Does the term "traditional Catholic" have too much baggage?

[TerrorDæmonum]

The way I understand it is that "traditional Catholic" means "Catholic" with a strong emphasis on the authentic and timeless teachings of the Church. This term is a reaction to widespread error, especially as reflected in liturgical novelties and abuses.

However, the term often stands on its own, where "tradness" is the measure, rather than "Catholic". Also, there seems to be a distinct sub-culture surrounding it which is "extra" and not part of Catholicism, such as political and cultural tendencies.

The other "big" baggage is the 1950isms, which are a result of it being "pre-Vatican II" and the sanitized media of the day under the Hays Code.

So, do you think that the term "traditional Catholic" has too much baggage?

[LouisIX]

It has too much baggage.  Unfortunately, a lot of that is due to internal trad-bashing.

But you're correct.  Trad Catholic is sort of a misnomer, or at least redundant.  To be a trad is simply to be authentically Catholic.  When we judge things according to their trad level, all we're really doing is judging them according to orthodoxy.  Perhaps we should be speaking differently, however the emergence of heterodox "versions" of Catholicism make "traditionalism" necessary as a term and label.

[Bonaventure]

It has too much baggage.  Unfortunately, a lot of that is due to internal trad-bashing.

But you're correct.  Trad Catholic is sort of a misnomer, or at least redundant.  To be a trad is simply to be authentically Catholic.  When we judge things according to their trad level, all we're really doing is judging them according to orthodoxy.  Perhaps we should be speaking differently, however the emergence of heterodox "versions" of Catholicism make "traditionalism" necessary as a term and label.

This.

[Mithrandylan]

It has too much baggage.  Unfortunately, a lot of that is due to internal trad-bashing.

But you're correct.  Trad Catholic is sort of a misnomer, or at least redundant.  To be a trad is simply to be authentically Catholic.  When we judge things according to their trad level, all we're really doing is judging them according to orthodoxy.  Perhaps we should be speaking differently, however the emergence of heterodox "versions" of Catholicism make "traditionalism" necessary as a term and label.

Yes.  In fact the term "Catholic" itself only came about because of Christian heresy. 

[joe17]

 What King Louis said pretty much sums it up.

Joe

[CoolCat]

It has too much baggage.  Unfortunately, a lot of that is due to internal trad-bashing.

But you're correct.  Trad Catholic is sort of a misnomer, or at least redundant.  To be a trad is simply to be authentically Catholic.  When we judge things according to their trad level, all we're really doing is judging them according to orthodoxy.  Perhaps we should be speaking differently, however the emergence of heterodox "versions" of Catholicism make "traditionalism" necessary as a term and label.

You are correct. There is no such thing as a "traditional Catholic".  We are always playing the judge and jury towards other Catholics who do not regularly attend the same Mass that we do.
Now granted, there are "traditionalist" Catholics. If you want a term that defines a particular group of Catholics, that would be appropriate.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traditionalist_Catholic

[TerrorDæmonum]

It has too much baggage.  Unfortunately, a lot of that is due to internal trad-bashing.

But you're correct.  Trad Catholic is sort of a misnomer, or at least redundant.  To be a trad is simply to be authentically Catholic.  When we judge things according to their trad level, all we're really doing is judging them according to orthodoxy.  Perhaps we should be speaking differently, however the emergence of heterodox "versions" of Catholicism make "traditionalism" necessary as a term and label.

You are correct. There is no such thing as a "traditional Catholic".  We are always playing the judge and jury towards other Catholics who do not regularly attend the same Mass that we do.
Now granted, there are "traditionalist" Catholics. If you want a term that defines a particular group of Catholics, that would be appropriate.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traditionalist_Catholic

Does the term "traditionalist Catholic" have too much baggage?

[CoolCat]

It has too much baggage.  Unfortunately, a lot of that is due to internal trad-bashing.

