8.42. Doesn’t the Vatican II Church still have the Four Marks of the true Church: One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic?
The Four Marks of the Church—One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic—are essential attributes of the Church of Christ, by which she can be distinguished from all false religions and schisms. These marks are indefectible, meaning they will always be present in the true Church, in every age, by divine guarantee (cf. Nicene Creed, Vatican I).
The Vatican II sect claims these marks, but it does not possess them. In fact, each mark has been visibly violated: unity is replaced by doctrinal chaos; holiness by liturgical irreverence and scandal; catholicity by ecumenical compromise; and apostolicity by the loss of valid succession and doctrine.
Below is a doctrinally grounded comparison between the true Catholic Church and the Vatican II Church, measured by the Four Marks.
| Mark | True Catholic Church | Vatican II Sect | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| One | One in faith, one in sacraments, one in governance under the Roman Pontiff | Doctrinal pluralism; conflicting teachings; bishops, theologians, and popes contradict one another | Unity of faith is gone; each bishop or parish can believe or preach something different. This is condemned by *Satis Cognitum* and Trent |
| Holy | Teaches holy doctrine, produces saints, offers holy liturgy, condemns sin | Promotes irreverent liturgy, moral laxity, clergy scandals, and worldly agendas | True holiness sanctifies the faithful; the Novus Ordo fosters irreverence, immodesty, and sin |
| Catholic | Universal in time, place, and doctrine; preaches the same truth to all peoples | Compromises doctrine to please different religions and cultures (e.g., Assisi prayer meetings, syncretism) | Ecumenism and inculturation undermine the universality of truth; “catholicity” becomes mere geographical spread |
| Apostolic | Unbroken line of succession from the Apostles in doctrine, orders, and mission | Breaks with apostolic doctrine (e.g. religious liberty, collegiality), and uses doubtful rites of ordination and consecration | Apostolicity is not just laying on of hands, but faithful transmission of doctrine. Vatican II broke from apostolic teaching |