Reading the negative blog posts about the pants/dresses debate yesterday reminded me of why I've been considering making my blog private. I feel pretty vulnerable with all my outlandish ideas broadcast into the blogosphere, where Catholics are waiting with clubs and machetes to murder the reputations of those with whom they disagree.
On the other hand, I have "met" some of the most wonderful Catholics through my blog--people who have brightened my day with their kind words and even opened the door to friendship. I keep going because of them, and I'm grateful to each and every one. They are people of good will, which is the only thing that really matters to me.
8 comments:
Dear Wendy,
Please forgive me for not writing sooner to tell you how much I look forward to reading your blog. My life has suddenly gotten busier than ever, and I never seem to have enough hours in the day to do all that I would do; but I wanted to thank you for letting me be a part of your virtual book of days. We are truly kindred spirits, I am certain. Please e-mail me some day when you have time, and I will reply as soon as I can. And you are absolutely right about the necessity for good will. My family and I are very blessed to have the most edifying examples of the virtue of charity in the form of the sisters and priests of the SSPX here in Saint Mary's, Kansas. My oldest daughter and I are both privileged to be able to teach at Saint Mary's College and Saint Mary's Academy respectively. You see, we are really kindred spirits! :) It would be a great joy to correspond with you. May Almighty God bless you and Our Lady protect you.
Your ideas are always expressed respectfully. I believe what you strive for is to influence those around you for good. To influence is a gentle form of education. Those who have the benefit of your sweet influence can take or leave the thought or idea that is expressed without damaging the relationship.
Dear Kindred Spirit,
Thank you sincerely for your kind message. You are one of the sweet angels who encourages me to keep my blog public. I look forward to corresponding with you.
A.M.D.G.
Wendy
Dear Beverly,
Awww. You're embarrassing me. Besides, I've always just followed your lead. Such a good, dear big sister you are! I'm so blessed!
Love you to pieces,
Wendy
Dear Wendy,
Just wanted to send you a big hug. I have suffered the "injustices" of being disagreed with by people that I could have easily "agreed to disagree with" but they decided to get mean instead. I don't understand it but that's okay. Jesus understands.
So here's your hug: ((HUG))
God bless you,
Kristyn
Dear Kristyn,
What a great hug! I feel so loved. Thank you! You are one of my sweet angels too.
May God bless you abundantly,
Wendy
Wendy,
I once considered myself a conservative Catholic with traditional leanings. Actually, I still think so but after witnessing the nastiness by left and right in our Church I sometimes wish I didn't agree with either.
I have to say I find myself in agreement with you, if I read you correctly.
I thought the original "offending" post made a well-intentioned and reasonably constructed argument. I don't happen to agree with his premise or his conclusions at all, but I do appreciate the high value he places on modesty. It's just that I think a woman should wear pants or dresses according to her own preference, taste, or comfort so long as her appearance is not immodest. Dresses/skirts can be just as immodest as pants, and so I see no merit in prohibiting women from wearing pants as morally wrong.
I say all this as a Catholic man who needs modesty on the part of my sisters. Still, I'm no prude, probably because of the life I led until my return to the Church. However, I recognize both the value and the need for modesty and chastity on the part of all men and women. We need to support each other in avoiding sin.
However, that last sentence also applies to the requirement that we adhere firmly to charity when bestowing fraternal correction upon errant Catholics. I agree with you that many Catholic blogs logged original posts that were unnecessarily cutting and sarcastic, laced with ad hominum attacks on those with whom they disagreed.
Ironically, I found the level of vituperation of the bloggers and commenters to be quite similar to the often condemnatory criticism by traditionalist Catholic sites of those who prefer the Novus Ordo vs. the Traditional Latin Mass (I personally believe the TLM is the superior of the two valid and licit forms).
It's far past time for ALL inhabitants of the Catholic blogosphere to learn what it means to be respectful and charitable in our criticism of one another.
Thanks for your post.
Oh, btw, please don't go to a private blog. I recognize the distress such nasty commentary creates but hiding from it doesn't discourage it. We need more bloggers to shut down the violators, and hiding your blog from them doesn't impose on them the natural consequences of their actions. Your POV is not only right thinking but it is sorely needed.
Dear Wendy- I just found your blog and I like it very much. But I can understand wanting to make it private. The comments section can often turn in to a tempest in a tech spot. What is worse, I was recently guilty of being uncharitable on a blog myself. I hurt someone's feelings and I am sure it justified every prejudice that person may have entertained about Catholics. How embarrassing! What ever you decide, I think you have an interesting blog and I am glad I was able to see it. You need not worry about me, however for, as they say in the great movie classic, "Muppet Treasure Island" , "I for one have learned a valuable lesson."
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