But you're correct.  Trad Catholic is sort of a misnomer, or at least redundant.  To be a trad is simply to be authentically Catholic.  When we judge things according to their trad level, all we're really doing is judging them according to orthodoxy.  Perhaps we should be speaking differently, however the emergence of heterodox "versions" of Catholicism make "traditionalism" necessary as a term and label.

You are correct. There is no such thing as a "traditional Catholic".  We are always playing the judge and jury towards other Catholics who do not regularly attend the same Mass that we do.
Now granted, there are "traditionalist" Catholics. If you want a term that defines a particular group of Catholics, that would be appropriate.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traditionalist_Catholic

Does the term "traditionalist Catholic" have too much baggage?

Yes it does. Kinda feels derogatory.
TC feel the need to have to explain themselves or answer a plethora of questions from the mainstream Catholics before formalizing a conversation.  Mind you , once the questions are out of the way, they have already labeled the TC as an "extremist", "crypto-sede", "thinks-he-is-better-than-I", "arrogant bastard", "holier-than-thou", "party-pooper", "attention-hog", etc.

To give out an analogy: It's like introducing someone as a "truther" or "birther".
That's it.

[beagle]

The question for me is 'do I care if it does?' I get so tired of hearing the whole 'oh, those traditionalists are mean' jive from conservatives and liberals. The rudest, most unfriendly parish I've been to here is my local Novus Ordo parish. Or check out any number of neo-Catholic blogs at patheos. Everybody's got a subgroup who's mean and rude and goes overboard. Could just as easily wonder if the word 'Catholic' has too much baggage. Or 'Christian' or whatever. When you get down to it, most people are jerks and nothing other than conforming to their standards will change their minds. And I sure ain't doing that.

Best you can do is just try and watch your own behavior and live the best you can. Maybe people will change their opinion; many won't no matter what. To hell with perceptions.

[Gottmitunsalex]

The question for me is 'do I care if it does?' I get so tired of hearing the whole 'oh, those traditionalists are mean' jive from conservatives and liberals. The rudest, most unfriendly parish I've been to here is my local Novus Ordo parish. Or check out any number of neo-Catholic blogs at patheos. Everybody's got a subgroup who's mean and rude and goes overboard. Could just as easily wonder if the word 'Catholic' has too much baggage. Or 'Christian' or whatever. When you get down to it, most people are jerks and nothing other than conforming to their standards will change their minds. And I sure ain't doing that.

Best you can do is just try and watch your own behavior and live the best you can. Maybe people will change their opinion; many won't no matter what. To hell with perceptions.

This.

[Lyubov]

however the emergence of heterodox "versions" of Catholicism make "traditionalism" necessary as a term and label.

I think this is the main reason that the label sticks. If we identified ourselves merely as "Catholics", the majority of people would assume that we are of the same variety as the various Novus Ordo, charismatic, and wishy-washy "Catholics".

[tmw89]

The question for me is 'do I care if it does?' I get so tired of hearing the whole 'oh, those traditionalists are mean' jive from conservatives and liberals. The rudest, most unfriendly parish I've been to here is my local Novus Ordo parish. Or check out any number of neo-Catholic blogs at patheos. Everybody's got a subgroup who's mean and rude and goes overboard. Could just as easily wonder if the word 'Catholic' has too much baggage. Or 'Christian' or whatever. When you get down to it, most people are jerks and nothing other than conforming to their standards will change their minds. And I sure ain't doing that.

Best you can do is just try and watch your own behavior and live the best you can. Maybe people will change their opinion; many won't no matter what. To hell with perceptions.

This.

Mostly that, although one must be careful about perceptions viz. scandal.

[LouisIX]

however the emergence of heterodox "versions" of Catholicism make "traditionalism" necessary as a term and label.

I think this is the main reason that the label sticks. If we identified ourselves merely as "Catholics", the majority of people would assume that we are of the same variety as the various Novus Ordo, charismatic, and wishy-washy "Catholics".

Right.  And many of us, including myself, believe that Novus Ordo Catholicism (or what we might call neoCatholicism) is much more dangerous than outright liberal Catholicism.