Overly Critical

As dustups go you have the notable ones...

1. Hatfields Vs. McCoys
2. Alexander Hamilton Vs. Andrew Burr
3. Oliver Stone Vs. History
4. Pedro Martinez Vs. Don Zimmer

http://thesportsdojo.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/pedro-zimmer.jpg

Today (luckily for us) we continue to have fisticuffs (or unluckily).

For once Im not speaking of Voris because the supposed controversy isn't such its just reporting of known figures and moving on.

Rather, todays battle seems to be between Catholic Answers and The Remnant 

Now I myself enjoy both apostolate's, finding great value in their works.  I often will reference CA in regards to general apologetics, especially when dealing with protestants because this seems to be their main stick.  So too when traditionalist issues come up I will reference The Remant more often because that is their focus.

It should be noted that neither source holds doctrinal authority in their works, and what they say should be taken with a grain of salt until they can make the necessary references to Church teachings.

The most recent dust up concerns Catholic Answers going forth in producing four hours of programming concerning the topic of "Radical Traditionalism", which you can find here, here, here, and here.

I would encourage anyone to listen to the shows because they do provide a certain context to what is being feuded upon now.  

Having said that The Remnant after each show and one during the intermission of the two, posted to articles on their online site concerning the shows.  I think that they make some good points and corrections to the shows in general that are helpful for context.  You can find them below

http://www.remnantnewspaper.com/Archives/2013-0615-crenshaw-catholic-answers-radical-trad.htm

http://www.remnantnewspaper.com/Archives/201300731-ferrara-catholic-answers-mad-trad.htm

http://www.remnantnewspaper.com/Archives/2013-0831-tofari-six-protestants-catholic-answers-live.htm

Most recently in their video for the Remnant Forum, Mr. Matt and Mr. Ferrara of the Remnant  went after the shows, and the seemingly willful blasting of traditionalists.  I dont really have a position on the video because some points they make are valid, but sometimes they are just being to critical of the shows that were not really about traditionalism but more on the fringes like sedevancantism, and the SSPX which are two hugely different topics but they fit into the same show for obvious reasons.  The video is below and is helpful for context.

To this video Karl Keating, the founder of Catholic Answers put forth a post in their blog a refutation of some of the statements made in the video which are valid and help for contexting the dustup.

Bottom line is noone wants to have labels placed on them.  I dont like to be called a Rad Trad, Mad Trad, liberal, Vatican II sectarian, bread worshiper, RadCathR, post Councillor nut job or anything else I have been accused of.  I think all those at CA and The Remnant would agree on this (not too much to stop, but consciously they would have to stop and think it out).  Both organizations make good points and both should apologize for errors and mis-characterizations of the other.  

COME ON GUYS YOU ARE BETTER THAN THIS!

CA, The Remnant, Church Militant, Rorate-Caeli, Faithful Answers, Mark Shea, Path....(err I do have a bone to pick with them so no), Dave Armstrong and so forth all have a role to play within Holy Mother Church.  Some of them focus on reporting postive things, others have a focus on negative things.  Some are apologetic organizations with different focuses, both valid and reputable.  Some are just opinionated talkers.  Im not calling for a cease fire as some have because these are big boys and they can handle themselves, but I am asking that we recognize the good in the others points and take them into consideration (even in the smallest sense).  

Recognize the mistakes fix them, move on.  Again all these apostolates have a place (contrary to Fr. Longinecker who commits the same errors as Armstrong previously), and they fall because they are human.  Help pick them up which I think they are sort of doing, with a little more critical taste to it.  There is some fierceness to recent conversations on the Catholic Faith and I appreciate it, but lets keep it on the level of whats being said and not on the person themselves which only devolves into name calling (heres looking at you Dave)

+JMJ+

Positive signs for the Catholic Church

There are amazing things happening right now. 

The Extraordinary Form of the Mass is beginning to have some influence in the church again.  So much so that Bishops across the world are trying their best to stifle the Reform of the Reform brought to you by the likes of Benedict XVI, Archbishop Lefefvre, Michael Davies, Cardinal Burke, Bishop Bruskewitz and so forth.  Prelates with authority around the world are feeling a little hot around the collar seeing their spirit of the council under attack, and all their work being undone faster than they could have imagined.  It has been made known that many of the modernists were pushing for Francis to rid the Holy See of Monseigneur Marini as Master of Ceremonies, only to be told by Pope Francis that he will remain and that they should not prevent the Traditions of the faith from influencing the faithful.  Many of the more traditional fold are concerned with this papacy in that he is not really into the liturgy and its reform as Benedict was in his later years, but we all need to remember that the restoration of the faith from the modernists influence will not

necessarily happen from the top down, but rather it will occur from the bottom up.  Different dioceses will have to take different steps in restoring some of the traditional influences.  For instance here in Milwaukee there is really only one Parish that offers the EF at this time but we are a growing parish and faithful to the magestarium.  Other dioceses see the OF and EF being offered side by side and this is to be encouraged. 

The internet has become a new public square for debate.  This is probably the most impressive thing to come about because we as faithful Catholics now have an amazing opportunity to evangelize the world from our computer then go out into our own streets like St. Pauls Steet Evangelization is doing now.  This is a tremendous opportunity to make disciples of all nations and the flame of the Faith is being kindled by the young and the old.  Dissidents are being called out for their errors by the common people of the church and those in the clergy faithful to the magisterium.  We must be vigilant yet charitable in our evangelization, but the fruits of internet are not limited to this.  Voices from different perspectives of orthodox Catholicism are able to address differences on a daily basis while influencing the faithful, pushing them to strive in the pursuit of truth. Blogs like Rorate-Caeli, The Remnant and What Does the Prayer really say are able to directly take on the postings of dissident blogs like the National Catholic Reporter, setting the record straight.  Vlogs like Church Militant.tv and the many on YouTube are creating a virtual encyclopedia of Cathlicity, and the comment sections underneath the videos are a grace because it allows for swift corrections to be made when necessary.  Over enthusiastic ecumenism and inter-religious dialogue are also being addressed by the faithful on the internet, holding prelates to task for their erroneous was such as Jihad Watch and Harvesting the Fruits of Vatican II.  The Internet is such a fantastic tool capable of supreme good or supreme evil.  Let us continue to build on these goods.

One final thing, but surely not the last thing, that is encouraging is the restoration of Catholic traditions that serve as public and private witnesses to the faith like Adoration and Eucharistic processions.  The obvious good of these actions can be seen in the results when compared with parishes that have not restored such things.  Pews are fuller, vocations are up and faithfulness to the magisterium is mandatory.

These are just a few ideas for positive movements over the last decade or so.  Any other ideas?

+JMJ+