What is a Traditional Catholic? - Fr. William Jenkins 08-01-25

SummaryFr. William Jenkins answers the question “What is a traditional Catholic?” by defining it as someone who believes the entire Catholic Faith as taught in the Catechism of the Council of Trent and practices the traditional religion of the Church. This involves doing what the Church has always commanded and never doing what She has always condemned as contrary to the Faith.He notes that even within the sedevacantist world, there are differences: some genuinely follow traditional Catholic teaching, while others—despite calling themselves traditional—commit acts the Church has always forbidden. He introduces a third category: certain practices the Church ordinarily would not approve but has permitted in extraordinary missionary or crisis circumstances, citing Fr. Miguel Pro during the 1920s–30s Mexican persecution. In such cases, clandestine Masses and even leaving the Blessed Sacrament in private homes were tolerated for the sake of souls.Fr. Jenkins emphasizes that in times of crisis, we have historical precedents where the Church later judged certain extraordinary actions to have been right. True traditional Catholics today act in that same spirit of fidelity under crisis. However, those who commit acts the Church has always condemned cannot claim to be traditional Catholics at all—regardless of their labels.Key Quotes“A traditional Catholic is somebody who actually believes in the Catholic Faith whole and entire.”“There are certain things the Catholic Church has said you must never do.”“In times of crisis…the Church later said, ‘This was the right thing to do.’”“If they’re doing things the Church has always condemned…they’re not traditional Catholics at all.”Key Points and Takeaways1. Definition of a Traditional CatholicBelieves all of the Catholic Faith, as defined in the Council of Trent Catechism.Practices the traditional religion—not just in belief but in action.2. Two Non-Negotiable ObligationsMust do: What the Church has always commanded.Must never do: What the Church has always condemned.3. Extraordinary CircumstancesExample: Fr. Miguel Pro in the Mexican persecution.Actions (like leaving the Blessed Sacrament in private homes) normally prohibited, but tolerated under persecution for the salvation of souls.4. Guidance for Times of CrisisHistory shows the Church approving certain extraordinary measures after the fact.Traditional Catholics today follow that precedent when living through crisis.5. False Claims to TraditionSome who call themselves “traditional” (including some sedevacantists) do things the Church has always condemned.Such people, by definition, are not truly traditional Catholics.ConclusionFr. Jenkins makes clear that traditional Catholicism is not simply an attachment to the Latin Mass or a vague nostalgia for pre-Vatican II customs—it is a full adherence to Catholic doctrine and discipline as the Church has always taught and practiced it. It involves fidelity to do’s and don’ts that are absolute, while prudently applying historical precedents in extraordinary circumstances.The traditional Catholic today lives in a time of crisis—and must imitate the courage and prudence of saints like Fr. Miguel Pro, never compromising on what the Church has always held, yet acting wisely for the salvation of souls in unusual conditions.Sedevacantist, Pre-Vatican II CommentaryFrom a true Catholic perspective, Fr. Jenkins’ definition dismantles the modern misconception that “traditional” simply means using the old liturgy while tolerating modern errors. Many in the Vatican II sect (and even some calling themselves “traditionalists”) violate perennial Church law and morals while pretending fidelity.His example of Fr. Miguel Pro is particularly apt for the sedevacantist position:The Church is in occupation by a false hierarchy, akin to the Mexican persecution.Extraordinary measures are legitimate when the Faith is under siege, so long as they do not contradict perennial doctrine.Those who use “crisis” as an excuse to introduce novelties or disobey what the Church has always forbidden are not faithful Catholics at all.This teaching guards against two extremes: (1) Rigidly refusing extraordinary pastoral measures that history has shown to be legitimate in persecution. (2) Loosening discipline so far that it breaks from Tradition entirely.TrueCatholicFaith.com