Hello All,
I am a new member on this forum, but I have consistently read posts for a number of years on this forum. I have always found Ladislaus's posts to be particularly helpful when I've read them.
I would like to add my two cents on the Dimond brothers. Previously, I was an avid supporter of MHFM. I watched every video, listened to every audio, read every article that they have produced in the last fifteen years. I also have viewed a lot of their material produced in the 1990s. As many of you know, they promote one of the promises made to Saint Benedict. That is order will play a special role at the end of the world. They believe they are that order. I also believed this for a long time.
There are various observations I will make, that one may view as critical. However, the criticism that some people assert about the Dimond brothers doing this for money is absurd and obviously false. They essentially give all of their material away for free, either on the websites or platforms like YouTube. There is not one single piece of material behind a paywall. Also, when I would purchase material over the years, they would send me what I ordered with a bunch of other items also thrown in. I know others have also had this experience with them too. Not to the mention, the DVDs and books are very cheap to purchase. To criticize them in this way is just plain wrong.
As I mentioned, I was an avid supporter of their work for long time. What changed? As I began to progress spiritually, becoming more familiar with the lives and examples of the saints, I began to not be able to square some of the Dimond brother's behavior towards people. I too, had taken on some of their traits. I began to realize that they sometimes would be quite cold and uncharitable and impatient with people. I began to see the error of the ways. I can give examples and links for anything that I write here, if anyone requires proof. In various discussions with people they declare certain people to be of "bad will" "diabolically influenced", "possessed", "don't care about the truth..." etc. These were mainly referred to those professing to be Catholic and/or Trad Catholic. Once they confirm that someone believes something heretical, they say they're bad willed or something equivalent to that. I began to realize that we have no real way of knowing these things. During their debates, a person may stumble or seem confused and the Dimond brother will quickly label that person to be a "liar" or a "complete liar". Or perhaps, even possessed by a demon. I could see that this behavior was not helpful in trying to spread the Catholic faith and maybe even drives people away from the church. We know from Church history some conversions happen rapidly and others at a slower pace. Saint Augustine took years to convert and he had the prayers of Saint Monica to aid in his conversion. I find the Dimond brother's treatment of some people to be very unfair at the times.
There are some inconsistences in their thinking. For example, it's well known that Brother Michael Dimond spoke out against Sedevacantism in the 1990s. In this talk he did declare that John Paul II was a heretic but that he remained the pope. They say that Brother Michael was influenced by Father Wathen in this regard. That he was mistaken on these matters and that an allowance for Brother Michael's mistake on this should be given. Fair enough! However, they don't afford the same courtesy today in regards to sedevacantism. People might say "well Francis is so notorious and in 2022 we have a wealth of information via online...". Sedes in the 1990s could pretty much say the same thing in regards to Brother Michael. They could easily say "JP2 is such a heretic and apostate, brother Michael even called him a heretic, yet accepts him as the pope, this is bad will..." Of course that statement would be unfair to Brother Michael, it's also unfair for the Dimond brothers to chalk most traditionalists errors up to bad will. Anyone who was a dedicated reader of their website will know that they tend to bind consciences on various issues. Including some cօռspιʀαcιҽs that they believe. For example, they have said in the past that if someone sees the evidence regarding 9/11 and doesn't accept that it is a conspiracy, it's a mortal sin. I really think they go too far on this. They don't accept people to just be error, its that the person is bad willed, a liar, a diabolical heretic etc. I myself fell into this over time. I would assume the ways of the person's heart, until I realized this is really wrong.
A good example of behavior which I think is wrong is their video on Bishop Dolan. The title of the video and bringing Bishop Dolan's tweet into the video, implies that he died because he bad mouthed them. I can assure you that many of their readers and supporters believe this. They go onto presume he is in Hell, since we cannot pray for him according to them. They have done this with various trad clergy throughout the years. Correct me if I am wrong, but we cannot presume the final destination of any soul other that Judas? We do not know what grace God gives anyone right up until the person dies. The fact that they make videos like that does seem cold to me. Bear in mind, there was a time I would have supported those videos.
