Tinker, Tailor, Liberal, Traditionalist, Orthodox, Modernist?

Big Ears was a Traditionalist

It seems that people, understandably, do not like labels.

But the word 'Catholic' is a label and, back in the early 60s it was enough to establish your spiritual lineage.

Now it is not.

So, we have become fragmented and divided; we are no longer one holy Catholic and apostolic Church.

We are modernists, CINOs, uber conservatives, right wingers, liberals and so on.

And the labels are often inaccurate; I really do not know how I would describe myself.

I am right wing politically, but does that apply also to my Faith?

I believe the core of the problem lies in the fact that our secular acts are working in opposition to our spiritual ones.

We like to stand and receive the Host in our hand, therefore, we are liberal.

We prefer to kneel and receive by mouth, therefore, we are......what?

When I first entered the education sector back in 1989 one of my first duties was to send a group of lecturers to our local Ferryside post graduate teacher training base. I forget the nature of the course, it has no relevance.

When they returned I asked how the day had been received and I was told this story:-

" They put us into two groups with the College X staff in one and us in the other. And then they called us Group A and Group B.
Well, College X did not like to be referred to as 'Group B as they felt that was second rate so the instructors deliberated for ten minutes and then re-classified us as Group 1 and Group 2.

We were now Group 2 and we felt that we had been relegated to second place so we objected.

The instructors thought again and came up with the idea of Black Group and White Group but College X felt that to be dubbed 'Black' was insulting (but not in a racial context, of course).

We then had the mid morning break while various other ideas were put to us and all were rejected.

At about 11.15am, the instructors came back in and offered us the titles of Pixie Group and Fairy Group and these were found to be acceptable to both teams".

So that's it then.


History was made on that day in October 1989 - the link to Catholic identity was outlined for the very first time.

So, I propose that this innovative lead is adopted at once and, from now on we shall be known by the following nomenclature:-

Liberals - Fairies

Modernists - Goblins

Traditionalists - Dwarves

Orthodox - Elves

Charismatics - Pixies

Job done!

Why I am now orthodox and not traditional

There are a lot of comments flying around at present regarding labels and sniping at people's appearances...some of it is good, some of it is not.

"O God, I thank Thee I am not like other men
(and am well dressed and slim)"

It is not good manners, for example, to criticise a person's hairstyle and dress code.

But, it may be (just maybe) fine to satirise them in a non personal manner.

Well, at least, I hope that is the case.

For example, we have many good deacons and some distinctly dodgy ones; I quite like to lampoon the dodgy ones but I would never individually criticise their dress sense (apart from the shell suits, that is).

But, it is certainly not edifying for men, especially, to be snarky about a woman's appearance.

And to make an ultra personal point of highlighting a person's weight goes far, far beyond the realms of common courtesy and good manners.

It is, in fact, gross bad manners showing a distinct lack of breeding.

That is why, I am finally laying claim to the label of being an 'orthodox Catholic' (of the Roman Rite).

Ten years ago you never heard the word 'orthodox' being used, we were all either modernists or traditionalists then.

Both sides have an ugly facet to them; one that is at odds with the teachings of Our Blessed Lord.

But orthodoxy has no such emotional baggage (as yet) and that is why I am now in this camp.

I do not wish to be associated with individual viewpoints, or, indeed, the operational actions of any particular organisation that solely avows 'Tradition' as its raison d'etre.

Sadly, we do have to be labelled; we are either Conservative or Labour, Black or White, Jewish or Catholic, Modernist or...... Orthodox.

Traditionalism has shot itself in the foot too many times.

It is now on the World Wildlife Fund's 'species threatened with extinction' list.

And the sooner it becomes extinct, the better.