Dear John:

You are correct in that it is misleaded to call the Church, "Traditionalist Catholic Church." There is only one Church in the fullness of the faith, and that is the Catholic Church (with no adjectives attached).

The "ultra-traditionalist", as I mentioned in the other post, are really liberals. A religious liberal is defined as person or group who thinks their opinions outrank the official teachings and disciplines of the Catholic Church under the current pope.

Tradition is "teaching handed down". Thus, all teach, including that of Vatican II, is "tradition". These Ultra-Traditionalist tend to believe Vatican II is invalid or somehow corrupt. That opinion is one way to identify an Ultra-Traditionalist.

Some Ultra-Traditionalist go much further and claim that the Chair of Peter is empty. These Sedevacantist believe that every Pope since Pope John XXIII is a heretic and anti-Pope. Obviously, these people are not in communion with the Church and, in my opinion, have a mental defect.

Other possible markers of the Ultra-Traditionalists is that they often hold the heresy of Feeneyism, which I talked about in the previous post.

Bottomline: anyone who contradicts the teachings found in the Catechism are not in communion with the Church be they traditionalist or liberals.

Other traditionalists may be in communion with the Church are very disrespectful of Vatican II or certain Church teachings.

It must be remembered that we are to avoid not only dissent, but the spirit of dissent. If we disagree with a teaching, for which disagreement is allowed, we must do so with respect and not a spirit of rebellion.

Other so-called "traditionalist" are in full communion, accept all teachings of the current Magisterium, are respectful, but personally prefer the "extraordinary form" in liturgy (Pre-Vatican II). That is perfectly okay.

Ultra-Traditionalist, however, tend to dissent on dogmatic and definitive teachings to which we are not allowed to dissent. They would claim they are the ones holding to tradition and the "modernist" Church has departed.

Peter cannot split from Peter. Anyone, traditionalist or liberal, who has split from the current successor of Peter has left the communion of the Church.

This is also want refutes the Orthodox Church claim that the Catholic Church was the one to split. Not possible. Peter cannot split from Peter, and it is Peter and his successors, who are the symbol and authority of unity, according to Jesus.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary