Some Rad-Trads Are Lazy Curmudgeons

I've written in the past about some strange things I've noticed about those who identify themselves as Catholics faithful to the magisterium but who hold themselves aloof from other faithful Catholics.  For lack of a better term, I'll call them either "rad trads" or (probably more accurately) curmudgeons.  I've described some of their characteristics in earlier posts: disdain for democracy, poo-pooing any votes for anyone less than a saint, condescension towards those of us active within politics or speaking in the public arena, etc.

I've tried for some time to understand just what might be the driving force behind their beliefs and behavior and realize that the answer isn't really that complicated.  To wit:

Quite a few are lazy - and quite pompous about it.  They justify their laziness to themselves by imperiously  proclaiming that the actions that they eschew (voting, boycotts, prolife activism, etc) are at best a waste of their oh-so-precious time and at worst a compromise of the One True Faith.  In other words, pride comes into play as they mock us from their insular conclaves.

Yep!  Why else would they put down the efforts of other Catholics, pretending that those efforts aren't good enough?  Why else would they mock President Trump non-stop without uttering a peep about those Democrats who are openly against God, life, family, human freedom, etc?  They mock our efforts to justify their own unwillingness to get off their duffs and do something.

I've even heard one of them mock pro-life action as "prolifeism" as though our efforts constituted a form of idolatry against the One True Faith.  Their big beef is that many of us in the pro-life movement work alongside non-Catholics.  Well, so what?  When they get off their rears and join the effort, maybe they will have some room to talk - that is, if they don't learn to appreciate the contributions of non-Catholic people.  To paraphrase one pro-life leader, I like what some non-Catholics are doing better than what some "rad-trads" aren't doing.

I recently was involved in a facebook discussion with some of these individuals, with the topic revolving around the intentions of some Catholics to boycott Netflix because of their portrayal of Jesus as a homosexual pervert.  The boycott effort was - of course - belittled by these "rad-trads".  Here's an interesting snippet.

Two of them are conversing here. Now why on earth to they pretend that we hold boycotts to be sacraments, of all things?

Here's another, with them dismissing the right and responsibility to vote.  Again, they like to bandy the word "sacrament" around, using it as a perjorative.  The one guy is calling the act of voting "material cooperation in evil".  On the contrary, I've explained my belief in previous posts why I believe the disdain of voting to be its own evil.

As I write this, news comes to us that the House just voted to impeach President Trump on very specious pretenses.  It is reasonable to believe that the absent Catholic vote in 2018 is largely to blame for putting the Dems back in control of the House.  Shall we now pray that the GOP in the Senate has the wisdom and courage to do the right thing?

Moreover, in 2020 elections will be upon us.  We've already suffered through enough Democrat debates to know that whoever is the victor will usher in baby slaughter, gay agendas, transgenders, you name it.  We will have to get involved (if we aren't already).  When we hear our very confused rad-trads spout their non-voting crap, well, let's recall that "rebuke the sinner" is a Spiritual Work of Mercy.

Revisiting The Vote For Romney

Last month I posted my opinion on why we Christians need to vote for the GOP candidate in November; presumably that is Mitt Romney since he now appears to have the delegates to vote for him at the GOP convention.  I now commend to your reading an article that appeared in American Thinker this past May entitled Obama's Second-Term Transformation Plans.

To those who think that there's no difference between Romney and Obama and that it will suffice just to vote for Congress, I highlight this statement from the article: "Many Republicans and conservatives dissatisfied with the prospect of Mitt Romney as the nominee for president are instead focused on re-taking the House and Senate. That goal, while worthy and necessary, is meaningless unless Barack Obama is defeated. The nation is not dealing with a person of character and integrity but someone of single-minded purpose and overwhelming narcissism. Judging by his actions, words and deeds during his first term, he does not intend to work with Congress either Republican or Democrat in his second term but rather to force his radical agenda on the American people through the power he has usurped or been granted."

I realize there may be much visceral disdain for Romney.  However, please realize that the casting of your vote does not merely signify approval of the candidate for whom you vote; such view of voting is simplistic as it does not consider all ramifications.  For instance, one may vote for one candidate to deny another candidate who is less acceptable.  It is licit to "vote against" as much as it is to "vote for".

To those of you inclined not to vote or to go "third-party", I urge you to soberly consider the arithmetic results of such actions.  Please think and disregard the "gut-instinct".  Cool logic is needed now, not emotional reactions.  Will the country survive four more years of Obama?  I think we all know the answer to that.  If he is reelected and you did not cast your vote for the GOP candidate, you will bear some responsibility for that.

Christians Should Vote For Romney Because Judges Matter

The above is the title of an article written by Matt Barber, Vice President of Liberty Counsel Action.  I first read it in yesterday's op-ed section of the Washington Times and now Life News carries it as well.  Please read it.  I couldn't agree with him more and I don't think I can say it better than he.

The last few lines deserve special emphasis, so I'll quote them here.  "My friend and colleague Cynthia Dunbar, a law professor at Liberty University School of Law, recently wrote: “In this election year, we find ourselves with only three realistic courses of action: 1) Don’t vote; 2) vote for Obama; or 3) vote for Romney.

It’s simple: A Christian nonvote is a vote for Mr. Obama in that it fails to affirmatively cancel out an Obama vote. Furthermore, any Christian who votes for Mr. Obama will get to take that up with God.
This leaves us with our third and final choice: Christians must vote for Mitt Romney. A second Obama term is simply unacceptable. We won’t survive it."

I'll be frank.  I've been hearing too much foolish jibber-jabber about "3rd parties (I don't give a rat's rump what the reason is!)" and "stay at home".  Given the stakes that we face, neither of these is morally acceptable.  I believe they constitute sins against the virtue of prudence.  Later there will be time to discuss policies and priorites, but that must wait until the November elections.  Right now the priority is Obama's defeat.  We dare not fail.