My reason for keeping the name of the forum is because we want to welcome the Traditionalist Catholic.
We expanded the description the Catholic traditions and customs, because the traditions are part of the life of the Traditionalist Catholic and the non Traditionalist as well.
In other words, what we don’t want to do is to exclude anyone who wants to discuss Catholic traditions and customs.
If we go too far to the Traditionalist side, it leaves out mainstream Catholics who may not be EF attendees, but are certain attached to many other rich traditions of the Church. We’ve had great threads on Dominican, Franciscan and Benedictine life, school of thought and contribution to the Church. This is part of Catholic tradition. Catholic tradition does not begin and end with the EF.
We have had some very good threads on the current situation of the SSPX, without the nastiness that one usually sees on some other sites. I have visited sites where posters used vulgarity in the defense of the traditional faith. We don’t want that kind of behavior here. If you’re going to defend something, use good theology, philosophy and keep everyone’s name out of it.
We want to expand the discussion to bring back the clergy. There was a time when we had several deacons, priests and religious brothers posting on TC Forum. They have left, because they were abused. There are many forms of abuse. Some people were dismissive toward them. Some people were outright hostile. Catholic tradition has always fostered reverent dealings with clergy and religious, even when one felt that the individual may be mistaken. Throughout history, we have always looked back with disdain at those who mistreated our clergy and our religious, even when they had a right to be angry. Suddenly, it has become fashionable.
Then we complain that the clergy and religious do not take an interest in our concerns. Why should they? These are busy people who don’t have time to argue a point three days in a row, unless the religious or clergyman has been assigned by his superiors to make this his apostolate. There are two for whom this is part of their ministry.
We want to open the forum to people who have Catholic traditions that are ethnic. There are many beautiful traditions and customs that come from from very old Catholic cultures such as France, Spain, Italy, Sicily, Malta, North Africa and other interesting places.
As moderator here I learned that the tabernacle was not always center stage. It’s an 800 year custom introduced by Franciscans. I had taken it for granted that it dated back 2,000 years. That’s less than half of the Church’s age.
When we open the door to traditions and customs we open the door to the wealth of our Catholic patrimony.For example, subjects like veiling and modesty have been beaten to death and no one has reached any conclusion. Subject such as this are best left to die off. No one is learning anything. The conversation repeats itself.
However, I will not tolerate abuse, condescension, dismissive attitudes, arrogance, vulgarity, sarcasm, personal attacks, griping, rants, or anything that I believe is not really about tradition.
Comparing the EF and OF is not what the Holy See wants to see us do. Therefore, we will not allow anything that is contrary to the mind of the Holy See. It is not traditionally Catholic to be antagonistic toward the Holy See, defiant of the Holy See, dismissive of the Holy See, offensive to the Holy See or belligerent toward the Holy See.
Nor is this forum a soap box for proselytism for any particular group or any particular side of tradition. It is a forum for scholarly and friendly dialogue where everyone should feel relaxed enough not to have to be looking over his or her shoulder.
I sincerely hope this helps. I’m trying to do the best I can to accommodate as many people as possible. Feel free to PM me with questions, ideas and concerns. If you post them, I may not see them.