I do not hold Baptism of Desire or Baptism of blood. However, I think the Dimond brothers go too far on this issue too. I do believe that one may hold those positions as long as it is consistent with the various Doctors and Saints of the Church who held those positions. I believe those positions to be demonstrably false, but as the Church as not officially condemned these ideas, and they are in various books of the church, a Catholic can hold these positions and remain a Catholic. The Dimond brothers would likely label most a outright heretic if they don't agree with their position on the matter. Again, they go further than needed and label more people as bad willed and having no care for the Catholic faith. Whereas, reason tells me that if a person is going to a sede chapel, if they didn't care at all about the faith, there is a much easier life to be had at the local novus ordo "church". With maybe few exceptions, I think we can agree that anyone claiming to be Trad probably has some care for the faith, otherwise they wouldn't take certain actions. Yet the Dimond brothers can tell these people they don't care about the truth one bit. Following these examples, I have seen their supports be bitter, spiteful and outright insulting to people. This does cause me concern, as by their fruits you shall know them. I have seen their supporters ask series of questions until the person finally gives a wrong answer and then the Dimond supporter will condemn the person. Usually in a distasteful way. The way in which many of those supporters behave, does not line up with Christian virtues. These kind of things got me to move away from MHFM. This is a crisis in the Church and I believe we need to give as many people the benefit of the doubt. It is possible that many are trying their best to preserve the faith in this unprecedented crisis. The bitterness of MHFM does not help people.
In regards to their material regarding the end times, I believe it is quite compelling. Although, I do not agree with all of it, unsure on some it and agree with parts. I think we are in the Great Apostasy. I think what's happening in Rome is a great example of this point. If one watches their videos regarding the end times, it is not easy to argue with. I would appreciate someone with knowledge debating them on the end times. With that said, I think there is some gaps in their antichrist theory. It is just a fact that most of the writings of the Church fathers and saints throughout history does not line up with the Dimond's analysis on the Antichrist. They also use a part of Our Lady of La Salette often about this.
"Rome will lose the faith and become the seat of the Antichrist..."
We know that La Salette also says he will be born of Hebrew nun and his father would be a bishop. Here is another excerpt from the message.
There shall be wars until the last war, which shall be waged by the ten kings of Antichrist. All these Kings shall a common design, and they only shall govern the world.
We know that this doesn't fit with MHFM's JP2 theory. They use the quote regarding Rome to help prove their point, but they are ignoring other parts of the same message. It is also true that previous to their current material they held Pope Benedict XV to be the first of the seven kings. This was changed after B16 was elected. In regards to the two witnesses, LaSalette mentions Enoch and Elias will combat the Antichrist. Many of MHFM supporters believe the Dimonds are the two witnesses. I think this is an error on the supporters part, but it's quite dangerous. When one believes that these two brothers are the two witnesses of the Apocalypse, you are inclined to agree with everything they say and do. You can see this in some of the supporters, they become cult-like.
I used to think that JP2 was the Antichrist without a doubt. Now, I am more inclined to believe we are in the advent of Antichrist and JP2 was a precursor. As I said, the Dimond's end time information is quite compelling. I know Gemmarose said that Brother Michael said Maitraya was the Antichrist in the 90s. He didn't specifically word it that way. He said he thought that Maitraya was a possible candidate.
In closing, I think they have produced some great works, I think they let themselves down by their treatment and bitter zeal (as Lad would say). I think the bitter zeal does a lot of harm and undoes a lot of good work. I wish they weren't as dogmatic on non - dogmatic issues, but that is pretty much true of all the Trad groups.
Lastly, as I am new here, I would like to kindly ask any of you who read this to pray a Hail Mary for me. I would greatly appreciate that. Thank you.
Topic: Dimond Brothers on Taylor Marshall (Read 9027 times)