Most are now familiar with the term, "Taliban Catholics". A phrase that is being bandied about by individuals who are distressed with the growth and influence of Catholics who are loyal to the Holy Father, and wish the hierarchy, clergy and laity to likewise manifest a strong loyalty.
"Taliban Catholics" are, so we are led to believe, those Catholics who address serious issues that need (imagine this!) addressing!. An example would be the issue of the liturgy, as it pertains to the implementation of the new Missal in the Ordinary Latin Rite. This post does not seek to address the separate issue of (let us call them) strident bloggers who do indeed damage the Catholic Faith through over-reaction, inaccuracy, a singular devotion to the post-conciliar or pre-conciliar liturgy etc. That there are bloggers who do harm the Faith is a sad reality. Indeed, with each passing day, such bloggers make it more difficult to refrain from some sort of reaction. Sadly, these people will be with us as long as the internet is with us. The best solution is prayer and silence.
Nonetheless, the use of "Taliban Catholic" is ill-advised and counter-productive. It will only enrage strident bloggers and cause greater unrest on the internet. Perhaps this term should be deconstructed and - maybe - directed towards those who are indeed oriented towards a Taliban-like disposition. "Taliban", from Arabic is defined as a "student". It comes from an Islamic school of thought known as the Darum Uloom Deoband. Ideologically, this movement combines Sharia law and jihadism. Simply, Talibanism, is an ideology of irrationality. It takes religious immanentism to a grotesque and violent form. It manifests itself in acts of murder, torture, and vile perversion of the name of God.
As such, a "Taliban Catholic" would be firstly a contradiction. Since, Catholicism is not immanentist, but objective, real, true, it cannot be Talibanist. Secondly, any Catholic adhering to an ideology, or claiming to promote Catholicism via violence, murder, mayhem and assorted acts of brutality would cease to be Catholic.
The best approach, the Catholic approach, is always to attack the point and not the person.
