"Traditional Catholicism"...problematic?

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JamalChristophr

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Do you think that referring to yourself as a “traditionalist catholic” or the partitioning of a certain group of persons in the Catholic church into the grouping of such a term and all that it represents introduces and fosters disunity among the Catholic Faithful?

One of the things I most love about the Catholic faith is the unity in thought among the faithful. Saint Paul, I recall, in one of his letters refers to “being of one mind”. Does such an admonition apply here?

I ask this question mainly because I see some Catholics who take their faith very seriously setting themselves apart from the rest of the Catholic faithful to a greater or lesser degree and that gives me pause. I see divisiveness within the Church on account of that.

Perhaps, the main question I’m asking here, I suppose, is:

Does self-identification as T.C. and this partitioning of the faithful benefit, detract, or is neutral, in the spiritual welfare for the Church as a whole and in the lives of the individuals that make up the Church?

(I hope I do not regret asking this question. Charity is the rule here, please. I expect everyone to be on their best behavior here if you want to contribute because I know this is a tempestuous area of discussion.)

Thanks for your participation!
 
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JamalChristophr said:
One of the things I most love about the Catholic faith is the unity in thought among the faithful.
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We have this? It’s news to me.

One of the things I most love about the Catholic faith is the wide variety of thought among the faithful on topics that are not required Church teachings.
It reminds me a bit of the USA in that respect…

ducks flying tomatoes and sits down
 
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Salutations
Our populations have increased over time. Apologetic thinking after the first century became more deep. Unity vs. Diversity in thought?? Liking Tridentine or Vernacular masses isn’t a separation. Both could be maintained. If a Spanish mass is programmed, why not Latin and English? Our main doctrine is solid.
In Christ’s Love
Tweedlealice
 
I don’t see a problem with it.

It would be foolish to ignore that there are many progressive “Catholics” who would love to change the churches stance on abortion, contraceptives, etc. if given the opportunity.
 
JamalChristophr said:
I ask this question mainly because I see some Catholics who take their faith very seriously setting themselves apart from the rest of the Catholic faithful to a greater or lesser degree and that gives me pause.
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I think there’s a difference between setting yourself apart and coming to the realisation that you are different from Catholics who don’t really practice but like to occasionallly come to mass or drop in whenever they need a child baptised etc.

There’s no harm in having a preference for the Latin mass etc if that is something that nourishes your faith and prayer life. And in all fairness, the chances are that the people who go to Latin Mass will be there every Sunday of the year and not just when they feel like it.

I do get the feeling that a lot of people are attracted to “traddie” parishes because the Catholics they meet there tend to be serious about the faith and faithful to all elements of the Church’s teaching.
 
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Yeah… the more I research Catholicism the more I realize just how much disunity there is. It’s off-putting, but I think it’s a feature of all organized religion.
 
JamalChristophr said:
Do you think that referring to yourself as a “traditionalist catholic” or the partitioning of a certain group of persons in the Catholic church into the grouping of such a term and all that it represents introduces and fosters disunity among the Catholic Faithful?
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Yes, I do think so–to some extent. While I am in favor of the renewal of traditional liturgy and practice among the faithful, I do think that many Catholics who think of themselves as “traditionalist Catholics” view themselves as a special or separate brand of Catholic, on a slightly higher plane than the rest of us. Or at least, that is the vibe they give off. Our parish recently added a Latin Mass on Sundays, which I initially thought would be a positive thing. Although has attracted some new families, most don’t seem to be interested in actually being part of our parish. They just want to be their own little group within our parish with their own activities; and if our parish were ever unable to offer the Latin Mass anymore, most would leave.
 
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Brittany said:
EDIT TO ADD: I also do not like when “traditional Catholics” claim that the modern Mass is somehow invalid. That’s just silliness.
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Brittany’s edit is the only problem I have with those who call themselves “trad cats”. Those who love/prefer the old Latin Rite are well within a reasonable position to voice their choice. The Latin Rite, for those who enjoy is, is a rich slice of the history of Catholic worship. It is only when in a supercilious manner that they denigrate the NO and those who prefer it, that trad cats become obnoxious and antithetical to the faith. There is room for both and those who respect the position of someone who preference is different that theirs are not divisive.
And in that thought, I am only referring to style of worship. Those who wish to deny, ignore, or destroy doctrine, or those who are unwilling to consider modifications to tradition and law based on mercy are divisive. And those who seem to consider the Holy Spirit is now impotent or incompetent to lead the Church, need to go elsewhere. Those who seem to pray to the Holy Spirit, but only in an advisory manner!
 
I actually think diversity of thought is a good thing for a large group. It’s when people start taking their footballs and going home to form their own churches that I become more disturbed.
 
The idea of there being a group of so-called “traditionalists,” who see themselves as separate and above from the majority of Catholics, is problematic.

CAF helps foster the division by allowing a so-called “traditionalists” forum.

Jim
 
Blessings,
It matters not, if you have progressive feelings. God doesn’t. He is the same, yesterday and forever. He heals w Love. He expects more from us, than what we have. He is not mutually exclusive but is mutually inclusive.
IF YOU LOVE ME KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS.
SIGH
TWEEDLEALICE
 
Jim-R, you wrote the best post of the day for me. Yes, why have a traditional sub-forum at all? Should there also be a Progressive sub-forum also then? I thought we were all just Catholic.
 
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@JamalChristophr, it might be helpful to define what you mean by “traditionalist Catholic.” I think of a traditionalist Catholic as someone who only (or almost only) attends the Latin Mass, enjoys all forms of older devotions, and who tends to distrust Vatican II and the changes that came after it. Others in their replies seem to think that “traditional” = “orthodox” or “serious about their faith.”
 
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Also, I want to add to my post above that I am not trying to put down traditional-leaning Catholics. I actually lean quite traditional myself, although I usually attend the ordinary form of the Mass. My concern is when people, (including many of my “traditionalist” friends) start thinking of themselves as a special, separate group with in Catholicism. I see that attitude as problematic and also a potential turn-off to people who might otherwise be more interested in the older traditions of the Church, including the Latin Mass.
 
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Shouldn’t we all be serious about our faith though? By that definition, people are putting themselves above others. “I am serious, you are not.”
 
Irishmom2 said:
Shouldn’t we all be serious about our faith though? By that definition, people are putting themselves above others. “I am serious, you are not.”
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Exactly!

Traditionalist should no more have their own place on the forum than posters who are all about the CFR’s Lifeteen, Catholic Underground, Steubenville and the like. They, too, are fervent.
 
Ahhhh, the ambiguity of words! That is part of the problem, perhaps.

I more or less meant how you define it, I suppose. Traditional catholics could be defined along a spectrum. The most far right, I would suppose, being those who have rejected papal authority as no longer being valid and completely rejecting Vatican II and on the other end, simply those Catholics who lean more towards the old than the new in terms of though and worship, generally pre-Vatican II in their preferences. I did not really intend any hard and fast definition.
 
I love the variety. It means even I who don’t fit in culturally with my neighbors, Catholicism is still for me.
 
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