We Visited the Biggest Catholic Cult in America: The SSPX in St Mary's, Kansas (With Atheist Church Audit @Heliocentric and Mormons @AllThoseInFavor)

I took an atheist and a Mormon on a road trip to St. Mary’s, Kansas to experience the SSPX firsthand.

We attended a traditional Latin Mass, toured the massive Immaculata, talked with members of the community, and tried to understand what draws people to this intensely traditional form of Catholicism. Coming from three very different religious backgrounds (ex-traditional Catholic / current atheist, former Pentecostal / current atheist, and practicing Latter-day Saint), we each walked away with very different reactions.

We talk about the beauty (and boredom) of the Latin Mass, Catholic tradition, relics, hell, Vatican II, the SSPX’s conflict with Rome, how outsiders are treated, and whether this community actually succeeds at its stated mission of saving souls.

00:00 Heliocentric & All Those In Favor
01:41 What Is the SSPX
03:24 Expectations Going In
05:03 Road Trip to St Marys
06:43 First Sight of the Church
08:22 Drone Shots and Suspicious Locals
10:12 Medieval Dinner and Hotel
11:34 Mass Morning and Naming the Building
13:35 Inside the Immaculata First Impressions
16:48 Silence Sunlight and Getting Shushed
18:41 Latin Mass Reactions
22:11 Relics and Ranking Spirituality
30:27 SSPX Identity and Excommunication Denial
33:28 Latin Mass Confusion
34:10 Sermon Advice: Read Books
39:24 Hellfire Afterlife
41:21 Communion Rail Awkwardness
45:59 Tour Guides And Lunch
52:55 Trad Culture And Politics
54:27 Human Stories And Mary
59:17 Seeker Friendly Critique
01:05:08 Final Takeaways Next Steps

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