There are Catholics who claim that the Novus Ordo Rites of the sacraments are at least doubtfully1 valid. Whether due to the matter, form, minister, and/or intention, they advise us to stay away. However, what these same Catholics don’t do is apply their reasoning to the man they accept as pope, Jorge Bergoglio. In this, they are being illogical. Let me explain.
In order for a man elected by the cardinals to be invested with the full powers given by Jesus Christ to the office of the papacy, he must be a valid bishop. The pope, by definition, is the Bishop of Rome. In the case of Jorge Bergoglio, he was consecrated a bishop in the Novus Ordo Rite. Therefore, for those Catholics who claim that the Novus Ordo Rites are at least doubtfully valid, they must hold Jorge Bergoglio as a doubtful pope. Here is the reasoning in syllogistic format:
Every true pope is a validly consecrated bishop.
But Jorge Bergoglio, elected by the cardinals in 2013, is doubtfully a validly consecrated bishop.
Therefore, Jorge Bergoglio is doubtfully a true pope.
The conclusion necessarily follows from the premises. However, many implicitly reason like this:
Every true pope is a validly consecrated bishop.
But Jorge Bergoglio, elected by the cardinals in 2013, is doubtfully a validly consecrated bishop.
Therefore, Jorge Bergoglio is certainly a true pope.
Do you see the logical error? The conclusion can never be more certain than the least certain premise. Nevertheless, this is how they reason! No. They cannot have their cake and eat it too. They must properly reason and then be honest and admit, “Jorge Bergoglio is a doubtful true pope.”2 They cannot even claim that it is their opinion that Jorge Bergoglio is a true pope.
What must they do, then? Well, if they sincerely believe that Jorge Bergoglio was validly elected, then they should demand that he be consecrated in the Traditional Rite. Until then, they should withhold their submission to him. Otherwise, they would not be certain that anything he does in the exercise of papal or episcopal power would be valid. However, the thing they must absolutely not do is speak and act like they are certain that he has papal jurisdiction over them and all other Catholics.
