The Trad Recovery Name: An Analogy

(From a site member)

I would like to start off by saying that I was both surprised and amused by the outrage cast towards the existence of this group and the upcoming conference planned. I really should not have been surprised. I have been in the "Tradsphere" for over 45 years, so I am quite familiar with the behavior in TLM circles. My eyebrows were still raised, though.

In an attempt to discredit this group, many have focused on the group's title. Let me offer a bit of an analogy to help people understand what this title refers to and what the purpose of this group is.

Let's say there was a support group named "PoliceRecovery.com". The purpose of that group would be to provide assistance and support to law enforcement who were gravely injured on the job so that they may heal and return back to their job as police. However, a number of cops, in a knee-jerk reaction only to the name, condemn this group, claiming it is anti-police. "That group says that the police are BAD! They think police need to quit their job and recover from being policemen because it is such a horrible occupation!" they cry.

Ridiculous? Of course. But that is exactly what has happened here. Trad Recovery was established for people who have been hurt and become disillusioned by overzealous, misguided people in TLM circles. It's purpose is to help them heal and STAY in the Church. Not to leave it! And it is to help them understand REAL Catholic teaching. Not things that were taught to them as official teachings, doctrine, or dogma of the Catholic faith, but were in reality only someone's personal opinion or preference. Nor is it to encourage people to abandon Tradition. Quite the opposite, actually. And whether you believe it or not, a large number of Trad Recovery members (if not the majority) still prefer and attend the TLM. And that is despite the abuse they have endured and/or witnessed while members of a TLM community.

Think abuse in TLM circles doesn't exist or at least is a rare occurrence? The numbers show otherwise. I have found in talking with many, many Trad acquaintances, that huge numbers of people raised in and/or educated in TLM schools have left the Catholic Faith ENTIRELY! In some graduating classes of TLM institutions the number is more than half. This is just heartbreaking. If catechesis is so great and strong in TLM circles, why the mass exodus of our young? Something is very, very wrong in the Tradsphere. Time to face it and fix it.

I am fairly certain that the majority of the big "Trad" personalities on the internet know what the real purpose of this group is. However, they have fanned the flames of outrage among their followers with distortions, false assumptions, strawmen, and outright lies. Why would they intentionally mislead their followers? Though I am not certain, I think they see this group as a threat to their agenda to paint the TLM communities as a bastion of Catholicity where mental, spiritual, physical, and sexual abuse is a rare occurrence.

Sadly, this is not the case. Abuse by both clergy and laity in TLM circles most definitely does occur, but is routinely covered up in order to preserve the appearance of piety. Have they not learned from the mistakes of the mainstream Church, where the coverup and white-washing of abuse has only resulted in a perpetuation and increase of abuse? The mere existence of TradRecovery.com is perceived by them as a threat to the faćade of piety which they promote.

Are there serious problems in the "mainstream" Church? Absolutely. But to deny that serious problems do not also exist in the TLM circles is to live a lie. Trad Recovery was established to identify and hopefully correct some of the problems plaguing the TLM communities. To attack the work Trad Recovery is attempting to do as "demonically influenced," "evil," "heretical," or "anti-Tradition" is to promote the perpetuation of serious toxic environments which are found in many (not all) TLM circles. Off the top of my head, I can think of four reasons one would deny that a toxic atmosphere exists in many TLM communities: A.) The denier is new to "Traditionalism" and has not yet witnessed it. B.) The denier is woefully blind. C.) The denier is lying. D.) The denier is part of the problem and are oblivious to their complicity.

May the Grace of God penetrate the souls and soften the hearts of those who are attempting to sabotage the good work Trad Recovery is aiming to accomplish. Pax tecum!