Biggest Myths About Traditional Catholics

[Lost_Wanderer]

I have a better idea…why don’t we just set them off to ‘mute’?
…Eh, sorry, sorry. Bad joke.

Not really, only it’s asking nothing short of a miracle. The loud ones always seem to have something to complain about ever since we bypassed the 1950s.

 

[Layman]

The more vocal and obnoxious are the ones who get noticed, and whose behavior is seen as pattern, and that pattern becomes stereotype.

Who are these people? At a street level and within parishes I think trads are largely invisible and unheard. How many N.O. attenders are even aware of any or what is troubling them?

Internet forums and blogs are a niche area compared to the wider Church.

 

[patrick457]

Not really, only it’s asking nothing short of a miracle. The loud ones always seem to have something to complain about ever since we bypassed the 1950s.

Well, a certain segment of mankind will always be complainers.

 

[pnewton]

Internet forums and blogs are a niche area compared to the wider Church.

This is an excellent point and one we need bear in mind.

 

[pnewton]

I have never noticed any reluctance among trads to disagree with each other. If this is what it took to stop stereotypes, there wouldn’t be any.

I have, but the same could be said of any group of* posters*. There is a reluctance to take sides with someone who has opposed you on one idea against someone who has supported you in the past. I am not saying that it doesn’t happen, just that I understand the reluctance. Yet, most of us at times do switch around, in accord with our honest opinions.

The problem with this thread about myths and stereotyping is that there is not clearly defined creature as a “Traditional Catholic”. For the purpose of this thread, the moderators have a working definition as one who attends a Tridentine Mass, but that is only a practical application. The majority of topics here depart from the Tridentine Mass in particular. Thus, a Traditional Catholic may be a slippery creature to nail down. Our recently departed Brotherhrolf was active in a parish that was Traditional in every way *except *the form of Mass, for example.

 

[patrick457]

I have, but the same could be said of any group of* posters*. There is a reluctance to take sides with someone who has opposed you on one idea against someone who has supported you in the past. I am not saying that it doesn’t happen, just that I understand the reluctance. Yet, most of us at times do switch around, in accord with our honest opinions.

The problem with this thread about myths and stereotyping is that there is not clearly defined creature as a “Traditional Catholic”. For the purpose of this thread, the moderators have a working definition as one who attends a Tridentine Mass, but that is only a practical application. The majority of topics here depart from the Tridentine Mass in particular. Thus, a Traditional Catholic may be a slippery creature to nail down. Our recently departed Brotherhrolf was active in a parish that was Traditional in every way *except *the form of Mass, for example.

Wait, what!? Brotherhrolf’s passed on?
Seems like it’s old news, but I’m…totally…devastated. Don’t know why, but I kind of want to weep. Sorry folks.

 

[Layman]

Crikey, I didn’t know that either. Requiescat In Pace.

 

[rapunzel77]

Here’s something for starters: That “some” you refer to also happen to be the loudest. May I suggest cutting down the volume of their nagging cries for the reverse of civilization?

I wish I could. We are trying. My husband and I . What would your suggestions be for us to cut down the volume? I would love to hear some .

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

I wish I could. We are trying. My husband and I . What would your suggestions be for us to cut down the volume? I would love to hear some .

Well aside from being an example, you could speak out more. Find more Trads like yourselves and make a cause to change that stereotype. It’s what I’ve been doing to debunk the popular stereotype of conservatives.

 

[rapunzel77]

Well aside from being an example, you could speak out more. Find more Trads like yourselves and make a cause to change that stereotype. It’s what I’ve been doing to debunk the popular stereotype of conservatives.

IRL, I have met only about 2-3 people who are similar to myself in regards to traditionalist matters. My husband and I frequently have our friends over at the house to watch MST3K movies or Monty Python, Quentin Tarantino, Pixar, etc. Our friend is a lot of fun and he defies the stereotype. It is more difficult on the internet to find them since the ones who reinforce the stereotypes seem to be the loudest. Its an uphill battle at times. We are part of the Church even though we have not been treated well at times. You are just as much my Catholic brother as some of these other traditionalists. I find it sad that we group ourselves into these “cliques” .

 

[Shin]

Any movies or TV that contain impure and immodest dress, or take the Lord’s name in vain, blasphemy, etc. are morally evil, and not to be watched.

It is also, a mortal sin to knowingly enter into a near occasion of mortal sin, so, if you knowingly watch a show that will be a near occasion of impurity, there you are – you have decided to commit the sin. It is the same thing as doing it directly.

And recommending these movies and TV, these things that contain all these evils to others – scandal… leading others into sin… like St. Jean Eudes says…

Give up the TV… give up the entertainment that is corrupt… you can live without it. A better, purer life.

I know it’s a big thing – but you can’t live well spiritually without it truly.

A good talk on television by the Dominican Sisters.

A good sermon on movies (the first one).

‘Get out of the filth of the horrible torrent of this world, the torrent of thorns that is whirling you into the abyss of eternal perdition. . . This torrent is the world, which resembles an impetuous torrent, full of garbage and evil odours, making a lot of noise but flowing swiftly passed, dragging the majority of men into the pit of perdition.’

St. Jean Eudes

 

[rapunzel77]

umm, excuse me Shin but what does that have to do with the thread? I am very particular about what I watch and I don’t believe I am committing a mortal sin by watching the movies that we watch. I have no problem with them.

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

Give up the TV… give up the entertainment that is corrupt… you can live without it. A better, purer life.

Aaaand here we have a find example of a stereotype enforcer.

Any movies or TV that contain impure and immodest dress, or take the Lord’s name in vain, blasphemy, etc. are morally evil, and not to be watched.

It is also, a mortal sin to knowingly enter into a near occasion of mortal sin, so, if you knowingly watch a show that will be a near occasion of impurity, there you are – you have decided to commit the sin. It is the same thing as doing it directly.

And recommending these movies and TV, these things that contain all these evils to others – scandal… leading others into sin… like St. Jean Eudes says…

Says you.

You =/= Church

 

[Shin]

umm, excuse me Shin but what does that have to do with the thread? I am very particular about what I watch and I don’t believe I am committing a mortal sin by watching the movies that we watch. I have no problem with them.

In fact we have a strong sense of humor and we end up enjoying many crazy things like having movie nights at our home where we either watch a good movie or we watch MST3K which means we get more than our share of BAD movies, many of them being made in the 40’s through the 60’s.

Well, I am contributing the reasons why even pre-1965 movies and TV are often bad, and that as a general rule it is the role of a Catholic, nevermind a traditional Catholic, to watch very little to no TV.

 

[rapunzel77]

Well, I am contributing the reasons why even pre-1965 movies and TV are often bad, and that as a general rule it is the role of a Catholic, nevermind a traditional Catholic, to watch very little to no TV.

I have a problem with this view. One, you claimed that it was mortal sin to watch most movies, etc. I don’t agree. There have been some very good movies that have come out in the past 20 years. Most of them I have listed on another thread. I don’t think it is healthy to retreat into a fortress and be a fly in amber. I think that is one of our major problems right now. We have retreated so much into our little fortresses that we are suspicious of everything. I don’t think it has to be this way. Yes, there needs to be discernment. Yes, there is some trashy stuff out there. However, that isn’t always the case. There are many good movies, literature, and good music that is being produced today. No, I am not talking about the cheesy, sappy movies that passes for “Catholic” entertainment either. There is a lot of good stuff out there. You just have to look for it.

I also have to take issue with your statement because it isn’t what the Church has said. Several popes have talked about the need to use the media and the beauty of film, etc. Pope Pius XII wrote about it. So did Pope John Paul II and Benedict XVI. The solution is not to hide ourselves. The solution is to seek out what is good and even produce good art on our own as well.

 

[Shin]

I have a problem with this view. One, you claimed that it was mortal sin to watch most movies, etc. I don’t agree. There have been some very good movies that have come out in the past 20 years. Most of them I have listed on another thread. I don’t think it is healthy to retreat into a fortress and be a fly in amber. I think that is one of our major problems right now. We have retreated so much into our little fortresses that we are suspicious of everything. I don’t think it has to be this way. Yes, there needs to be discernment. Yes, there is some trashy stuff out there. However, that isn’t always the case. There are many good movies, literature, and good music that is being produced today. No, I am not talking about the cheesy, sappy movies that passes for “Catholic” entertainment either. There is a lot of good stuff out there. You just have to look for it.

I also have to take issue with your statement because it isn’t what the Church has said. Several popes have talked about the need to use the media and the beauty of film, etc. Pope Pius XII wrote about it. So did Pope John Paul II and Benedict XVI. The solution is not to hide ourselves. The solution is to seek out what is good and even produce good art on our own as well.

