Draft:Trad Recovery
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|  |
| Formation | February 2023 |
|---|---|
| Legal status | Lay-run ministry |
| Purpose | Peer support network, advocacy |
| Headquarters | 2130 9th St W, Unit 143, Columbia Falls, MT |
| Location |
|
| Services | Online members-only peer support network |
Co-founder | Laura Vander Vos |
Co-founder | Andrew Mioni |
| Staff | 8 administrators |
| Website | tradrecovery.com |
Trad Recovery is an American Montana-based Catholic lay-run ministry established in February 2023, dedicated to assisting people who have experienced spiritual trauma and psychological distress within traditionalist Catholic communities.[1] The organization's objective is to facilitate the "recovery" of these individuals and their reintegration into full communion with the broader Catholic Church.[1] This initiative emerged in response to the perceived harmful effects of certain traditionalist ideologies, which are understood by Trad Recovery to foster environments characterized by fear, isolation, and a rejection of post-Second Vatican Council reforms.[1][2]
History
[edit]Founding and mission
[edit]Trad Recovery was co-founded by Laura Vander Vos and Andrew Mioni. Laura Vander Vos is known for her YouTube channel, "Misshappycatholic," where she conducts interviews with former Catholic traditionalists.[1][3] Andrew Mioni is the author of Altar Against Altar: An Analysis of Catholic Traditionalism, a work that critically examines the traditionalist movement within Catholicism.[1][4] Mioni's personal experience, having been raised within and involved with various traditionalist groups such as the Society of St. John (SSJ), the Fraternal Society of St. Peter (FSSP), the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX), and the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest (ICKSP), informs his analysis and contributions to the ministry.[4]
The core mission of Trad Recovery is to aid "ex-traditionalists" in their process of healing from "toxic traditionalism" and to facilitate their reintegration into communion with the broader Catholic Church.[1][3] The organization aims to help these individuals cultivate healthier ways of practicing their faith by fostering trust in the Church's hierarchy, including the "Holy Mother Church" and its magisterium.[2] It seeks to reassure them that attending local diocesan churches and submitting to the Church's teachings "does not endanger their souls."[2] While acknowledging the concerns some members may share about liturgical abuses or other issues within the Church, Trad Recovery explicitly distinguishes its mission from a critique of traditional forms of worship, focusing instead on the "spiritually harmful ideology" inherent in traditionalism as it defines it.[2]
Operational framework
[edit]Trad Recovery operates primarily through a confidential, members-only website, managed by a team of eight administrators.[1] This online platform serves as a hub for support and community building. Members join seeking validation for their conflicted feelings regarding the present-day Mass and their experiences within former traditionalist churches.[1] This process encourages members to share their own narratives and questions through forums or private messages.[1]
The ministry provides resources, including counseling services for spiritual abuse, Q&A sections, and blog posts designed to debunk traditionalist propaganda.[1] It also facilitates public forums for members to establish friendships and a sense of community rooted in shared experiences, which is considered essential to the recovery process.[1] Online discussions often lead to in-person participation in the Church, as members are encouraged by the positive experiences of others who have re-engaged with the Ordinary Form of the Mass.[1] Beyond its online presence, Trad Recovery is developing educational resources for both laypeople and clergy.[1]
Definition of "traditionalism" by Trad Recovery
[edit]A key aspect of Trad Recovery's identity and mission is its definition of "traditionalism." The group defines "traditionalism" as "an ideology that includes rejection of or suspicion of the entirety or parts of the Magisterium from the Second Vatican Council up to the present day, as well as the reform of the Roman Rite."[5] This perspective views "traditionalism" as an ideology born from "distrust, suspicion, and rejection of the Church," rather than simply a preference for older liturgical forms.[2]
Reception and criticism
[edit]Public profile and conferences
[edit]Trad Recovery gained public attention with the announcement of its Catholics in Communion Conference, the first of which was held at St. John Vianney Catholic Church in Belgrade, Montana, in July 2024.[6][5][3] Speakers at this conference included prominent Catholic figures such as Michael Lofton, Dom Dalmass, Jeremiah Bannister, Sister Mary Eucharista SMMC, Andrew Bartel OP, as well as Father Eric Gilbaugh, a priest of the Diocese of Helena who received diocesan approval to speak.[6][5][3] The annual conference is aimed to allow site members to connect and increase the visibility of the struggles faced by ex-traditionalists within the Church.[1] A second annual Catholics in Communion Conference is planned for July 10–13, 2025.[1]
Criticism
[edit]The announcement of the "Catholics in Communion Conference" provoked "indignant reactions" from some Latin Mass Catholics and a "wave of angry backlash" on social media.[2][5][3] Critics, including retired moral theology professor Dr. Janet E. Smith, voiced strong opinions. Dr. Smith, writing in Crisis Magazine, criticized Trad Recovery's use of "traditionalism" as an "umbrella term" encompassing diverse experiences and suggested that a conference for those "wounded by the modern Church" would require a far larger venue due to the millions who have left or are unhappy with the Church since the Second Vatican Council.[7][6] Smith's response included satirical proposals for "breakout sessions" and "therapeutic activities" for such a counter-conference.[7][5]
Members and supporters of Trad Recovery have responded to these criticisms, clarifying their distinct understanding of "traditionalism" as an ideology rather than merely a liturgical preference.[2] Louis Massett, a member of Trad Recovery, argued that Dr. Smith "missed the mark" by not recognizing the "spirit of fear, discord, and division" that underlies traditionalism, which he attributes to "Lefebvrism."[6] Andrew M., another member, asserted that most critics "do not understand what it is like to have grown up in one of these communities" and the "mental, spiritual, and emotional trauma" these environments can inflict, particularly on children.[2] Critics have accused Trad Recovery of being "modernists, Marxists, communists, schismatics, [or] heretics," accusations which Trad Recovery members describe as "absurd" and "decidedly un-Catholic behavior."[2] Mike Lewis of Where Peter Is writes that the "mocking, condescending, and hysterical backlash" from traditionalists has "confirmed the toxicity and the disordered spirituality" that has caused pain to those leaving the movement.[3]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Hunter, Nathaniel (2025-05-06). "Former traditionalists find a new inclusive faith online". U.S. Catholic. Retrieved 2025-07-04.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i M, Andy (2024-03-26). "Why do post-traditionalists need "recovery"?". Where Peter Is. Retrieved 2025-07-04.
- ^ a b c d e f Lewis, Mike (2024-03-22). "The Post-Traditionalist's Journey". Where Peter Is. Retrieved 2025-07-04.
- ^ a b Likoudis, Andrew (2024-07-03). "Altar Against Altar: Wrestling with Rifts in the Catholic Church". Where Peter Is. Retrieved 2025-07-04.
- ^ a b c d e Elhabbal, Madalaine (2024-04-01). "News of 'Trad Recovery' conference sparks tongue-in-cheek counter suggestion". CatholicVote org. Retrieved 2025-07-04.
- ^ a b c d Massett, Louis (2024-05-02). "Much Ado About Traditionalism". Where Peter Is. Retrieved 2025-07-04.
- ^ a b Smith, Janet E. (2024-03-27). "Modern Catholic Recovery Conference". Crisis Magazine. Retrieved 2025-07-04.
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