If this thread is really soliciting opinions whether or not Traditional Catholicism is “an impediment,” and is not just another excuse to lambaste those who love the OF and wholeheartedly embrace ALL the changes since VII, I’m happy to offer my opinion.
(Frankly, I see MUCH more criticism from this Forum about the OF folk than the other way around – and this is said from the perspective of a relatively new visitor who did not come here with any agenda or preconceived notions.)
I don’t see the TC group as any impediment at all – the Church is certainly big enough and catholic (little “c”) enough to welcome everyone in communion with it.
I was an adult at the time of VII and had been fully formed in the traditional church. I loved the ritual, the Latin, the history, the discipline and everything else about it. I was also fortunate enough to have lived in a diocese that had a whole new litter of young priests during the period of changes post VII. The Bishop and they took the time to teach and explain the changes as they were made, they involved the laity early on to assist with liturgies and new music, they were patient (SO patient) with adults who resisted any change at all and these changes in particular, and, for the most part, the transition was successful.
I realize this scenario does not represent all dioceses in America, which I blame for much of the discontent I’ve witnessed on this Forum. There was apparently little training, little explanation and a whole lot of resentment - and rightful resentment. Something precious was removed and not replaced with anything you value and which causes distress.
But that transition was made almost 40 years ago and many millions of us across the world have come to love the Mass in the vernacular, the familiar and very theologically correct music at most masses, and the greater participation allowed by laity.
I’ve also loved the change in emphasis from the church of my childhood where every other action was a sin, where we were more afraid of going to hell than of living life, where rules were more important than anything else, and where “God’s love” were only words I knew from the catechism, not from any inner realization or experience. Even though I truly loved the church before VII, I didn’t come to truly know God’s love until after VII. I was given permission to exercise my own informed conscience, to live my religious life as an adult – as I did all other aspects of my life.
I have NO desire to return to what you call Traditional Catholicism – either in liturgy or in the minutiae of regulations, and blind conformity that I personally find so oppressive. That doesn’t mean I’m not a faithful Catholic. I do regret the conservative reigning in that has taken place the last 20 years, but all things in life ebb and flow, and I trust the action of the Spirit.
There’s certainly room in my world for those of you who treasure Traditional Catholicism. From what I’ve read on this Forum, however, I wonder if there’s much room in your world for faithful Catholics who have embraced the changes and would love to see the fruition of what was begun.
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