Admittedly, I haven't felt welcome and see here that I am not alone. Being the last elderly nun from a Reigious Order, I am not accustomed to the aggression I have found. I did read this thread with interest though.
Being Catholic should mean that we all believe the same doctrines and Dogmas, or else we cannot call ourselves Catholic. After all it is the Universal Faith. Jesus told Pilate that he came to bring Truth. Amazingly, I have been reading here on this forum many little Pilate's in their own way sayin: "What is Truth?" As Catholics, shouldn't each one of us be Truth Seekers?
I don't know how many of you, like myself, remember what it was like before Vatican II. The lines weren't blurred as they are now. The old saying is true: "Rebellion begets rebellion." Who are we rebelling against. Heaven forbid that we admit we are rebelling against God and His Laws. So we say we are rebelling against "the Church", or " The Pope", etc. Why not say: "We like the world and all the goodies it offers. We don't like being different and having to follow stricter rules than everyone else. We don't want to be open for a child with each sex act..." The list goes on .
One thing is most definitely evident, no one wins with division, amongst ourselves and especially with God. I have to agree with this Trad Bishop, in that we need to go back to the time when for the most part, The Church was unified. The underlying factor was the "primitive rule" whose foundation was straight from the The Holy Bible.
We can only change ourselves. If we are truly seeking Truth and we are honestly wanting to please our most Sovereign Lord, then we must go back to best of our abilities to the way it should be before all of these major divisions came about with: the Mass being changed;the abuses of the Eacharist; the watering down of the faith; the contempt between genders, etc. Most importantly each of us need to work diligently in avoiding all sin. That's heroic virtue. Mind you I am pointing the finger at myself as well.
I put the question out there because I honestly want to know. How can we make a difference? How do we unify in love, both of God and our neighbor? How do we go back as the ones people know we are Christians by our love? I personally want to go forward by going back to the way it should be. Any suggestions?
Roman Catholicism has veered away from the Word....that's the problem.