I have no problem with creating good TV, media, books, etc. This is good to do! But as a general rule what is produced nowadays is NOT this, and so, to casually partake of it, is to casually expose yourself to a worldview that corrupts, and is very often a near occasion of sin. Whether the TV teaches you to dress immodestly, or be incited to impurity, and that this is entertainment… crude jokes, humor… Even many religious films have their moment where they flash some bare body parts. It’s not a safe world out there. And the passive state a person is in, when watching TV, makes that person accept the temptation that is viewed.

Well, there are other threads on TV, but I wanted to make the point. It’s not only traditional, it’s basic to avoid. I know that can be hard to get over… it’s a learning process. but let me encourage you… try to see yourself in Heaven enjoying a show with impurity and the Lord’s name taken in vain. Try to see yourself watching that before the tabernacle and saying, ‘I’m just enjoying the good bits, it’s OK to let this slide.’ I don’t think these things contribute to salvation, I think they detract from it.

 

[rapunzel77]

But as a general rule what is produced nowadays is NOT this, and so, to casually partake of it, is to casually expose yourself to a worldview that corrupts, and is very often a near occasion of sin.

I already said in my previous post that I am very aware of what to avoid. I am very particular about what I watch.

Whether the TV teaches you to dress immodestly, or be incited to impurity, and that this is entertainment… crude jokes, humor… Even many religious films have their moment where they flash some bare body parts. It’s not a safe world out there. And the passive state a person is in, when watching TV, makes that person accept the temptation that is viewed.

It depends upon the movie or show. If I was to take this criteria then I can’t read or watch a Shakespeare play or read the Canterbury Tales. Sure, its not a safe world out there. However, I think it does more harm when one stays in their little fortresses.

Well, there are other threads on TV, but I wanted to make the point. It’s not only traditional, it’s basic to avoid. I know that can be hard to get over… it’s a learning process. but let me encourage you… try to see yourself in Heaven enjoying a show with impurity and the Lord’s name taken in vain. Try to see yourself watching that before the tabernacle and saying, ‘I’m just enjoying the good bits, it’s OK to let this slide.’ I don’t think these things contribute to salvation, I think they detract from it.

I find this to be condescending. When I watch a movie, I look for content ie. the plot, characters, story, etc. Context is everything. Again, if I was to take this criteria then one can’t look at most works of art. That includes a ton of stuff in the Vatican since it has some nudes. Yes, we need to be discerning but that doesn’t mean that we just throw out everything. That isn’t traditionally been the Catholic view. We embrace what is good in the culture and promote that.

 

[Shin]

And plenty of Popes have covered up the ‘Vatican nudes’ contrasted to those that allowed them.

I don’t mean what I say to be condescending. I want people to try to consider whether this is a problem and give it up if it is.

You say you view MST3K - I’ll bet you’ve seen plenty that’s problematic in it. It’s worse for men I will add.

 

[rapunzel77]

And plenty of Popes have covered up the ‘Vatican nudes’ contrasted to those that allowed them.

Sure, there have been some that did that but for the most part they have been left as they are.

I don’t mean what I say to be condescending. I want people to try to consider whether this is a problem and give it up if it is.

Why do you automatically think that it must be a problem? You are making a judgment about me and others like me that I find problematic.

You say you view MST3K - I’ll bet you’ve seen plenty that’s problematic in it. It’s worse for men I will add.

Sure, some of the stuff is. However, the whole point of the show it to poke fun at it because the movies are so bad. That is the fun of it.

 

[Shin]

Sure, there have been some that did that but for the most part they have been left as they are.

Why do you automatically think that it must be a problem? You are making a judgment about me and others like me that I find problematic.

Sure, some of the stuff is. However, the whole point of the show it to poke fun at it because the movies are so bad. That is the fun of it.

I’m not assuming. Read the link, listen to the sermon. I’m basing what I say on fundamental moral guidelines.

A good talk on television by the Dominican Sisters.

A good sermon on movies (the first one).

It’s a simple equation. One doesn’t take the Lord’s name in vain. One isn’t pleased by it.

One doesn’t play recordings that do it either, not much difference than saying it yourself, if any.

One doesn’t, especially with men, sit them in front of people immodestly dressed. Especially when the TV cameras like to focus on this. Or see the ‘spice’ of a ‘forbidden romance’ as something acceptable.

I think if you take a look at the movies you find acceptable currently, and just use these two guidelines – no low cut dresses, or too high, no passionate kisses between the unmarried, and no ‘the Lord’s name taken in vain’, you’ll have a lot more to cull from your viewing collection than you think you do.

If you don’t good. I don’t want to derail so I’ve been trying to close this after making the point. Have I made it? I think I have.