Fisheaters: A Questionable Forum and Website

[adstrinity]

No, I am just saying that there is no difference between I’m doing and what they did. To think otherwise falls into subjectivism.

I don’t know what the other persons did, but, what you are doing is wrong. And, again, why are you telling us, what do you want us to do about it?

 

[Tartini]

I agree with your views that we should do what we can to combat the forces of evil when we encounter them. I am certain that the fisheater forum members are just as upset as you (or any decent person) would be. It will be up to them to state their concern. One should never spurn another on in committing a scandal. This act would go against all that entails respect to another human being, no matter how in the wrong they are. One can be discreet and effective at the same time if one goes about it in a subtle way. St. Augustine was a master at this.

I see that you are new to this forum, as well as just getting started on your blogs to deposit Catholic truth. Keep a steady focus on what is truth and what is opinion and you will undoubtedly be well known for your writings. Avoid a Jonathan Edwards approach with a Matthew Hopkins attitude. The Church is big on understanding sin and why it occurs, and it would do well to post some blog articles in that arena for others to understand that you are not self-righteous in any way.

I encourage you to continue your evangelical mission, but bear in mind that one should practice a little consideration when doing so. This will keep you from seeming too “involved” and preserve you from the danger of pride or lack of humility. Consider that a scandal (which seems to be the label you have given it) is often the result of misinformation, and always place yourself in the other persons’ shoes. If you do this, your blogs will gain more readers, and you will be producing information instead of creating a scandal that could harm others. As a writer myself, I always take into consideration my audience, and keep the constant thought in mind that what I say may someday be held against me. I have made many errors in this respect, and I always make it a point to apologize if I have offended someone or their name. This will do more for your image than any exposing of evil.

Good writers also remind themselves that a lawsuit of defamation of character and slander is not something that is looked forward to. The truth is very personal to some individuals, and it would be easier at times to jump to the moon than to convince others you have the keys to it. A cardinal rule would be to “persuade” rather than to attempt to convince. Remember that words can do more damage than the worst weapon that man can create.

I will look forward to reading more of your work. Place more information in your personal profile on your blog. I urge you to start using your real name, as well. This practice will let your readers know who you are and any qualifications you may have in regards to what you are writing. Doctors of Divinity are much more apt to keep the reader interested than a layperson who is simply reiterating common information.

Dominus Vobiscum,
Jerald Franklin Archer

 

[StPiusV]

Are you new to the Internet or free speech?

Are you new to Catholic teaching on free speech and liberty? Liberty to a Catholic is one is rightfully supposed to be doing, the right to do right, not the right to do whatever. My faith comes before the US constitution. Error does not have rights.

Who are you asking to close the Fisheaters forum? This site, the Vatican, the CIA?

The owners, but I prefer that they repent or come clean.

This thread is in violation of site rules and a waste of everyone’s time. Go whine to Fisheaters.

I find it interesting that someone would chose the name Ockham. Go fall into nominalism.

 

[Guyonthestreet]

The owners, but I prefer that they repent or come clean

Have you ever sinned? Have you ever given someone information on the catholic faith while you were in a state of sin? What did Jesus say about judgeing and about casting the first stone?

From your blog:

but if you fail to do so,* by a certain time which I will soon make known**, I will be forced to unveil public information on this page about you both, including your real first names and your last names, and further details. I don’t want to make your lives difficult, I want the best for you and your souls; but if I must make it so, then I will. This public scandal cannot go on! *

I hope they have their lawyers crawling all over this as we speak. Publish up your real name and address so we can follow you around and sit in judgement of you.

 

[WhollyRoamin]

SPV, while you’re out looking up stuff in your catechism, check out the entry on calumny.

 

[BadKarma]

I believe that Fisheaters, particularly its forum is dangerous to the faith and can cause scandal. Many of those one that forum may not be who they claim to be. The owners are both questionable characters, please see the following link:

Let me guess… you were banned from FE? This sounds a lot like “sour grapes,” to me.

It will prevent others form being exposed to neo-Modernism, public scandal, and the advocacy of grave sins.

Where exactly are those things, there? Could you point them out for me?

 

[StPiusV]

Have you ever sinned? Have you ever given someone information on the catholic faith while you were in a state of sin? What did Jesus say about judgeing and about casting the first stone?

Have I ever sinned? Yes. Have I committed the sin which they have? No. If I were committing the same sin which they were, then I could say nothing. I cannot judge the final state of their soul at this point, but I can judge actions as well their temporal state. St Paul tells us to reprove and rebuke in II Timothy 4.

