What sort of Catholic Christian are you?

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Brennan Doherty:
I don’t see any choices that I wish to pick. I suppose I am a more “traditional” Catholic. However, I do not believe I know more than the Church in regards to Faith and Morals. That is, abortion, contraception, Purgatory, etc.

And this is usually part of the makeup of a “progressive” Catholic, that they question or oppose the Church’s official teachings on faith and morals.

However, I do believe a Catholic can, and in some cases ought to, respectfully oppose prudential decisions of the Church when they seem as if they have been detrimental to the Faith. For instance, changes to the liturgy (and not just the abuses), communion in the hand, standing to receive Holy Communion, etc.

This does not mean a Catholic can just disobey the hierarchy. For instance I can’t just go down the street and start my own “Catholic” church without any sanction from Rome.

Nevertheless, in respectfully opposing certain prudential decisions or allowances by Rome, which are not part of the Deposit of Faith, one can be a faithful Catholic. And I have seen faithful Catholics, such as Dietrich von Hildebrand, Evelyn Waugh, Monsignor Klaus Gamber, Fr. George Rutler, Fr. Aidan Nichols, and others do exactly that.
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Oh how I disagree. The most heterodox Catholics appear to be those that are the most extreme – be they ultra “progressive” or ultra “traditional.”

Those that immediately equate “traditional” to “orthodox” (or “progressive” to “heterodox”) need to dig just a bit deeper…
 
**Entry Word: orthodox
Function: **adjective
Text:
1
conforming to doctrines or practices that are held to be right or true by an authority, standard, or tradition <those who still hold an orthodox view about evolution>
Synonyms: accepted, authoritative, canonical, received, sanctioned, sound
Related Words: acknowledged, admitted, approved; customary, official, recognized, standard, traditional; correct, proper, right
Contrasted Words: heretical, heterodox, unauthoritative, uncanonical
Antonyms: unorthodox
2
Synonyms: CONVENTIONAL 1, button-down, square, straight
3
Synonyms: CONSERVATIVE 1, die-hard, fogyish, old-line, reactionary, right, tory, traditionalistic
Antonyms: unorthodox

Crusader, maybe, just maybe, people are using the word traditional as a synonym for orthodox. The word traditional seems to have become associated with schismatic Catholics and now if someone describes themselves as traditional, the assumption is that they are schismatic.

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IrenkaJMJ said:
Entry Word: orthodox
****Function: adjective
Text:
1
conforming to doctrines or practices that are held to be right or true by an authority, standard, or tradition <those who still hold an orthodox view about evolution>
Synonyms: accepted, authoritative, canonical, received, sanctioned, sound
Related Words: acknowledged, admitted, approved; customary, official, recognized, standard, traditional; correct, proper, right
Contrasted Words: heretical, heterodox, unauthoritative, uncanonical
Antonyms: unorthodox
2
Synonyms: CONVENTIONAL 1, button-down, square, straight
3
Synonyms: CONSERVATIVE 1, die-hard, fogyish, old-line, reactionary, right, tory, traditionalistic
Antonyms: unorthodox

Crusader, maybe, just maybe, people are using the word traditional as a synonym for orthodox. The word traditional seems to have become associated with schismatic Catholics and now if someone describes themselves as traditional, the assumption is that they are schismatic.

© 2001 by Merriam-Webster, Incorporated
Merriam-Webster Privacy Policy
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Let’s hope not. Based on some comments I have seen here and in person from some self-described “traditional Catholics”, they would be considered anything other than orthodox.
 
I chose orthodox because I also don’t care for the way traditonal was used-negatively!

JMJ
SFX
 
I chose orthodox. I am faithful to the magesterium in all issues. That being said, I am also traditional in the sense that I prefer the “traditional” ways of doing things. For example, I prefer no hand-holding during the Our Father, kneeling during the Eucharistic Prayer, sanctus bells, incense, organs and choirs over modern music in the mass, more mystery and less feel-good, older churches with statues and artwork and stained glass windows over plain modern churches, etc. etc. However, I’m not one of those traditionalists who think the Tridentine mass should be brought back exclusively or that the Church lost its mind during and after Vatican II.

