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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
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