I want to thank Pansy Moss for her first-hand example of racial attitudes in America. To address Mr. De Nunzio’s point further, there was no question in the comments on this Blog of ignoring or trivializing racial differences. Indeed, as Pansy says, they are deeply entrenched. The question is, why do these differences exist and to what extent are they exacerbated by centuries-long non-Catholic attitudes. This is exactly what Pansy alluded to. To bring us back to the original topic, Jeff and I voiced concern over racialist views being touted as “traditionalist” (in both the political and religious sense). I completely agree that the “anti-racist” crusade is generally so much leftist agitprop. I’m not concerned that Nazism is going to take over the U.S. But that doesn’t change that fact that in a small community like traditional Catholicism, which liberalism seeks to marginalize, that fringe views can make themselves more strongly felt, whether they are promoting false apparations, errroneous theology or political error. Jeff’s concern with the ideas of Jim Kalb (or mine with Sam Francis) is the idea that ethnicity should be a fundamental factor in formulating political ethics and Catholic social policy. Nor is this some vague paranoia. None of us would care in the least except that there are more explicit examples, like the “Legion of St. Louis,” which claims to promote Catholic Action yet sells works by anti-Semites, racists and extremists. The deeper danger is that the spiritual struggle is reduced to an ideological one in which “holiness” is equated with arcane or even dangerous political preferences. These groups do exist, and where their presence is felt, dissension and confusion
follow.
First, I would like to give a shout out to Jeff because he is a fellow Trad that doesn’t buy into any of this BS, and that is why I am one of his biggest fans.
One of the reasons why I love the Traditional Latin Mass is the culture that is held in esteem above others is Catholic, not Spanish, not Irish, not black or Italian but Catholic. This is hard to find in many Novus Ordo Masses around here. That is why this racist attitude that seems to permeating the Traditional movement is so heartbreaking. The Catholic Church is Universal and all men are created in the image and likeness of God. If a person wants to stick to the true traditions of the Church Christ established, then we need to look at a person as a human and not as simply someone of some race.
The notion that since liberals promote “diversity” and “tolerance” (which are also buzz words for racism) it is also OK to support some type of white supremecy such as The Caucasian Club or whatever is stupid, reactive and nothing more than an excuse to get Catholicism to fit someone’s own racist agenda. And last I checked, when you try to change the Church to support what you believe rather than what the Church teaches, that is called Protestantism.
Someone told me once that the notion of “integration” is nothing more than black people wanting pity for their dark skin? What the? No, integration is what happens when people stop being afraid of each other simply on the basis of race.
Good post, Pansy, and thanks for the “shout out”. I’m a longtime admirer of Mr. Anger’s work and am pleased that he has been willing to contribute to ECR. For the record, my experience of racialism in the traditionalist movement is entirely limited to the internet. We have seen nothing of the sort among the indult-goers in Northern California — quite the opposite, given our regional demographics.
Still, I don’t think it is possible — or even desirable — to have a Catholic community or liturgy that is entirely “non-ethnic”. The important thing is that the traditions of the parish become the adopted traditions of all its members.
Jeff,
In Albany, we have a Church that used to be called “St. George’s” and is now called Black Catholic Apostolate. They have a procession where they beat drums and do black history for CCD. There is a Church that is equally ethnically Spanish. People often try to get us to go to these two Churches. In many of the other NO parishes that are not labeled as “minority”, people have literally pulled their children’s hands away at the sign of peace and I have sat in what was supposed to be parish council meetings and people sat for thirty minutes telling Irish jokes.
I have no problem when ethnicity is a sharing point among people as opposed to a dividing point and it is hard to totally leave out ethnicity. I love visiting the Bl. Kateri Shrine and reading about the Mohawk history, but this is for all of us Catholics to share in, but not like a secret club for Mohawk Indians only.
I know what you mean. We have a lot of ethnic parishes here too, and I don’t mind them, since they are mostly a pastoral measure for first and second generation immigrants. Our Latin Mass has an Romanophile chaplain, a Francophile assistant chaplain, and an Anglophile choirmaster. The congregation includes a preponderance of Irish surnames, but also includes families with Filipino, Mexican, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Nigerian ancestry. And we all sing those beautiful old Anglican hymns during the recessional. 🙂
Sounds wonderful!
And do not forget Italian surnames Jeff!! In Sacramento, in both the indult community and the community that lets say, has a irregular relationship with Rome, I did not see any of the racialism that many say Traditional Catholics claim to support. I have not seen it either at the indult community here in Columbus Ohio. I suspect that TRaditionalist Catholics that do support this agenda are part of fringe scismatic community that even say the SSPX is full of liberal herritics.
Mr. John B,
What scares me, is the thing I write about over and over again in this diocese is the utter lack of formation. Athe mong Catholics who want to find real Catholicism, the TLM naturally attracts many of these people. But mixed in with the longing to find the faith, I have seen just about any type of philosophy that is written by someone who claims to be a “true Catholic” followed by someone no matter how bizarre. This idea in the context it was written almost seems normal compared to some of the other stuff I have heard. This is just one that would affect my family personally, so I tend to get a bit more out of shape about it.
Good points, John. So — when are you coming home?
John,
I gather that you are a Sacramento Italian too? If so, are you a native? From East Sac? If you stood at the Quality Market on Folsom and threw a rock in any direction, you would probably have hit a relative of mine 15 years ago. I wonder if we have met before.
ow, Erik, wouldn’t all that rock-throwing hurt? If you and John have met, I hope there wasn’t any petty violence involved.