Donald Sanborn

Donald Sanborn is an American bishop known for advocating sedeprivationism, the "Cassiciacum thesis" (see Sedevacantism). The thesis holds that the post-conciliar popes hold the papacy only "materially" and lack authority to teach and govern (Wikipedia; Wikipedia: Sedeprivationism).

Ordination and consecration. Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre ordained Sanborn a priest on 29 June 1975. On 19 June 2002, in Detroit, he was consecrated a bishop by Robert McKenna. McKenna had been consecrated by the thesis's author, Michel-Louis Guérard des Lauriers (Wikipedia). The consecration took place without a papal mandate.

Institutions. Sanborn founded Most Holy Trinity Seminary in 1995 and is its rector. He also leads the Roman Catholic Institute as superior general. In 2003 he told Florida planners that the seminary would not be affiliated with the local Catholic diocese or parishes (Tampa Bay Times). The seminary moved from Brooksville, Florida, to Reading, Pennsylvania, in fall 2022. In 2018 Sanborn consecrated Joseph Selway as a bishop (Wikipedia).

Church teaching on the point at issue. The Second Vatican Council teaches that the office entrusted to Peter is permanent and passes to his successors (LG 20), and that the Roman Pontiff is the perpetual and visible source and foundation of unity (LG 23) (Lumen Gentium).