Sins of the Tongue

JMJ

In the years since Rome started to compromise its position and acquiesce to the SSPX's conditions, there's been a fair amount of vile words cast against the SSPX Superior General. Not to mention against anyone who tried to be a voice of reason.

The same thing can happen whenever someone holds a belief so strongly that they get violent when something or someone does not agree with their belief.

When a person goes 'irrational' attempts to rationally discuss their belief results in them holding it even more and starts the cognitive dissonance death spiral (Fig 1). Since changing the belief would require an alteration in their behaviour, the 'irrational' person will resort to altering their perception of the belief.

Fig 1: Cognitive Dissonance Model with Confirmation Bias Death Spiral

Why is the confirmation bias a 'death spiral'?

Because a person who alters their perception of an action by resorting to confirmation bias is cutting themselves off from any information the dis-confirms their belief.

One way to detect a confirmation bias death spiral is that the expression of the belief escalates.

For example, because Bishop Fellay dis-confirmed the 'resistance' narrative of an imminent betrayal by basically following Catholic Principles.

Those of us who are still rational have noted that it is now 18+ years since the rumours of 'betrayal' were uttered by various 'resistors' young and old.

There is one thing that is consistent, in order to re-affirm their beliefs resistors have to amp-up the narrative every time it is dis-confirmed and seek affirmation by gaining "believers". In doing so they commit a number of sins. More often than not, they will resort to two specific sins: Detraction and Calumny.

Detraction: The unjust damaging of another's good name by the revelation of some fault or crime of which that other is really guilty or at any rate is seriously believed to be guilty by the defamer. Catholic Encyclopedia: Detraction

Calumny: The unjust damaging of the good name of another by imputing to him a crime or fault of which he is not guilty.Catholic Encyclopedia: Calumny

The difference is simple a person is accused of a 'crime' or sin of which they may or may not be guilty.

The effect in both cases is the same: The damage to the reputation of the person in question.

That is the litmus test: Do the stories (true, lies or half-truths) damage the reputation of someone else?

If the stories fail this test, plug your ears and run away screaming, because this kind of sin if a contagious virus.

P^3

Comments

The Vatican and SSPX – An Organizational Culture Perspective

Introduction The recent and continuing interactions between the Vatican and the SSPX have been a great opportunity for prayer and reflection. The basis for the disagreement is theological and not liturgical. As noted by Dr. Lamont (2012), the SSPX theological position on the four key controversial aspects of the Second Vatican Council are base on prior theological work that resulted from relevant magisterial pronouncements. So it is difficult to understand the apparent rejection of the theological position of the SSPX.

A Reply to Martin Blackshaw’s FLAWED Remnant article titled: FLAWED: SSPX Advice on Abortion-tainted Vaccines

+ JMJ An article has appeared in the Remnant (link to article) and I am afraid that there are a number of flaws in it that need to be addressed. The author, Martin Blackshaw, believes that both the Church and the SSPX are misapplying the principle of Moral Theology called 'Cooperation In Evil'. Unfortunately, Mr. Blackshaw rests most of his arguments on citing authors that support his position, without considering the possibility that they are wrong. This highlights a key factor in this crisis: ignorance of the faith and its application . I don't am not singling out Mr. Blackshaw for this criticism, I have observed that it applies to laity and religious, superior and subject a like. No one seems immune in this enduring crisis, myself included. I further believe that this ignorance is why so many Catholics, both traditional and non, rely on their gut feeling or "Catholic conscience" for charting their way through this crisis of the faith. While...

Rome and the SSPX - the latest

+ JMJ Bishop Fellay gave a conference late last month and provided some more insight into the situation with Rome. There are comments on Deus Ex Machina Blog and Hilary White has now entered the fray. What is one Catholic to think about all these opinions? What a Catholic is to think: With the Church! What does the Church think about obedience? Virtue as it is? If there is no proximate occasion of sin and the other conditions are met, then one cannot resist the command.

SSPX and the Resistance - A Comparison Of Ecclesiology

Shining the light of Church Teaching on the doctrinal positions of the SSPX and the Resistance. Principles are guides used to aid in decision making. It stands to reason that bad principles will lead to bad decisions. The recent interactions between Rome and the SSPX has challenged a number of closely held cultural assumptions of people in both sides of the disagreement. This has resulted in cultural skirmishes in both Rome and the SSPX. Since it is the smaller of the two, the skirmishes have been more evident within the SSPX. The cultural fault-line that Bishop Fellay crossed appears to be linked to two points of Catholic Doctrine: Ecclesiology and Obedience. The cultural difference of view points is strong enough that it has resulted in the expulsion of a number of members. It should also be noted that some other priests expelled since the beginning of the latest interactions (starting in 2000) held the same view points and have joined with the l...

How many more must die for the throne? or How to combat FUD!

+ JMJ How many more must die for the throne? (Movie Quote: Prince Caspian) The Spread of Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt I've seen a lot of FUD spreading across the intergnat on various stats etc. So let's put this in context ... especially the perspective of those people in positions of authority who need to make decisions to protect the lives of their citizens. Yep, this is going to be that type of post. Like it or not the leaders of our governments have their authority from God. So, as Catholics should know, you need to have a very good reason to deliberately disobey the orders of their superiors. This is basic St. Thomas Aquinas ... so don't blame me for discussing things from a Catholic perspective. The leaders of our countries have taken action to protect the vulnerable of our countries. As much as the young and not-so-young may whine and complain - I have to ask how many more of our elderly have to die? What the armchair virologists and ec...

Tradicat

Search This Blog