From your blog:

but if you fail to do so,* by a certain time which I will soon make known***, I will be forced to unveil public information on this page about you both, including your real first names and your last names, and further details. I don’t want to make your lives difficult, I want the best for you and your souls; but if I must make it so, then I will. This public scandal cannot go on!

I hope they have their lawyers crawling all over this as we speak. Publish up your real name and address so we can follow you around and sit in judgement of you.

Yeah, I could just go ahead and spill out what that information without giving someone a chance, but you don’t see me doing that, now do you?

 

[StPiusV]

SPV, while you’re out looking up stuff in your catechism, check out the entry on calumny.

Sure as long as you read, Erik von Kuehnelt-Leddihn on Pollyanna Catholicism.

 

[JaredR]

I could only read so much of that blog. Why would you attempt to air the owners’ (alleged) dirty laundry? I won’t change my opinion of them based on hearsay.

“Get rid of all bitterness, all passion and anger, harsh words, slander, and malice of every kind” (Eph 4:31).

Make sure your tongue doesn’t sin.

 

[pnewton]

Let me guess… you were banned from FE? This sounds a lot like “sour grapes,” to me.

I figured that out rather quickly.

What bothers me most is the sectarian nature of this thread with terms like “conversion to Traditional Catholicism” and “Pollyana Catholicism”. I will stick to Catholicism, sans modifiers, thank you. I have never used Fisheaters personally, although I have visited there. No one, however, should be subject to such an uncharitable, immature character assasination as has been attempted here.

 

[corsair]

Where ever you have an “opinion forum” you have whackos. Even on this forum.

 

[thereseozi]

Catholic Culture* has rated Fish Eaters as “Danger” in the category of Fidelity.

Read about it here: catholicculture.org/culture/reviews/view.cfm?recnum=1915&repos=2&subrepos=0&searchid=503644

(*The CatholicCulture.org website exists to provide Internet users with reliable Catholic editorial oversight, commentary, and direction. CatholicCulture.org is one of the first, largest, and most well-known faithful Catholic websites on the Internet.)

 

[JReducation]

I have never visited the Fish Eater site. Maybe I will, one of these days. But for the purpose of the conversation, I would just like to remind everyone that Catholic Answers posters do not enjoy a pristine reputation among many people.

Many are often considered to be fascists, raving liberals, uncharitable, slanderous, heretical, intolerant, too tolerant, manipulative, anachronistic, disobedient, patriotic over Catholic, rude and many other non virtues. Aside from this, it has been made quite clear by the Catholic Answers administration itself that CA is not Catholic. It is run by Catholics, but it remains a private non-profit corporation. Canon :Law does not acknowledge the existence of such corporations, because it’s not a universal reality in the Church. It limit’s the authority of the Church over anything that wants to call itself Catholic with the potential of doing good or harm.

To put down another site because of their issues is not very healthy or honest. CAF is not the most Catholic site in the world either. The way that CAF tolerates the abuse of clerics and religious on these threads is incredible. I have seen posters refer to bishops and popes as heretics, without the authority to do so. I have also seen people on these threads turn a discussion into a shouting match and name calling combustion, because people disagree. Finally, I have seen a greater interest in those forums that generate more controversy than those that generate a deeper mystical life, as do the spirituality sub-threads. I often feel that more people come here to vent than to grow in the mystical journey of the great doctors and saints of the Church.

That being said, others looking at CAF can say some very negative things about it as well. The facts are always facts. If there is a way to pray a rosary, what difference does it make where you learn how to pray it and so forth?

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[thereseozi]

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=368559

Michelle Arnold
Catholic Answers Apologist

Re: How do you handle disparaging comments on a Catholic site?

Etiquette expert Judith Martin (aka “Miss Manners”) once compared surfing on the Internet to taking a cruise. You’re thrown together with people you’ve never met before and likely will never meet again once the cruise is over. Unfortunately some people take advantage of the relative anonymity such situations offer to behave obnoxiously, to such an extent that they would never dream of doing so in their “real lives” where obnoxious behavior has immediate negative consequences, such as social ostracism.

It may help to keep in mind that those who behave obnoxiously on an Internet site, even a Catholic site, are simply reveling in their anonymity and are not indicative of Catholics in general or the Catholic Church. It might also help to avoid becoming “invested” in any particular argument. Toss your two cents into the hat and leave it at that. Assuming you don’t get sucked into arguing (i.e., you’re able to shrug and say to yourself, “They’re welcome to their opinion”), you can certainly continue reading argument threads for the entertainment value, but should avoid them if you find they are damaging to your spiritual peace.

 

[I_Believe]

These are not the bad parts, it is the forum that is the problem and characters that are running it.

