

The central question to if a papacy is valid or invalid even according to the cornerstone of Skojec's entire idea says a UNLAWFULLY ELECTED pontiff even if "accepted" is a invalid pope or a antipope.

Pray an Our Father now for the restoration of the Church.

Comments

Debbie said…
Poor Steve. He's backed himself into a corner and has no way out....except to admit he just might be wrong. Pray for him.
Aqua said…
I agree with you, Debbie. It is the sort of thing that happens whenever personal pride and place enter in and we feel the need to defend them on their own merits. It is an enclosed space, personal ego, in which limits are possible; reaching “a corner” is possible.

If we stand with God, there is never a “corner”. Because God is Truth, and that stands at the center of all things. Crucify ego, self, and look only to God which means (in this case) being willing, calmly and charitably, to look at and consider all possibilities for the sake of God and fellow Catholics, but not for self. Never that.

So, I am personally aware of the possibility of being in the “ego room”. God provides a door, there, to escape. We must get out quickly, back to God in the center, if we ever find “the walls closing in”. No matter how far in to the ego room we might be, we can always escape.
Unknown said…
Thing is, Mr. Skojec has written some fairly plaintiff posts about the struggle establishing his blog was for the financial security of his wife & children. As it did finally achieve over a hundred grand/plus annually, seems fair to observe recognizing the invalidity of BXVI's abdication would likely have seriously threatened that security; so that, whatever the sincerity of his current view, there's clearly a vested interest in holding it. Not unlike numerous clerics who, in light of what was done to Fr. Treco for far less, also have a material interest, if perhaps not a wholly admirable one, in pretending a virtual Bathhouse Madam is in fact also a pope.
BrotherBeowulf said…
Ha! A Bathhouse Madam ‘Pope!’ That is pure poetry! Unknown you should not be!
Justina said…
We need Bones to do a parody video targeting Skojec, based on the song, "That's My Story, and I'm Stickin' To It!"
Justina said…
On a more serious note, there is something insidious about the truncated version of "universal acceptance" being peddled over at 1P5. Cut off, as this blog post correctly and vitally notes, from the concept of a valid election, "universal acceptance" can only mean ecclesial democracy of the crassest kind. What if, for example, a woman were to usurp the Petrine office next? If enough people decided to recognize her and the Skojecs of this world succeeded in silencing all criticism, would that make her the Pope?

Now Steve, were he here to defend himself, would probably point out that he would not attempt to silence the critics in such a case, but rather, would join them--which only goes to affirm that the concept of "universal acceptance" cannot be treated as unconditional. The individual in question, in fact, has to be eligible to assume the office in the first place, which may not pertain in the case of a certain heretical Jesuit, undispensed from his vows and conniving in violation of Canon and other law with a long-established group of lobbyists for his own election, at a conclave that should never have taken place in the absence of any authoritative determination that the See was actually vacant to begin with. (Just sayin'.) But back to the concept of "universal acceptance" itself.

The term "acceptance" is not without its cultural overtones. Like "choice" or "diversity" or "inclusion," it doesn't always mean what we think it means. Who, in fact, tends to say "acceptance," as a buzzword for the totality of their own worldview? Why, the "free and accepted" Masons, of course.

So Steve is treading on some seriously thin ice here. What John of St. Thomas meant by the term, and what Bergoglio's rabid defenders are trying to twist it into, may be two very different things. I would say that somebody ought to warn Mr. Skojec about this, except that many of us have done so already, getting ridiculed, maligned, banned and blocked for our pains.
Debbie said…
Nicely stated Justina. I do truly feel sorry for Steve. He's blocked me at 1P5 and FB and now today Twitter too. Prayers for him.
Aqua said…
Too bad about Twitter (although likely best to give that up completely).

I have followed your exchanges with him via Canon212 links. You have always been respectful, courteous. The contrast is obvious.

Manners really shine, especially in the midst of social media rudeness and anger. They greatly assist the point you (or anyone) are trying to make.

