[dsc]

"It was necessary to pit conservatives against traditionalists for the left to get its way"

I don't follow your distinction between conservatives and traditionalists.

Wouldn't a conservative by definition be a traditionalist?

[Maximilian]

>>Wouldn't a conservative by definition be a traditionalist?

A traditionalist is someone who tries to preserve the nature of the church as it has come down to us over the last 2000 years.

A conservative is someone who is not as liberal as the liberals.

A traditionalist relies on objective measures: e.g. "Here is the definitive statement of Pope Pius XI. Does the current statement agree, or does it say something different?"

A conservative relies on subjective measures: "Cardinals Weakland and Mahoney are way out in left field, but my church isn't that bad (yet)."

A traditionalist is dedicated to the defense of doctrines: e.g. "Extra ecclesiam, nulla sallus."

A conservative is dedicated to personalities: e.g. the chant at World Youth Day: "JP 2, we love you."

[ultima ratio]

Not at all. Traditionalists adhere to the practices and teachings of the pre-conciliar Church, including attending the old Latin Mass exclusively. They affirm what had been handed-down by past popes and councils and are wary of Rome's present course which they believe is destroying the Catholic faith. They are not shy about laying the blame for the present mess on the Pope himself.

Conservatives may grouse about change but go along with even the most radical, provided it has the approval of Rome. They will criticize cardinals and bishops for corruption or heresy but draw the line at blaming the Pope. It is this devotion to the papacy which characterizes conservative Catholics most. To them, the Supreme Pontiff trumps everything else, even the Church's own tradition.