Would I go to an indult Mass? Yes, in fact I’m going to one next Sunday. Do I need to go to one every Sunday? No. Would I like to see more (any) Latin in the N.O. Mass (like the masses they televise on EWTN)? Absolutely, I’d love it. Am I upset because all the Masses at my parish are in English? Nope. Personally I think the fact that many Catholics don’t believe in the Real Presence is a much more important issue than anything above. I’d love to see a greater embrace of the “smells and bells” of Catholicism, but there are much more important issues facing the Church (especially in America) right now.
 
chose orthodox. I am faithful to the magesterium in all issues. That being said, I am also traditional in the sense that I prefer the “traditional” ways of doing things
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Very good - and I am always hurt and surprised when people act negatively to the word “traditional”. While I realize there are radical traditionalists, there are also radical liberals - unfortunate that we must assign label to ourselves and others and now must add modifiers to those labels as well:)
 
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Crusader:
Oh how I disagree. The most heterodox Catholics appear to be those that are the most extreme – be they ultra “progressive” or ultra “traditional.”

Those that immediately equate “traditional” to “orthodox” (or “progressive” to “heterodox”) need to dig just a bit deeper…
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I think part of the issue is that the terms “Progressive” or “Traditional” are very broad. They do point in a certain direction, but they need to be defined.

For instance, I would not use the term “heterodox,” which I take to mean “heretical,” in regards to a so-called progressive Catholic who likes all the liturgical changes since the 60’s, thinks communion in the hand is a real improvement, and thinks it’s a tremendous benefit to have the Priest facing the people. I would disagree with him, yes, but unless he denied a dogma of the faith like the Resurrection or Immaculate Conception I would not consider him to be heterodox.

Likewise I would not consider a so-called traditional Catholic to be heterodox unless he denied a dogma of the faith.

And if either a progressive or traditional Catholic did deny a dogma of the faith I would not even consider them a Catholic, period. Or if they were a sedevacantist I would consider them to be in schism.

Thus I simply would not use the term heterodox in regards to either a progressive or traditional Catholic who did not deny any dogma of the faith, even if they disagree about the wisdom of practical decisions made by the Vatican.
 
Hmmm. Let’s see. I am a Catholic Christian that tries her very best everyday to walk the path God has laid. I pray as much as I can to see my purpose in life. I pray for my family, friends, priests and church that we may all follow where God wants us. I fight the Evil One off all day long so I can be the best I can be. I try my hardest to follow what God says, not what I want. I true my hardest to faithfully follow the rules of our wonderful religion; and I feel guilty when I sin. I know, if I ask, I’ll be forgiven and I’ll leave my sins at the bottom of the ocean so that they don’t prevent me from doing my best.Blessings ~
Serenity
 
I would have to vote “none of the above”. I am a Christian who follows Jesus and am part of His Church but I am also a sinner who does not follow the Church perfectly all the time. I I am a faithful Mass goer but I don’t necessarily just “sit in the pews.” Worship is an active partcipation not passive. Each of us who goes to mass plays a vital part in the liturgy. We receive grace but we also give back to God in terms of our worship and offer ourselves to God in the Mass, so I wasn’t sure how to vote in this poll. I am not progressive but I don’t know whether traditional would fit me either being a convert. I believe in one Holy Apostolic Church, one body, one faith, one baptism, one Lord of all.

Blessings,
MysticaAngel
 
Brennan Doherty:
I think part of the issue is that the terms “Progressive” or “Traditional” are very broad. They do point in a certain direction, but they need to be defined.

For instance, I would not use the term “heterodox,” which I take to mean “heretical,” in regards to a so-called progressive Catholic who likes all the liturgical changes since the 60’s, thinks communion in the hand is a real improvement, and thinks it’s a tremendous benefit to have the Priest facing the people. I would disagree with him, yes, but unless he denied a dogma of the faith like the Resurrection or Immaculate Conception I would not consider him to be heterodox.

Likewise I would not consider a so-called traditional Catholic to be heterodox unless he denied a dogma of the faith.

And if either a progressive or traditional Catholic did deny a dogma of the faith I would not even consider them a Catholic, period. Or if they were a sedevacantist I would consider them to be in schism.

Thus I simply would not use the term heterodox in regards to either a progressive or traditional Catholic who did not deny any dogma of the faith, even if they disagree about the wisdom of practical decisions made by the Vatican.
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Following the Church and not one’s own desires is what I would consider to be “orthodox” behavior.
 
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Crusader:
Following the Church and not one’s own desires is what I would consider to be “orthodox” behavior.
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Believing what the Church teaches in regards to Faith and Morals I would consider orthodox.

Respectfully opposing prudential decisions made by the hierarchy which one believes have been harmful to the Faith I would consider being faithful.
 
Peace be with you all,

As a Convert I find myself growing everyday in deeper expression in my Faith as I come to learn and experience more of the vast riches which I have come to know exist here.

