[BlackElk]

Dangus: If Hutton Gibson started out as a Roman Catholic (which he did) and became a sedevacantist and is not in communion with the pope and the Church, and if, as you say, he is in heresy, than perforce he has apostasized. No? What am I missing here?

[dangus]

The priests among the sedavacantists have apostolic succession. If the Orthodox Christians' communion is valid, and it is, then certainly the sedavacantists' communion is valid. Mr. Gibson, then, has received valid sacraments, and continues to do so. And he has not chosen to leave the church, but has sought to remain faithful to it. And while given priests have been excommunicated, I do not know of any excommunication of those who follow such priests, so even if excommunication equaled apostasy, and I don't believe it does, he would still not be apostatic.

And I affirm that I do not believe excommunication equals apostasy. I understand that the Jesuit order was excommunicated, yet among the excommunicated there were saints. Of course, this is because the Pope *was* wrong (in his temporal authority!). But of course, Mr. Gibson believes this Pope is wrong, too.