Thoughts on the Interesting Discussion Between Matt Fradd and Brian Holdsworth

I really liked the above discussion between YouTuber Brian Holdsworth and apologist Matt Fradd.  It was a discussion that took place at the Family Life Conference in Lac St. Anne, Alberta, Canada, which is an hour northwest of Edmonton, which is my hometown.  Holdsworth actually mentioned that the conference was in Edmonton.  While technically not true, he’s obviously saying this since few outside of Northern Alberta have heard of Lac St. Anne.

They cover a lot of good topics but one that I find important is the issue of people demanding uniformity where the Church allows diversity.  Basically in many ways the Catholic Church is a mess.  Members of the Church must attend Mass weekly and go to confession before receiving communion but in terms of honouring God, there are so many devotions.

I used to worship in very traditional circles.  I used to only do extremely traditional devotions and I used to get involved with ultra-traditionalist groups.  I even got to meet his excellency Bishop Williamson who had been expelled from the SSPX.  I also went to Masses with other priests who had left the SSPX because they thought that it was too liberal.  Yes, those Catholics exist.

When I was involved with them and other traditional groups, one thing that was unfortunate is the uniformity.  It’s also hard to believe that everyone not as traditional as you has compromised their faith.  I’m glad that I’m not in this mindset anymore.  There are many ways to worship God within the rich Catholic tradition.

Am I a traditional Catholic?  Let’s use an analogy here.  Do you know any Freemasons?  I’ve met them before.  They don’t advertise it but if you ask them if they are, they’ll tell you.  If you ask me if I’m a traditional Catholic, I’ll say yes but it’s not something that I advertise(I’m aware of the irony of me writing this).  I just say that I’m Catholic.

I attend the Traditional Latin Mass in the city in which I live and I attend the Byzantine Catholic Church when I’m in my hometown with my mom since we’re of Western Ukrainian heritage.  It’s also because the TLM in my city was moved across town while it used to be only a 5 minute drive from the house I grew up in.  Pretty frustrating.

I don’t judge other Catholics based on what devotions they have.  I would never go to Medjugorje as a pilgrim, nor would I pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet or the Luminous mysteries.  However, if a Catholic decides to practice those devotions, I’m not going to say that they shouldn’t.  If they asked my opinion, I would simply share why I don’t.

The one area where I’m extremely uncompromisingly traditional is doctrine.  I believe in every dogma of the faith.  I try to believe in it the way that it has traditionally been believed; the way it was believed when it was defined at councils like Trent, Florence, or Nicaea.

If any Catholics more traditional than me claim that I compromised, I’d simply like to ask them what doctrines of the faith that I deny.  You’ll never see me denying a single one and nor should any other Catholic.

The rest of the discussion is really good.  I met Matt Fradd in Calgary in 2014.  Brian Holdsworth is also a great YouTuber who’s based out of Edmonton.  I’ve never attended the Family Life Conference but I really want to.  Maybe next year.