What exactly does "Traditional Catholicism" mean?

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My understanding from the many posts on this subject is that Catholics are those who follow the Tradition of the Church. Traditionalist Catholics are those who have difficulties with certain decisions of the Church, and believe that they are being truer to Catholicism by being more traditional.

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eamonnroma said:
My understanding from the many posts on this subject is that Catholics are those who follow the Tradition of the Church. Traditionalist Catholics are those who have difficulties with certain decisions of the Church, and believe that they are being truer to Catholicism by being more traditional.

T
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When terms have been used to mean so many things, it is better to avoid using them. “Traditional Catholic”, or “Traditionalist Catholic”, are like that. I would rather refer to people as “Catholics who support the Magisterium”, or “Catholics who support the SSPX” or something else, for instance.
 
commenter said:
When terms have been used to mean so many things, it is better to avoid using them. “Traditional Catholic”, or “Traditionalist Catholic”, are like that. I would rather refer to people as “Catholics who support the Magisterium”, or “Catholics who support the SSPX” or something else, for instance.
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Yes a good point. Maybe the term ‘Catholic’ for those who accept without reserve all the Church doth teach, including the changes. Then another lable for those who feel unable to accept this.
 
eamonnroma said:
Yes a good point. Maybe the term ‘Catholic’ for those who accept without reserve all the Church doth teach, including the changes. Then another lable for those who feel unable to accept this.
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What has the Church changed in teaching? Teaching never changes. It may develop for pastoral reasons, but the essential truths the teachings convey never change. Is everyone who is to remain Catholic required to enthusiastically support every “change” that comes their way? Of course not. Levels of assent must be given. Then the question arises: what level of assent must Catholics give to the pastoral applications of Vatican II? Those with reservations cannot be labeled in a blanket statement as something other than Catholic. It is more nuanced than that. It must be determined why they have such reservations.

On another note, it must be recognized that the vast majority of traditionalist Catholics are not sedevacantists. The vast majority of traditionalist Catholics accept the validity of Vatican II. The vast majority of traditionalist Catholics accept that Pope Francis is the valid Supreme Pontiff.

For us traditionalist Catholics in full communion with His Holiness, Pope Francis, our reservations about the prudence and ambiguities of the Council documents and our attachment to the pre-conciliar Mass, rites, and devotions make us no less Catholic than one who enthusiastically embraces the Council. We accept these “changes” you speak of as valid, yet sometimes, in our opinion, imprudent. The Church has allowed for accommodations for traditionalist Catholics. Notably, the FSSP, - a priestly fraternity in full communion with Rome - who are exclusively pre-conciliar in their liturgical rites.
 
Well Plop me in on that pedestal! I’m proud of the name Traditional Catholic. I stand by it and those that Identify as one.

Sure does ruffle a lot of feathers. Honestly for me I could care less. 🤷

I choose to set myself apart but I don’t exclude the NO Mass either. I attend frequently and Usher. However I prefer the reverence shown and the beauty of the TLM. In my experience I’m yet to see that in the NO Mass. I certainly see people worshiping reverently thou. I also see a lot of people who don’t (being an usher and standing in the back of the church gives a unique perspective). I don’t find that at the TLM. I haven’t met a cultural Catholic yet at a TLM. Are there some out there im sure of it. have I met one NO!.

As with anyone I prefer to worship around people who attend the TLM because they want to. All dress well for Mass, All attend confession BEFORE Mass etc… That many people in one place inwardly and outwardly showing RESPECT and Dignity and awe permeates the chapel. It is literally a completely different vibe in that room. Not sure how to explain that. So if im labeled as a trad great…I label myself that way. Im not better than anyone else its what I prefer.
 
eamonnroma said:
If you asked a historian who knew nothing about Faith or Christian history to examine the history of the early Christian church, most probably he would see that, historically, the Roman church in fact broke away from the mainstream.
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Well, point out an Eastern Orthodox Pope, and I’d take the historian seriously.
 
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