Discontinuing my EMHC service.

[QuisUtDeus]

For what it's worth, my advice comes from the strategy of picking your battles.  Just as I think Bishop Williamson should keep his Holocaust theories to himself, it's in the best interests of traditional Catholicism to keep this passage of Scripture out of the debate.  Let's get the laity out of the lector role all together.  Otherwise, savy modernists will make it a wedge issue, cry 'sexism' and win yet another battle.

Modernists have gotten their way by distorting meaning, etc.  If we stoop to their level, we are as bad as they are.  Catholics are not afraid of the truth, prudently explained.

Let them cry sexism.  Let them win another temporal battle.  They will lose in heaven where it counts.  The appropriate counter to their lies and distortions is to offer truth and clarity; give reasons for why we believe what we do, and let people make up their own minds.  Our job is not to "out-PR" the opposition.  This is theology, not a political campaign.  It is about truth, not who has the best spin.

The goal of apologetics is not to convince people with rhetoric; the goal is to put the truth out there, help people understand it, and enable them to come to the right decision.  If the other side uses rhetoric, the honest response is to tear it down, not engage in counter-rhetoric or prevarication.

[Ockham]

I live in a city of three hundred thousand people that has one TLM on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation.  It's attended by about fifty people each week.  At any moment, the FSSP could decide there is a larger community more in need and that would end it.  My hope is to increase interest in the Mass and traditionalism in order to get more people to the one we have now and then get more Masses on a regular basis.  As the primary directive of the Church is getting souls to Heaven, more TLMs is a worthy cause.  Throwing around what perceives to be sexist or racist or other extreme positions associated with traditional Catholicism works against this cause.  While some people ridicule and condemn fellow Catholics from their self-righteous grandeur in chatrooms, others are in the real world trying to rebuild the Church from the damage done these past forty years.  I'm not content staying home on Sunday, reading my 1962 Missal, and stewing in anger behind a computer screen thinking I'm smarter and holier than the pope.  Knowledge of traditional Catholicism is absent from the majority of Catholics; to have it is a blessing.  The content of this website has brought many people to traditioanlism; the conduct by some in the chatrooms has driven others away.  We will all be accountable on Judgement Day to the gift of traditional knowledge given to us.

[QuisUtDeus]

As far as what others perceive, yes, sometimes actual racist and sexist terms are thrown around.  But other times they are not racist and sexist, but only perceived to be.  The cure there is to throw the racists and sexists out and distance ourselves, and for the people unfairly portrayed as racists and sexists by others with an agenda, to defend them.

But, let's not confuse that kind of stuff with shutting up about Scripture so we don't offend modern sensibilities which is what the particular issue here is.

Now, we can be Bugnini and Paul VI and strip everything offensive from our beliefs and what we say in the hopes others will come around, or we can prudently tell the actual truth as the Church did in the past.  It seems to me, historically speaking, the way the Church worked in the past was more successful.

One of the main reasons is that no one likes being swindled.  Prevaricating on truths is swindling someone.  If they will only come over when they find nothing "offensive" and then some day they find something "offensive" they will feel swindled, at least subconsciously.  That serves no good purpose.

You suggested downplaying Scripture for "ecumenical" reasons, and now you state that it's because you need more Masses at your particular Church.  You don't see anything wrong with this approach?  Really?

I'll go out on an "uncharitable" limb here and state that I think your personal need for a TLM in your area does not outweigh the need and virtue of telling the truth clearly and letting people make up their minds freely.

[Stubborn]

Well put Quis!

[Ockham]

If the goal is to restore the distinction between clergy and laity, do away with the artifical ministries of Lector, EMHC, etc, then 1Cor14 is superfluous and counter-productive.

[Vetus Ordo]

then 1Cor14 is superfluous and counter-productive.

How can the Word of God be "superfluous" and "counter-productive"?

What has happened to your faith?

[SouthpawLink]

then 1Cor14 is superfluous and counter-productive.

How can the Word of God be "superfluous" and "counter-productive"?

What has happened to your faith?

Our Lord said, "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear" (Matt. 11:15).

We shouldn't let those who are choking on poison -- which are today's errors -- continue to choke on it.  The antidote to error is truth.  We must explain it in a charitable manner, but to avoid the explanation itself would be tantamount to a false sense of charity.

[Vetus Ordo]

then 1Cor14 is superfluous and counter-productive.

How can the Word of God be "superfluous" and "counter-productive"?

What has happened to your faith?

Our Lord said, "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear" (Matt. 11:15).

We shouldn't let those who are choking on poison -- which are today's errors -- continue to choke on it.  The antidote to error is truth.  We must explain it in a charitable manner, but to avoid the explanation itself would be tantamount to a false sense of charity.

To avoid the Word of God, to hide it as if it were something dirty to be ashamed of, instead of proclaiming it on the rooftops for the world to hear and repent of its sins, is not merely having a false sense of charity, it's a sheer betrayal of Christ Himself! He who speaks as if Holy Scripture were "superfluous" and "counter-productive" does not speak like a Christian but like an infidel.

[SouthpawLink]

Our Lord said, "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear" (Matt. 11:15).

We shouldn't let those who are choking on poison -- which are today's errors -- continue to choke on it.  The antidote to error is truth.  We must explain it in a charitable manner, but to avoid the explanation itself would be tantamount to a false sense of charity.

To avoid the Word of God, to hide it as if it were something dirty to be ashamed of, instead of proclaiming it on the rooftops for the world to hear and repent of its sins, is not merely having a false sense of charity, it's a sheer betrayal of Christ Himself! He who speaks as if Holy Scripture were "superfluous" and "counter-productive" does not speak like a Christian but like an infidel.

True.  It would be a sin against the virtue of Faith.

[QuisUtDeus]

If the goal is to restore the distinction between clergy and laity, do away with the artifical ministries of Lector, EMHC, etc, then 1Cor14 is superfluous and counter-productive.

That statement shows a lack of forethought, and pursing it will come to no good end.  In this particular case, it comes to no good end as soon as altar boys enter the picture.  "Why no altar girls if the rule is about laity?"  What are you going to say then?  Or might you suggest the Church allow women to serve at Mass so as not to offend and to avoid difficult questions?