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Traditional Catholic Faith => SSPX Resistance News => Topic started by: Matthew on July 14, 2015, 09:37:03 AM

Title: A Rosetta Stone for Insults
Post by: Matthew on July 14, 2015, 09:37:03 AM
I have come to realize that even one's enemies say a lot of truth about a person, without meaning to. If you know how to read the insults, that is.

For example, Our Lord worked awesome, undeniable miracles. How did his enemies insult him?

"He is casting out devils by the power of Beelzebub".
"A rabble rouser"

So even the insults suggest that he had great power, as well as an ability to influence people. He drew people to Himself for some reason.

Another example -- one enemy said that Bishop Williamson was "airy fairy" which he defined as "an old fashioned term for head in the clouds".

So...I, who like Bishop Williamson would describe him as
a philosopher for many years, wise, always thinking about the big-picture and principles.

How would a hater try to cast that in a negative light?
"airy fairy"
"head in the clouds"
"ivory tower"

I would say that Bishop Williamson is a warrior for the truth, only saying what is true, which requires nuances because (as the saying goes) "the pure and simple truth is rarely pure and never simple." If something is not 100% true, he won't say it. He'll emphasize how it's 99.99% true, but then admit that there's that .01%. I think that's admirable, because I like truth and accuracy. But, again, I'm willing to admit good things about him because I'm favorable to him.

But what would the detractors say if they heard the same 5 minute talk?

"He's all over the place"
"Duplicitous"
"Confusing"
"Talks out of both sides of his mouth"

Let's take another example: Fr. Pfeiffer. Most CathInfo members are familiar with him. He is a pioneer of the US Resistance, going all around the country (and even the world) saying Mass for groups of resistance supporters, albeit on a sporadic basis. He is under-staffed and has minimal resources, but he is a fighter, a trooper, and a pioneer. And let's not forget his leadership abilities and people skills.

How will his detractors cast his virtues and strong points in a negative light?

"controversial"
"loose cannon"
"disobedient"
"maverick"
"hot potato"

You can literally take ANY virtue and turn it around to sound negative

Leader becomes "disobedient"
Faithful becomes "stubborn", "disobedient", "rebel"
Perseverance in the Faith becomes "trying to be the remnant of the remnant"

Next point -- it works in reverse.

When you're following a personality 1st and principles 2nd, you might distort the truth by interpreting VICES in a POSITIVE light.

Human beings are very complicated.

For example, if a man had an over-simplified response to a situation, his followers might interpret the (objectively erroneous) childish solution to a problem favorably by saying

"He's got a solution; he's trying to solve this problem!"
"He's a straight-talker"
"He's easy to understand"
etc.

Last point - some enemies make up bald-faced lies. Sometimes the exact OPPOSITE of the truth. Yes, enemies can be that bold!

Some enemies won't even be content to "twist" your actual actions into something evil or negative -- they aren't content with even basing their accusations on the TRUTH. They'll take something you're doing/saying and completely flip it around into an outright LIE.

For example:

Bishop Williamson lately has said many times that he doesn't have the authority to "seize control of all resistance priests". Which is true. Good on him for having a good Catholic sense. Meanwhile, he also mentioned at TWO different large conferences that we MUST NOT get all high and mighty or puffed up, or consider ourselves "the remnant of the remnant" and everyone else is garbage. He said that explicitly! For years (decades?) he taught seminarians that the SSPX wasn't anything special, and that as soon as it stopped standing for the truth (its one strength) it would be good for nothing like salt that has lost its savor. He continues this teaching with the Resistance now -- always poking us in case anyone's ego is starting to inflate, and reminding us to stay humble and PRAY.

What did one enemy say?

"Always talking about how he will lead the resistance, restoration, true SSPX, Traditional Remnant, remnant of the remnant, ect."


I think a chart or spreadsheet could be devised, to "translate" the insults into what truth probably lies underneath.

But it would only work for those insults "based" on actual truth. As many have pointed out, the psychological technique of "projection" is very real. Many people project their own faults onto their enemies.
Title: A Rosetta Stone for Insults
Post by: Matthew on July 14, 2015, 10:38:34 AM
I guess my point here is that we should all learn how to look under the surface of an insult or claim, and see what truth might be hidden there underneath.

"Fr. X's shed chapel"
Oh, so Fr. X went through the trouble of starting a Mass center from scratch in some kind of detached building. Interesting. I'll have to find a picture of it or visit it myself. For all I know, it's quite well-done and suitable for the Blessed Sacrament.

"Fr. X is disobedient, rebellious"
Hmm...perhaps Fr. X is merely being obedient to a higher principle or cause?

"Fr. X is fostering a cult of personality"
Maybe Fr. X is speaking the truth and these people are the ones that are willing to see it. They could be following principles and truth. Is there any evidence that these people have chosen/will choose to follow this Fr. X instead of a Catholic principle? That's the only way to tell if it's a cult of personality.

"Fr. X needs to be in the spotlight"
Perhaps Father is just ZEALOUS. Perhaps Fr. X is just showing some initiative and energy to do something to deal with a current problem or crisis. I'll have to look into it more closely to see if it's zeal or pride that fuels him.

"Fr. X and Fr. Y are fighting"
Hmm... apparently there is a state of conflict between Fr. X and Fr. Y. I wonder who is at fault there? Fr. X, Fr. Y, or both?

