I dare say that you have more sense than many Catholics I know, at least liturgically.
So, you are familiar with Gerry Matatics. I have seen him speak several times, and the man is highly impressive. What do you think when you see him, as a protestant? Do you not think he makes a very capable defense of the Catholic faith from the Bible alone, or at least debunks the sola scriptura/sola fide foundations of the protestant revolt? I just wonder because at the last conference I went to of his I was sitting next to a very charitable Lutheran man, and I couldn't see how someone could sit through a day of listening to Matatics and not at least have some notion that maybe Luther and his band of merry men were wrong.
As for the traditional mass in Baton Rouge, I don't know how it would be for someone who denies the real presence, but from a Catholic standpoint it is, to quote Fr. Frederick Faber "The most beautiful thing this side of Heaven."
***So, you are familiar with Gerry Matatics. I have seen him speak several times, and the man is highly impressive. What do you think when you see him, as a protestant? ***
Gerry went through the Westminster Seminary doctoral program in Reformation Studies (he left ABD) a few years after I completed the program. I certainly respect his knowledge and ability to defend his beliefs.
Despite the same academic training, he and I come to opposing convictions regarding the events and issues of the Reformation era. I respect him highly. Nevertheless, my convictions remain.
I also understand a bit of his frustration with some of the post Vatican II "innovations" (my term). Ultima ratio has done, IMO, a good job of voicing the theological implications of the new liturgy. I believe the Tridentine best fits the historic Catholic position.
This is why I said that if I became a Catholic (and I am not even close) I'd identify with the trads. The ecumenism of Vatican II reminds me too much of the ecumenicism that infected the Protestant denominations at the turn of the previous century. J. Gresham Machen (founder of Westminster Seminary) wrote Christianity and Liberalism in the 1920's and his concerns have relevance for the trad/V2 discussions raging today.
At least that is how THIS Proddy sees it.
BTW, I am far more impressed with Gerry Matatics than Scott Hahn. Gerry does a better job, IMO, of explaining Catholic convictions to Protestants.