Is There Such A Thing As Toxic Traditional Catholicism?(2ed)

JMJ

Introduction

During my first forays into the cyber worlds of Forums and Blogs in 2012, I encountered a varied sampling of variety of humanity. One thing I noticed was that people seem far less inhibited online and I wondered which person (online or virtual) is the real one. Since then, I've been wondering if Toxic Traditional Catholicism is really a thing?

First, what is meant by a 'Toxic' anything?

The obvious answer is any thing, person or group that is poisonous. Meaning poisonous in the frame of biology, or relationships.

Deep breath - what follows are my immediate, partially researched and in some cases experienced realities ...

In the case of ...

Biology, it is simple. Certain animals excrete various fluids that are toxic / poisonous to others. This is claimed to be a defense mechanism - but I won't go into the evolutionary gobbly gook about that.

People, it is about whether or not the relationship has an adverse effect on one or both parties in the relationship. Classically, I suppose this would mean does it elevate them to greater virtue or drag them down into vice? Does it expand their perspective and understanding or restrict it - reinforcing confirmation bias and cognitive dissonance? (For more info please read: A Word About Catholic Forums and Collection: Cognitive Dissonance)

Groups, same as people, except now we are looking at group behavioural norms elevated towards virtue or act like cement pulling a number of persons into a mental and spiritual death spiral.

Discussion

As discussed, since I started exploring and writing on the internet, I've "met" a broad spectrum of people, Traditional Catholic and otherwise.

One phenom is the 'Toxic' Traditionalists and they do exist (following the above definitions).

If I was to try and describe this class of people, it would be Traditional Catholics who have been immersed in the cess pits of humanity and those that caused the most recent crisis of the Catholic Church ... and lost their way.

Metaphorically, they are or have drowned their Faith in the crisis. Their response is typically anger and to make really bad decisions (think Sede-Vacantists and Voris).

Today's case in point is Canon212 and its editor.

First, Canon212 is an aggregator website that some call "Catholic Aggravator" and styled after the "Drudge Report".

What I find is that, no matter what happens, nothing is ever good enough for the editor(s?). The whole page is similar in tone and approach.

What I find is that they tear down and don't construct. All they do is dig the hole deeper and don't even provide a ladder as a way to climb out.

I feel that same about the Sede-Vacantists.

Both cases are dead ends, they destroy not build, they constrain peoples minds to narrow avenues that only suit their perspective on the Church.

Not by any stretch of the imagination is this limited to Traditional Catholics? I've seen similar behaviour in protestants and Modern Catholics. In both cases, this despair leads to the same behaviour, decisions and conclusion.

Conclusion

Toxic Traditional Catholicism exists and isn't unique to Traditional Catholics. This toxicity is a dead-end and a trap for all. The path out is that of virtue.

References

https://studiomatters.com/canon-212-aggiornamento-recidivus

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drudge_Report

https://www.ncronline.org/news/new-catholic-website-pillar-operates-shaky-journalistic-foundation

Comments

The myth of the Hermeneutic of Continuity - Rorate Caeli

+ JMJ Interestingly the complete acceptance of the Second Vatican Council (without reservations) is required of the SSPX. Just when people are starting to wonder how it came to this! Courtesy of Rorate Caeli P^3

A Look Back: Archbishop Lefebvre’s Prophetic Address to The Remnant, 1976

+ JMJ Looking back is important to understand why we are where we are in this crisis. Courtesy of RemnantNewsPaper P^3 FOR THE FIRST TIME ONLINE: Archbishop Lefebvre’s Prophetic Address to The Remnant, 1976 Written by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre Introduction by Michael J. Matt More than forty years ago—during the disastrous reign of Pope Paul VI, the latest candidate for a Vatican-issued Halo Award, by the way—my father, Walter L. Matt, organized the first large scale public reception in the U.S. for the late Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. It was held at the Radisson South Hotel, Minneapolis, on Tuesday, May 12, 1976, and its stated purpose was to assist the Archbishop in gaining a stronger foothold for the Society of St. Pius X in the States during the unprecedented crisis Blessed Pope Paul had helped unleash on the Church. On that occasion Archbishop Lefebvre delivered ...

Of the Church and the Pope - Fr. Calmel O.P.

+ JMJ Once again, looking back to see if the 'Traditional Catholics' in the early days of this crisis of the Church had a sufficient view to realize the roots of the crisis. The root: The Pope Hence when the Pope is 'righted' the Church will be 'righted'. P^3 Courtesy of SSPXasia Fr. Roger Calmel, O.P. This essay by Fr. Roger Calmel, O.P. (1914-75) helps us in these difficult times to preserve our love of the Church. More than 30 years after its first publication, this article retains all its relevance, so much so that it even seems to have been written for our time, in which the crisis in the Church deepens at an unprecedented pace. This essay will help the reader to think clearly, keep the Faith, and maintain serenity in the troubled times we are navigating. “My country has hurt m e,”wrote a young poet in 1944 during the purge 1 when the head of state [Charles De Gaulle] implacably pursued the sinister job that had been in the wo...

Canonical Mission and State of Emergency - A Response to Mr. John Salza - Part B

+ JMJ I was trying to think of a way to map out the time course I discussed in Part A of this article. Early this morning it came to me that this is more about obedience and duty than canon law. As is my wont, I mapped out my thoughts (see image) to draw linkages between the core concepts. My conclusion is that, at least subjectively, Archbishop Lefebvre had sufficient information to make good decisions concerning whether or not he was obliged to obey. I know that the Jesuits, some Sedevacantists and the priests that left over the years will not agree with my thoughts. So be it. The core pieces of information include: Attacks against the SSPX were launched because they kept the Tridentine Mass and the pre-conciliar understanding of the Truths of the Faith. The authorities in the Church were willing to go against the laws of the Church. The same authorities encouraged the various dangers to the Faith embedded in popular interpretations of ambiguo...

Validity of new rite of episcopal consecrations - Courtesy of SSPX.org

+ JMJ In the blogosphere there are number of responses to this crisis in the Catholic Church that lead to conclusions that run counter to Catholic Doctrine and Dogmas - if taken to their logical conclusion. The validity of the New Rite of Episcopal consecrations is one such hotspot within more extreme sections of the 'traditionalist' culture. Validity of new rite of episcopal consecrations Courtesy of SSPX.org Why the new rite of episcopal consecration is valid Introduction This comprehensive study was compiled to settle a debate that has been circulating in traditional Catholic circles. Some writers have examined the new rite of episcopal consecration and concluded that it must be invalid. Since this would cause manifest problems if it were true and due to the heightened awareness of such a theory, we present a study of this question concluding that it is valid. Following the Council, in 1968 a new rite for the ordination of bishops was promulg...

Tradicat

Search This Blog