There was a time when Steve S was really good at that. He could roll with most anything, and his forums were similarly diverse and helpful. Now ... no more. Don’t even feel,the need to pile on any more. It’s more of a warning to me. Set the argument aside sometimes, and ensure courtesy, Charity, manners. And understand the spiritual, personal stress brothers and sisters are experiencing.

Being right is important. Being good is also just as important. Being merciful to the ignorant and suffering to help them along with oneself, also important. And being humble, in recognition nothing comes from us, but by Grace.

Popular posts from this blog

"I love Cardinal Burke, but I've run out of patience": A Vatican expert who has met Francis & wishes to remain anonymous gave The Catholic Monitor an impassioned statement for Cardinal Burke & the faithful bishops: End the Bergoglio Borgata

Catholic Conclave @cathconclave @Pontifex thanks journalists for practicing omertà. The mind boggles at the scale of the possible coverups that this has enabled. How does he think a use victims feel when hearing this statement Quote Damian Thompson @holysmoke · Jan 22 Incredible! Pope Francis lets the cat out of the bag, thanking Vatican correspondents for their "silence" and therefore helping him conceal the scandals of his pontificate. Take a bow, guys! 8:23 AM · Jan 22, 2024 · 345 Views The moral crisis and "doctrinal anarchy" as Vatican expert Edward Pentin and others have written about in the Church caused by Francis has reached the breaking point where all faithful Catholics must pray for and demand that Cardinal Raymond Burke and the faithful bishops issue the correction and investigate if Francis is a n invalidly elected anti-pope . That is the purpose of this post. A Vatican expert who has met Francis and wishes to remain anonymous gave The Catholic Monit

Intel Cryptanalyst-Mathematician on Biden Steal: "212Million Registered Voters & 66.2% Voting,140.344 M Voted...Trump got 74 M, that leaves only 66.344 M for Biden"

  William Binney Binney at the Congress on Privacy & Surveillance (2013) of the École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) Born William Edward Binney September 1943 (age 77) Pennsylvania , U.S. Education Pennsylvania State University (B.S., 1970) Occupation Cryptanalyst-mathematician Employer National Security Agency (NSA) Known for Cryptography , SIGINT analysis, whistleblowing Awards Meritorious Civilian Service Award Joe A. Callaway Award for Civic Courage (2012) [1] Sam Adams Award (2015) [2] Signature [ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Binney_(intelligence_official) ] Former intelligence official with the National Security Agency (NSA) and whistleblower , William Edward Binney, whose occupation is cryptanalyst-mathematician explained that Joe Biden's "win" was impossible because "Biden Claims 13 MILLION More Votes Than There Were Eligible Voters Who Voted in 2020 Election" according to Gateway Pundit. Binney revealed "With 212Mil

Fr. Chad Ripperger's Breastplate of St. Patrick (Modified) & Binding Prayer ("In the Name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and God, and by the power of the Most Holy Catholic Church of Jesus, I render all spirits impotent...")

    Deliverance Prayers II  The Minor Exorcisms and Deliverance Prayers compiled by Fr Chad Ripperger: Breastplate of St. Patrick (Modified) I bind (myself, or N.) today to a strong virtue, an invocation of the Trinity. I believe in a Threeness, with a confession of an Oneness in the Creator of the Universe. I bind (myself, or N.) today to the virtue of Christ’s birth with his baptism, to the virtue of his crucifixion with his burial, to the virtue of his resurrection with his ascension, to the virtue of his coming to the Judgment of Doom. I bind (myself, or N.) today to the virtue of ranks of Cherubim, in obedience of Angels, in service of Archangels, in hope of resurrection for reward, in prayers of Patriarchs, in preaching of Apostles, in faiths of confessors, in innocence of Holy Virgins, in deeds of righteous men. I bind (myself, or N.) today to the virtue of Heaven, in light of Sun, in brightness of Snow, in splendor of Fire, in speed of lightning, in