"Fr. X is being secretive."
So he's not saying something. About what? Perhaps Fr. X is under attack by one or more enemies, and is being prudent about what he says in order to avoid unnecessary additional obstacles to his apostolate. The more you say, the more  your enemies can twist against you. Is the Big Media out to get this priest?
Title: A Rosetta Stone for Insults
Post by: Gerard from FE on July 14, 2015, 11:12:24 PM
I just had to address a thread by Fr. Cekada in which he tried to pass off the idea that Bishop Williamson passively and indiscriminately endorses the Novus Ordo.  

http://www.suscipedomine.com/forum/index.php?topic=11682.0;topicseen

Fr. Cekada has a real axe to grind, I think because he's dug himself into untenable positions.  

Title: A Rosetta Stone for Insults
Post by: GottmitunsAlex on July 15, 2015, 01:02:28 AM
Quote from: Gerard from FE
I just had to address a thread by Fr. Cekada in which he tried to pass off the idea that Bishop Williamson passively and indiscriminately endorses the Novus Ordo.  

http://www.suscipedomine.com/forum/index.php?topic=11682.0;topicseen

Fr. Cekada has a real axe to grind, I think because he's dug himself into untenable positions.  


He had it in for Archbishop Lefebvre then.
He has it in for Bishop Williamson now.
Title: A Rosetta Stone for Insults
Post by: Stubborn on July 15, 2015, 05:56:39 AM
Quote from: Gerard from FE
I just had to address a thread by Fr. Cekada in which he tried to pass off the idea that Bishop Williamson passively and indiscriminately endorses the Novus Ordo.  

http://www.suscipedomine.com/forum/index.php?topic=11682.0;topicseen

Fr. Cekada has a real axe to grind, I think because he's dug himself into untenable positions.  



I'm not a member there so I give you an up thumb here for the excellent replies you provided there, but it looks like the SD club-o-libs choose once again to remain steadfast and firm on the defamation of the good +Williamson.

Back to the topic of this thread.

Matthew, perhaps not being content with merely disagreeing, we find it necessary to not only destroy the opposition, but to also destroy them no matter what, I think is a weakness which results as a means of satisfying our concupiscence. I think this is something we are all too easily ready to succuмb too when we do not strive to overcome it.

The OP reminds me of Fr. Wathen, speaking about "the many" from Scripture, puts it this way......
Quote from: Fr. Wathen

These accursed souls are personified in Judas, who had received nothing but kindness and honor and enlightenment from Christ. Let The Deniers give an explanation why Judas did not just walk away from Christ, or tell Him that he had lost interest, that he liked the feel of money, and had decided to open a clothing store. No, he must sell his Master, Him Whom, for months he had seen as the sweetest, most thoughtful, most patient, and wisest of all the men of
his experience........

.......The "many" are personified in the scribes and Pharisees, the priests, and Annas and Caiphas, who knew perfectly well, as Nicodemas said, that Christ had come "a teacher from God," (Jn. 3:2). They knew that His miracles were authentic, that His character was blameless, that His teaching was irresistible and holy, that He was a luminous exemplar of every man of religion. "He saved others; himself he cannot save" (Mt. 27:42 and Mk. 15:31)., they said, thus admitting the former truth, while closing their eyes to any explanation for the latter. The truth was clearly before them, as the truth of the Catholic Church is before the men of the world of this and every other generation, but they were determined to reject Christ, and in order to justify their doing so, they must convince themselves and everyone around them, that He was not what He appeared to be. Furthermore, they will not be content simply to let Jesus go. They must kill Him; and not kill Him merely, but kill Him cruelly and ignominiously.

They must somehow vent their resentment of His grace and His majesty and His holiness against Him, to teach Him that they would bow to NO ONE, save each other. They will take their revenge against Him, Whose very divinity they could not deny, Whose resurrection they could not disprove.....


Anyway, I'm not trying to compare +Williamson to Jesus, I am trying to offer some explanation as to why people automatically twist facts and truths, even to the point of unjust slander.
Title: A Rosetta Stone for Insults
Post by: Matthew on July 15, 2015, 08:32:39 AM
Well, you can compare +Williamson to Jesus, keeping it in due proportion -- In the same way you can compare the saints to Jesus.

The faithful servant ends up taking on quite a similarity to his master. If you could have walked and talked with St. Pius X, for example, it would have been easy to imagine what Jesus must be like.

+Williamson is a successor to Jesus' Apostles, but more importantly, he is a close follower of Jesus and has remained faithful to his charge of teaching the Faith and opposing the World. I mean, just look at him and his life -- he is demonized and opposed by so many, and it's not like he's guilty of any scandal or fault on his part. He is mostly opposed for rejecting liberalism and feminism completely. In short, he is sticking to the truth, and that is why he is so hated. I don't think it's a big stretch to say he is one of Jesus' friends.

Think of how many men he trained for SIX YEARS and possibly even ordained himself are now filled with liberalism and have joined his enemies. Don't you suppose that causes him suffering?

We should keep him in our prayers, that he perseveres unto the reward Christ has prepared for him.

What does he teach, by the way? Let's see if I can remember:

Pray the Rosary. At least 5 decades, but preferably 15. It's humble, but that's what the Mother of God asked for, and she can't be wrong.
Pray for your priests and bishops, that God keep them from the world and modernism.
Stay humble. Don't give in to the temptation that you're the remnant of the remnant.
We must oppose liberalism and Modernism at all costs.