Dear Ann,
Long time reader here (a few years, at least). A friend and I read your blog and meme sites near-daily, and occasionally discuss your posts. Although it may come across as pointed, this email and question are coming more from a friend than a foe.
Back when Francis, Bergoglio if you will, was alive, you rightly and heavily criticized “Trad Inc.” for recognizing him as a true pope, yet resisting him – the Recognize & Resist movement. You frequently and heavily criticized the Trad Inc. R&R movement by saying their ideas were “destroying the papacy.” (Forgive me if I’m not quoting you perfectly, but I remember things like that being posted with some frequency.)
Now to the SSPX. I’m not the SSPX police. I’m not a raging SSPX hater. I was once very sympathetic to the SSPX. But I still struggle to see how the current SSPX position is much different than that of the Trad Inc-R&R movement that you so heavily criticized during the time of Francis.
The SSPX seems to me to be like R&R on steroids. How are they not also “destroying the papacy” in the same sense that you said Trad Inc. was destroying the papacy?
I realize that you are on record as condemning the SSPX notion that Francis & Leo are true popes. You’ve stated that multiple times, and fair enough. But even so, I’m still often confused by your frequent friendliness and sympathies with the SSPX in other posts and shared memes.
I take this from near the end of a recent article by akaCatholic Louie, dated 8/7/2026 and linked here:
https://akacatholic.com/pascendi-and-the-modernist-myth/
Pius X, in his syllabus condemning the errors of the modernists (Lamentabili Sane), condemns those who take lightly the condemnations of the Roman Congregations. A Catholic in good standing can’t say, “That man is the true pope,” and then laugh at and totally ignore his (or his congregation’s) condemnation and excommunication.
Feel free to share any thoughts you may have, whether you agree with my ramblings here or not – especially if not.
D
D-
You’re completely, totally right. I need to do better on this question. Thank you.
Ann
