The following is to assist you, dear Reader, in your reading of the posts on this blog by explaining the various terms or "jargon" that you may find herein referred to...
"New Traditionalist" or "Novus Traddie" [NT] = a person who believes in Papal Infallibility and at the same time proclaims adherence to "Tradition". In reality such a person usually has an appreciation of the Tridentine Mass, which they'll refer to as the "Extraordinary Form" or the "Mass of the Ages" but they actually mean the altered Tridentine Rite post 1955 and last reformed in 1962. They may or may not believe the Novus Ordo Missae ["Missale Romanum" 1969] or "Ordinary Form" is a "valid" rite of Mass (including the various Offices associated with it e.g. Pontifical, Ritual etc). They concede, by their adherence to the doctrine of Papal Infallibility ["Pastor Aeternus" 1870] that Pope's are able to alter Tradition. Though divided generally into different groups, they hold the "new" doctrine of Papal Infallibility, thus the "New Tradition" in common:
Roman Catholic
Sedevacantist
Sedeprivationist
Conclavist
"Old Roman Catholic" [ORC] = a person who believes in the ancient Catholic Faith as it was taught and practiced in the Western Patriarchate up until 1854 and the promulgation by Bl. Pius IX dogmatising the, until then, doctrine of the "Immaculate Conception" ["Ineffabilis Deus" 1854]. Generally such a person holds the "Immaculate Conception" and the "Assumption" ["Munificentissimus Deus" 1950] as doctrines "worthy of pious belief" but not as dogmas of The Church requiring assent and belief for salvation. Such a person has regard for and reveres the Pope as the historic "Patriarch of the West", the "Successor of Peter" and "primus inter pares" of the Bishops of the world but does not concede that Pope's may alter Tradition, rather asserting that they should be "guardians" and "defenders" of it. Such a person does not hold that a Pope is "above" an Ecumenical Council (i.e. recognised as such by ALL the Bishops of the world, including Orthodoxy). The maintenance of the ancient "Tradition" of The Church is such a persons primary concern and consideration regarding matters of dogma, doctrine and discipline.
"Old Catholic" [OC] = sometimes confused with Old Roman Catholics due to an early common history i.e. being descended from the ancient See of Utrecht and for many years an interchangeability of terms. However, despite an initial maintenance and defence of the ancient Tradition of The Church, the Old Catholics of Utrecht, having formed a Union with Catholics largely in Austria, Germany and Switzerland disaffected by "Pastor Aeternus" [1870] had apostised from Tradition almost completely by 1910. Crucially the Utrecht Union abandoned acknowledgement, other than historic, of the Office of the Petrine Ministry and the position of the Pope as "Patriarch of the West", dropping the name of the reigning Pontiff from the Canon of the Mass, the practice of auricular Confession and disparaging the intercession of the Saints. The Old Catholic Union of Utrecht now practices the ordination of women as priests and bishops. There are various others who call themselves "Old Catholics" but who in reality are "Independent Catholics" [see below].
"Independent Catholic" or "Independent Sacramental Movement" [IC/ISM] = as the terminology demonstrates, these are "oxymorons" on the whole who do not understand Catholic Traditition though they may claim to. Sometimes referred to as "Episcopi vagantes" (though not technically qualifying) they purport to have inherited often multiple lines of "Apostolic Succession" and claim "validity". Most often recognisable by their scant or confused knowledge of Catholic doctrine or discipline, usually referring to themselves by outrageous claims and titles for which they have no historical precedent e.g. "Cardinal" though not appointed by the actual Pope. Though some amongst them are sincere, there have over the years been many who have caused scandal and endangered the spiritual and even mental, physical and material well-being of those they have variously claimed to serve. They generally conduct themselves with little regard to discipline or consideration of other Churches.
"Independent Catholic" or "Independent Sacramental Movement" [IC/ISM] = as the terminology demonstrates, these are "oxymorons" on the whole who do not understand Catholic Traditition though they may claim to. Sometimes referred to as "Episcopi vagantes" (though not technically qualifying) they purport to have inherited often multiple lines of "Apostolic Succession" and claim "validity". Most often recognisable by their scant or confused knowledge of Catholic doctrine or discipline, usually referring to themselves by outrageous claims and titles for which they have no historical precedent e.g. "Cardinal" though not appointed by the actual Pope. Though some amongst them are sincere, there have over the years been many who have caused scandal and endangered the spiritual and even mental, physical and material well-being of those they have variously claimed to serve. They generally conduct themselves with little regard to discipline or consideration of other Churches.