I am Blessed and I am Humbled to come before God in so vast a dominion as our Holy Mother Church. May I always walk the straight path and may I remain every open to Her Guidance. Amen.

Peace, Love and Blessings,
 
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deogratias:
I too chose orthodox because in my mind, traditional and orthodox are synonymous - obviously I would not choose the word traditional in this poll as it was worded.

I believe a traditional/orthodoxl Catholic is one who is faithful to the Pope and Rome and who must also accept that the Ordo Missae is valid if properly celebrated.

A traditional/orthodox Catholic may or may not attend an approved Traditional Latin Mass and should be obedient to all the rubics of that Mass.

When a A traditional/orthodox Catholic attends a Novos Ordo Mass they should obey all the rubics outlined by the GIRM and the Bishops of that country or Diocese.

Traditional/orthodox Catholics do not deny the validity of Vatican II and its changes but may choose to exercise the things offered by indult (such as communion in the hand, or attending an Indult Mass).

Traditional/orthodox Catholics are obedient to the churches teachings in all matters, not just those governing the liturgy, and when given valid choices, they usually go for the more conservative ones.

Traditional/orthodox Catholics do not practice birth control or advocate abortion; do believe in fidelity in marriage, do not receive communion when in a state of grave sin, do not advocate women in the priesthood, do not approve of premarital sex or other liberal ideas contrary to church teaching.

Traditional Catholics do not practice cafeteria Catholicism.

This is the “true Traditional Catholic” there are others who claim to be traditionalists who attend illicit Masses, disbelieve anything that has happened since Vatican II and in some cases anything that happened before the council of trent - since we seem to not be able to avoid labels - (such as orthodox, traditional, liberal) I would suggest these Catholics are Tridentarians 🙂

Lastly a traditional/orthodox Catholic may not agree with all the current practices of the Church and may express that but they are obedient nonetheless (for instance they may not like female altar servers but there is no rule against it, they may dislike hand holding but there is no rule against it, they may dislike standing to receive communion but the current rule is to receive standing, etc.)

In summary - a traditional/orthodox Catholic is obedient and exercises the choices that are validly provided by Holy Mother Church.
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What a great and comprehensive reply! The word “orthodox” simply means straight teaching. Traditional Church teaching is straight teaching, therefore most certainly orthodox.
 
Traditionalist.

Catholicism IS a Sacred, Living Tradition. The Pope is the servant of Sacred Tradition. How could it be otherwise?
 
I think the poster was implying by “the traditionalist” meaning those who are “pre-vatican II zealots.” I know that sounds uncharitable but I couldn’t find better words to describe it.

I voted orthodox. I follow the teachings of the magisterium, I trust the Holy Spirit will protect the Church and I submit to it’s authority.
 
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deogratias:
. . . Lastly a traditional/orthodox Catholic may not agree with all the current practices of the Church and may express that but they are obedient nonetheless (for instance they may not like female altar servers but there is no rule against it, they may dislike hand holding but there is no rule against it, they may dislike standing to receive communion but the current rule is to receive standing, etc.)

In summary - a traditional/orthodox Catholic is obedient and exercises the choices that are validly provided by Holy Mother Church.
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If I may, just a short comment on hand holding. This is not a current practice of the Church as the Church has not authorized it. There is no tradition behind this, nor is there any rubric in the GIRM for it, the GIRM is silent on this issue. Therefore it is technically illicit and not a practice of the Church as no lay person, nor priest or bishop for that matter, has any authority to add to or delete from any word or action as defined in the GIRM .

It is a relatively recent practice begun by charismatics in the Church who decided on their own authority to initiate this without permission from Rome. As such they, and anyone else who practices this is in technical violation of the Church’s liturgical laws.

The use of female altar servers, btw, has been officially approved by the Pope, he did this approximately 10 years ago and did not mandate it but left it to the discretion of each bishop or possibly each pastor.
 
I am an orthodox Catholic with Traditionalist sympathies, but I don’t believe that I know more than the Church does. I am an obedient son of the Church who is working out his salvation with fear and trembling. It strikes me that the way this poll is worded is akin to asking “Do you beat your wife often”?
 
It strikes me that the way this poll is worded is akin to asking “Do you beat your wife often”?
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Or the other version of “when did you stop beating your wife?”

I do concur this poll and many poll questions are not without prejudice and slanted so that there are not valid choices.

In those cases, I usually decline to answer the poll portion and only reply within the thread - as I did in this one.
 
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