Axe to grind ?

SM ?

 

[Jacafamala]

This thread ought to be locked.

I just sent a report to the moderators saying as much.

 

[mgrobertson79]

This thread is a serious calumny and should be removed, not just locked. It is a shame everyone on this forum goes on about charity and these sorts of things are allowed anyways.

 

[super64]

I would say that the some of the information on fisheaters is suspect. In the past I’ve used this site and even recommended it to others, until I came across something that troubled me. This past June our local parish list fisheaters as a “good” referrence for the Consecration to Mary. While good information is found there, there are some misleading stuff too. What follows is my email response to our priest letting him know what else is included in that website. All I can say is be cautious.

July 4, 2009

Fr. XXXXXX,

In last weeks bulletin,

A certain web site was included as a resource pertaining to MARIAN CONSECRATION. While this web site does contain “good” information that every Catholic should know and is a web site, I myself have used in the past, I would be very cautious in listing it to others as a resource. I thought you should know that this web site contains negative attitudes and opinions towards to the Catholic Church post Vatican II Counsel and specifically Pope John Paul II. Further more, the web site contains Pope Pius X society information. An example of this can be found starting from the home page under:

1.    “Being Catholic”

a. “Other Things You Need to Know”
i. “Lists Every Catholic Should be Familiar With”

1.    The 15 Mysteries of the Holy Rosary & When They are Prayed

It is under this last heading that the following is written and the links they refer to:

Note: 
In October 2002, His Holiness, Pope John Paul II, recommended adding 5 more Mysteries to the Rosary to be prayed on Thursdays -- the "Luminous Mysteries" which focus on Jesus' public life. These Mysteries are: 
The Baptism in the Jordan
The Marriage Feast at Cana
The Proclamation of the Kingdom
The Transfiguration
The Institution of the Eucharist

This novelty does not change the true Rosary and is merely presented as an option for Christians. This option, however, is one that totally disrupts the relationship between the Rosary and the Breviary’s Psalms. Stick with the classic tried-and-true Rosary. To read why adding Mysteries to the Rosary was a most horrible idea, see this page, and to read a critique of Pope John Paul II’s Encyclical on the matter, see this page (both pages offsite, will open in new browser window)

seattlecatholic.com/article_20021108_The_Twenty_Mysteries_of_the_Rosary.html

sspxasia.com/Newsletters/2002/Oct-Dec/Naturalism_and_the_Rosary.htm

As you can imagine these web sites contain information that could mislead faithful Catholics and cause scandal leading to people falling away from the truth of Christ Jesus proclaimed by the Holy Catholic Church. I found out the hard way years ago when I recommended this web site to another parishioner. I felt terrible, when I discovered later, that it contained untrustworthy material.

There are other examples and references included on the web site. It’s difficult to know what is right and wrong because the site lists good information that can be used. However, without some kind of disclaimer all the information presented could be seen as trustworthy. Personally, I’ve removed it from my list of resources and I’m much more careful in passing along web sites until I’ve reviewed them thoroughly.

I hope this will help others here at this parish. May God continue to bless us.

Sincerely,
Scott
JMJ

 

[Spirithound]

I have seen several times on this forum that our “Ask An” Apologists have suggested to people currently living chastely with someone to whom they are married civilly that they could receive Holy Communion, but in a parish where they are not well known in order to avoid causing scandal.

This tells me that a scandal starts with a grave sin being committed (in the case above, adultery), which is or becomes known to people, but that the scandal does not necessarily cease with the cessation of sinful activity. In order to stop a scandal, a person needs to inform those who were scandalized that they are no longer in sin. In the example I gave above, a civilly-married couple may post the banns in their parish bulletin to tell everyone that they will be sacramentally married soon. In the case that SPV has pointed out, if these two people have told others that they are living in sin, then they need to tell those same people (as best they can in a potentially high-turnover virtual world ) when the situation is regularized.

That being said, I don’t see blackmail as a valid option. If these two people are sinning and causing scandal, in Christian fraternity, you need to first talk to them alone, as the Scripture tells us, then with a couple witnesses, then with the Church as witness, and it needs to be separate from whatever else their online actions are. If you find their forum to be scandalous, you need to address that in the same way, excluding discussion of their adultery.

Blessings

 

[Seminarian_Matt]

I believe that Fisheaters, particularly its forum is dangerous to the faith and can cause scandal. Many of those one that forum may not be who they claim to be. The owners are both questionable characters, please see the following link:

fisheatersscandal.blogspot.com/

God Bless.

And I think your blog is dangerous to the faith.