Thoughts Of A "neo-conservative"

[Guest JeffCR07]

Many people, from both the left and the right, have been slinging around the term "Neo Conservative" or "Neo-Catholic" as a form of derogatory categorization of Catholics of a particular theological outlook. Now, I have constantly been labeled such, and I would just like to share my thoughts:


It seems to me that the greatest problem that the Church today faces is the problem of the laity. The members of the Latin Rite are scattered far across the spectrum and are far too often fighting bitterly with each other. Some groups make emotional pleas, others intellectual, but ultimately, all of these arguments are being made to persuade members of the laity to move from one side to the other side, from one viewpoint to another viewpoint, from one interpretation to another. In this battle, some are labeled "liberals" others "traditionalists" with the extremes on both sides being called "heretics" and "schismatics." It seems that the only thing the two sides can agree upon is a mutual dislike for a third group, spitefully called "Neo-Catholics" or "Neo Conservatives." Amazingly, both groups even offer the same criticism: the neo-Catholics blindly follow the Pope - their faith is about as deep as the words that the Roman Pontiff writes down on a sheet paper, and certainly does not extend beyond that.

But what is it to be a "neo-catholic"? Is this third group really just a very large pack of loyal dogs, panting happily as they follow wherever the Pope leads? Being a neo-conservative, I know that this is not the case.

Before one can understand the truth of the "neo catholic" one must understand the stance of the liberal and the traditionalist. Both groups make similar errors with regards to the hierarchy of the Church and the role of the laity. In the case of the liberal, the Magisterium is more of a "guideline" than an actual authority. For the liberal, open debate is not only acceptable, but encouraged, and the individual opinions of all people are sacrosanct. In the case of the traditionalist, the Magisterium should be followed, and followed verbatim, but only insofar as the Magisterium teaches in line with one's personal interpretation of Holy Tradition.

Ultimately, each of these groups, the "liberals" and the "traditionalists" are viewpoints that are egocentric. The liberal elevates personal opinion above the Magisterium, while the traditionalist subjugates the Magisterium beneath his personal view of Holy Tradition.

But we are talking of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church, founded by Christ, that the Gates of Hell shall never prevail against, shouldn't it be christocentric, and not egocentric? Of course, and, surprisingly enough, to the "neo-catholic" it is.

For the Neo Catholic, the Church is viewed as a unity. Both Holy Scripture and Holy Tradition are inspired, infallible pillars of the Faith. But to the neo-catholic (and the Church itself) they are not separate entities, but are alive and working. Moreover, Scripture, Tradition, and the Magisterium are a dynamic unity. The neo-catholic understands that both Scripture and Tradition need to be interpreted, lest chaos arise and pull down the Church that Christ built, and the neo-catholic understands that the one and only body with the authority to do this is the Magisterium, which is protected by the Spirit.

To the neo-catholic, the teachings of the Magisterium across time are one, unified, perfect thing, the words spoken by the Head. We are to obey them in faith and love, and to seek to understand them as far as we can. For the neo-catholic, all things remain focused outward, on Christ and His Spotless Bride, the Church. For, unlike the liberal, the neo-catholic understands that it is not his or her opinion that matters, but rather, the opinion of Christ. The neo-catholic, unlike the traditionalist, knows that even in things not defined [i]de fide[/i] his or her own interpretation is subordinate to that of the shepherds of the Church.

The eyes of the neo-catholic are constantly gazing at the Christ, at His Mother, at His Bride, and as we gaze, we are humbled. We are made painfully aware of our iniquities, of our failures, of our limitations. We become aware that we do not have all the answers, we do not know everything; but we know who does. We know, with total faith, that Christ is with his Church always, that he will guide it, that he will prevent it from falling into heresy.

The "neo-catholic" is, in fact, the only true catholic that there has ever been, is now, or ever will be. All true Catholics throughout time have understood their faith as the "neo-catholic" does now:

Christ is our shepherd, we are His flock. But we are not an abandoned flock awaiting the return of its shepherd, for Christ has appointed us shepherds in the meantime. His shepherds, the Holy Father, the Bishops, the Priests, lead us along the path to holiness and righteousness until Christ comes again. We understand that the greatest sheep is not the one that revolts against the shepherd, or the one that obeys only the most specific commands of the shepherd, but the one that perfectly trusts its shepherd to lead it in the right direction, and faithfully follows wherever the shepherd takes it.

This is what it is to be a "neo-conservative." it is not a dirty word, nor should it be taken as an insult. Rather, one should gladly assent to such a label, understanding that it is the neo-catholic who truly knows what he is: He is a sheep, called to Heaven by Christ, and lead there by the Church.

- Your Brother In Christ, Jeff

[Socrates]

Amen, brother Jeff!!

[MC Just]

whoa.... AMEN....

[StColette]

Awesome post Jeff !!!!!