I read a lot of "the thread" over at FE -- all I can say is, you're most welcome to stay and post here.

I even saw the person who signed up as a new user, "Chinchilla Maligna", just to mock you. The person bothered to create a complete profile, too! Completely uncharitable. He is not laughing with you, but AT you. That is not Catholic or charitable. Someone has been watching too much TV, which says that humor is ALWAYS ok, no matter what kind, or who is the butt of the joke.

I didn't see anything wrong with your behavior. Perhaps people take you the wrong way sometimes (but I know what that's like). It's hard to avoid all misunderstandings -- that's why on a forum we should always give everyone the benefit of the doubt.

Again, welcome!

Matthew

Primarily Ancilla was accused of "holier than thou-ism" because of trying to lift some minds out of the world.  And, yes, some were mocking like the devil, literally.  I haven't checked it out the last couple of days, but sounds like things got worse.  And, please excuse me for mentioning this, but Vox allows it, which says something about Vox.  

By the way, someone privately mentioned that they admired that I was "strong".  It can be strong to also walk away, and sometimes more meritorious.  However, I knew I didn't mind if they mocked me.  I think Vox may have been surprised that I did not defend the things that had been going on there.  I probably should have addressed it first privately with her, but she was already aware of the issues with the moderators, and she was responsible of much of it.  Vox, by the way, never kicked me out, and I am technically still on the site, but I don't have any desire to patronize the forums, and don't even see a need to be on the site at all, since I can just as easily get my news elsewhere.   Also, it's more important that I spend that time in prayer, in examination of conscience, or even in just spiritual reading that I myself grow in holiness rather than dissipate so much time and energy checking out the latest news in the Church.    As they say, St. Francis of Assisi did not set out to change the Church, but to reform himself.  In the process, he influenced the Church and thereby the world.  And he was a poor, and simple man.  Even while he was well-regarded by many, he certainly had his viscious detractors... and here we are talking about a saint! lol!   I wouldn't expect to have it any easier, especially in this age.

I've noticed that a lot of people were greatly affected by the thread.  Some even used the word that they themselves were afraid to be "traumatized" by merely entering into the thread on my defense.  Here is the thing that I don't understand:  why there is a perception that their ranting has any power over Truth?  If Christ is with us, who can be against us?  Those that attacked me with words came at me with such ferocity, it was as if they sincerely believe that they had the upperhand not by their favor with Christ, but by their mere number and visciousness in which they would reply, and their clever ways of twisting words.  It makes sense, though, that they would believe these tactics would be effective since it clearly reveals their own morality being led by human respect.  Every tactic on the 'page' was attempted, but in the end, it was only a matter of human respect.   The reality is that Truth operates independent of human respect.  So, there was no reason to be so deeply concerned, although I appreciate the empathy; the worse that they could do is invoke the devil by their malice (if he wasn't already to blame for much of it), but to that I have recourse to the Blessed Mother and our Lord in his holy name:  Jesus.   They could have pulled my account, but they didn't. ***Surprisingly, since they pulled accounts for much less, such as speaking out against Freemasons, or in defense of abstaining from television.***  Perhaps they realized on some level that the war they waged wasn't on merely a members bold exhortation, but on the threat to their own damaged, worldly morality.  Not deleting my account gave them an opportunity to attack this 'threat' (and attempt to defend their beloved culture), so I felt I owed it to their souls not to give in this time.  Also, I hope it did some good for some of the people who read the threads and yet are afraid to speak out.  See?  I am still alive and without a scratch.

The new martyrdom of true Christians is of morality, rather than a threats on our lives.  The new martyrdom is prolonged throughout each of our lives, and no less tempting (perhaps even more) than if the threats were on our lives.   It's ok to avoid these types of discussions (like the thread on FE), but we must face the daily martyrdom against the war on the spirit of Christ living within us.   :boxer:

Recently I was reading about St. Felix and learned that he had known St. Philip Neri.  Apparently, when they parted after travelling together for a long time, they had such deep respect for each that they took turns wishing each other great torments, and martyrdoms.   What a difference that is from what we often hear today.  These guys actually wished each other persecutions because they wanted it for themselves because they desired giving glory to God in this lifetime.

The greater evil isn't the persecution, it's what's behind it.  If one is in the right disposition, receiving such persecution for the sake of Christ is meritorious and awesome.  Even outside of the merit, such persecutions are experiencing a tiniest sliver of our Lord's experience.  We want that because we can then say to the Lord, "see how much I trust in you?"

Well, Gilbert, I wasn't actually "exiled", as I left on my own accord, and I was hardly "beaten into submission."   As I recall, one of the moderators locked the thread saying that she was "embarassed for me."  (As if how people thought of me was the main issue.  At least, it wasn't so for me.)  

And, like it or not, they are Catholic, assuming that they believe and profess all that the Catholic Church teaches is necessary for salvation.

Should there come a time when freedoms that we presently enjoy are banished (for example, when we can no longer pray in public, or when our priests are arrested for standing up for the Truth even during the Sacrifice of the Mass) and this country becomes a police state, many of those that had once professed the True Faith will apostacize.  

If one is so soft that they would break the commandment of charity to one's neighbor in defense of secularized and scandalous entertainment, they do so because they are soft in the faith.  They believe that they have already 'arrived' and don't concern themselves with what they perceive as the archaic (pre-VII or even pre Reformation) notion that one must do penance and mortifications to submit conform one's will more perfectly to Christ in order to even ensure their place in Heaven.  Tell them that, and they'll go into a rage.  Rather, they profess a doctrine independent of that which has been proclaimed by the Church (e.g., the Apostles, the Church Fathers, the Church Doctors) and rather profess their belief that presuming on the grace of God is the same as having trust in the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  

Remember Christ's words, "Unless you do penance, you shall all likewise perish".   Our Lord was refering to doing penance not only for our own sins, but also the sins of others.  How opposed to Christ is the idea that how we regard our brother is independent from how we are regarded (by our Lord)!   Yet, those misforuntate people who do not understand this or wish to ignore this, will not at all be grateful to those that do regard their souls, because they (those that are slothful and hate any fraternal correction that tells them that worldly entertainments are not for the betterment of their soul) are focused on the needs of the flesh and what this world can give to them.  Human respect is, therefore, a greater force in their lives and the lens through which they perceive the world and themselves in relation to the world, and even in relation to God.  In this sense, they create for themselves a new doctrine, apart from that which Christ teaches us.  

If they are so opposed to piety, and even abstaining from worldly entertainments that GRAVELY OFFEND our Lord (who we receive in Holy Communion), then penances will be soft, and a great burden to them.  They argue that the Church doesn't have such strict regulations on such things, and we are not bound to becoming saints and they mock those of us who look to grow in holiness.  Yet, the fail to realize that what the Church demands of us as far as pious practice (including fasting, abstinance and even avoidance of near occasions of sin) is not enough to save our souls.  The Church only holds us to Dogmatic constitutions, and this is not enough.  

Beautiful words, Ancilla. Agree with everything you have said so far.