The Remnant

[EcceAgnusDei]

First of all, how did this become about me?

With all due respect, Brother JR, you are held in high esteem here in CAF, so sometimes when you espouse opinions, those opinions become intertwined with the Faith and thus a discussion of them become inevitably about you and your opinions. You are obviously knowledgable and faithful and good-willed, but those who hold opinions contrary to yours should not be considered in any way less Catholic or faithful, unless those opinions can be objectively shown to be so. I hope you can recognize this trend here on CAF; it is apparent to many observers.

May God bless you and your apostolate, online and in your community.

• PAX

 

[JReducation]

With all due respect, Brother JR, you are held in high esteem here in CAF, so sometimes when you espouse opinions, those opinions become intertwined with the Faith and thus a discussion of them become inevitably about you and your opinions. You are obviously knowledgable and faithful and good-willed, but those who hold opinions contrary to yours should not be considered in any way less Catholic or faithful, unless those opinions can be objectively shown to be so. I hope you can recognize this trend here on CAF; it is apparent to many observers.

May God bless you and your apostolate, online and in your community.

• PAX

I don’t consider someone with differing opinions less Catholic or less faithful. I do believe that there are times when people espouse concepts or ideas that are inaccurate, which does not make them less faithful or less Catholic.

For example, to say that St. Jerome cannot be called a hothead, because he was a defender of the faith is inaccurate. Catholic scholars have always spoken of his bad temper and how this was a struggle for him. This does not take anything away from his holiness or his ministry. It simply says that he and those around him realized that he could achieve the same end while also exercising more restraint. It is a misconception or a misunderstanding, I’m not sure which, to believe that the man had to be like sandpaper to fight heresy.

That’s the kind of thing that I try to help people understand.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, FFV

 

[EcceAgnusDei]

I don’t consider someone with differing opinions less Catholic or less faithful. I do believe that there are times when people espouse concepts or ideas that are inaccurate, which does not make them less faithful or less Catholic.

For example, to say that St. Jerome cannot be called a hothead, because he was a defender of the faith is inaccurate. Catholic scholars have always spoken of his bad temper and how this was a struggle for him. This does not take anything away from his holiness or his ministry. It simply says that he and those around him realized that he could achieve the same end while also exercising more restraint. It is a misconception or a misunderstanding, I’m not sure which, to believe that the man had to be like sandpaper to fight heresy.

That’s the kind of thing that I try to help people understand.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, FFV

As usual, you have very charitable and respectful replies to those who disagree with you on this or that issue. Thank you, brother, for doing so.

May the peace of Christ be with you.

• PAX

 

[pnewton]

Are you criticizing the Remnant? Don’t you think we should always take the most favorable interpretation of the actions of others? Oh, right. That’s what you just said.

FYI - The Remnant is not a person. It is a paper. Note that I even added the words “taste” and “for me”. I am sure you accidentally over-looked that.

 

[1AugustSon7]

It is a misconception or a misunderstanding, I’m not sure which, to believe that the man had to be like sandpaper to fight heresy.

I don’t believe there is a soul here who thinks Catholics should not be eminently civil in their examples, and strive to be perfect in all virtue.

Catholicism, civility and civilisation are practically synonyms; nonetheless, even Our gentle Lord at times became angry and exercised righteous anger. St. John Chrysostom preached that it is a sin, at times, for a Christian not to become angry.

Bishops, in the old rite, when ordained, were admonished not to be afraid to exercise discipline.

The Proverbs and Wisdom literature are replete with admonishments and warnings about not correcting and chastising the erring and the wicked. The argument being made is that this is part of the Catholic Tradition and, therefore, legitimate.

No one is arguing that we should be rash, cruel or unmerciful.

There is something sorely unChristian about not protesting evil and injustice: the victims, not seeing anyone take up their cause, consequently despair; at least, however, if Christians are seen advocating justice on their parts, they at least see or implicitly recognise that God is not the author of the wickedness they are suffering from. However, if Christians are silent, then they might be scandalised and assume that God gives sanction to wrongdoig; and scandal is the murdering of souls.