Here are points on principles and not on individuals that make the SSPX different:

- The other groups have official standing with the (Modernist) authorities in Rome, the SSPX does not because it chooses to resist Modernism and Vatican II.

- Only the SSPX has a coherent response to the crisis in the Church and stands by its principles of maintaining authentic Catholic tradition.

- The highest authority is from God. When there is a contradiction of God's commands, by human authority, then the SSPX has the obligation to resist that human authority. The highest law is the salvation of souls.

- The SSPX's conception of the Catholic faith is that it is unchanging and unchangeable. Not the conception of the Catholic faith as changing continuously in response to mankind's response.

- The SSPX does not support the hermeneutic of continuity - that the past and the present really are the same. They are not. The Church is in crisis since Vatican II. The other traditional groups have to turn a blind eye to the crisis, so they can still have their TLM.

- The SSPX lead the way in defense of Catholic Tradition and still does today. - Archbishop Lefebvre with Bishop de Castro Mayer, consecrated four bishops to continue the formation of traditional priests of the SSPX. Archbishop Lefebvre and Bishop de Castro Mayer and the four new bishops were excommunicated, charged with schism by Pope John Paul II. This charge was later lifted by Pope Benedict XVI. At that time Archbishop Lefebvre and the local bishop had already passed away. The Modernists wanted to stop the formation of traditional priests; they couldn't stop the consecration and punished him for it. We should note St. Joan of Arc was excommunicated and executed but was later declared a saint by the Church.

- The Modernists wanted to stop the SSPX, so they set up other traditional groups (but these groups had to support Vatican II) to stop Catholics from going to the SSPX wanting authentic Catholic tradition.

- The SSPX insists the New Mass is not good (dangerous to the faith), the faithful should not attend the Novus Ordo Mass, while the other traditional groups see the new Mass as equally good.

- The SSPX will not offer the New Mass whereas the other groups can and do (concelebration).

- The SSPX recognizes the fight for Catholic Tradition, whereas the other groups like having their tradition (the pretty Mass in nice churches and the trappings of tradition), without having to fight for it. Without someone fighting for tradition, there would be no TLM.

- The SSPX recognizes the crisis of Modernism as an offense to God.

- The fundament principles of the Catholic tradition of the SSPX are not the same with the other main groups. On appearance, the groups look the same, but the SSPX does not have any attachment with Vatican II. Union with these groups is not possible without fighting for the same principles (Not in the same fight).

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The SSPX is in disobedience to the Modernist hierarchy because it is the cost of doing the right thing. They are fighting to maintain Catholic tradition and defend the Church against Modernism. The reality is, the Modernists hate tradition, and they would crush it completely if everyone is in complete obedience to them. The only reason preventing the destruction of Catholic tradition is the disobedience of the SSPX. While these Traditional groups' intentions may be good, what of principle and the greater good in the fight for the existence of Catholic Tradition. The alternative is to simply wish to have the TLM and do some good, while someone else takes the burden of disobedience for the greater good.

If the SSPX did not exist, someone else would have to take up this position of disobedience - be the cornerstone of Catholic Tradition. The reality is these other groups do not need to, for now... We all love our Catholic Tradition and the TLM, it is a sacrifice of necessary disobedience for the love of the authentic Church.

The SSPX does have allies with some traditional groups because they have the same fundamental principles in defense of Catholic tradition. It does not really help if some traditional groups let fundamental principles fall by the wayside.

Imagine a Catholic seeking answer about which Mass he should attend from a priest in one of the other traditional groups that do NOT have the same fundamental principles as the SSPX. The priest (in his given mandate) replies: "both are equally good" and so that Catholic decides to remain with the Novus Ordo Mass because he lives nearby. How sad would this be, because he was not told about the error of Modernism? An SSPX priest (in his given mandate) would reply: "The Novus Ordo Mass is dangerous to the faith, attend the Traditional Latin Mass." Principles matter.

Thank God for Archbishop Lefebvre and the SSPX.