Sometimes difficult stories are difficult stories, and sometimes they involve critique of people and things besides ourselves. Sometimes we ourselves are thorny and difficult. "Write what you know," the adage goes, and, well . . . here you have the self. If you didn't write what was true about it, how could you be relied on to tell the truth about anything else?

I know the kind of "triumphalism" Janice means, though I think of it more as just "in-your-faceness." Betty doesn't do that. She is who she is, but if you read her regularly, you see as much of her attempts and struggles and strivings after holiness as you do her admissions of failure, which any of us, any day of the week, could make, if we were being honest with ourselves. She doesn't say anything about anyone else that she wouldn't say about herself. And as others have pointed out, it's that vulnerability in her writing which makes it so engaging.

(and I will say right now that if someone had written a comment in that vein about me, I would have been WAY defensive, and probably written two or three long posts justifying myself before getting to the point of saying "I'm sorry." I mean, if we're talking character here . . . )

Janice:

Fair enough about not having a Web site.

You're right that this is not in the spirit of Advent. I should have waited until Ordinary Time. (This is a joke, by the way.)

When I said I was "delighting" in "taking down other Catholics," I was borrowing your terms so that I could be ironic. I doubt anyone would say that is what I'm doing when I write about other Catholics I happen to disagree with greatly, much less what Betty was doing in that single post of hers you cite. Perhaps I should have been more direct . . .

The point I really wanted to make is that there is a difference between gleefully taking potshots at other people and sharing heartfelt, albeit negative impressions about them. More often than not, the former involves naming names (all the better for public pillorying) and the latter shows great discretion by not naming anyone.

I think you completely missed that about Betty Duffy's writing in your haste to throw her to the wolves.

*****

Jen:

First of all, thank you for "condoning" my blogging! =) I love your own work here on Conversion Diary.

Secondly, please don't worry that this comments thread will turn into anything other than Betty Duffy "fangirling"! I've said my "two cents" (one cent for each comment!). =)

I appreciate that she's in the middle of living a real, non-perfect life, and she's not pretending to be a saint. She's just a regular believer, with feelings and frustrations like all of us. Only, she writes about it so much better than most

This commenting software asks for a website, and I don't have one, nor do I have a blogger or Google account.

Why would you delight in taking other Catholics down a few pegs? (Because you do seem to delight in it – even here your tone is giggly and fun!) And anonymously? How is that in the penetential spirit of Advent?

If you printed out your blogs and took them to your confessor, what would he say?

Jen, is that the kind of blogging you condone by encouraging Enbrethiliel to use your comments box to direct traffic to her blogs in which others are disparaged and gossiped about? You never struck me as that kind of blogger, at all. You are a kind and generous soul.

And Betty, I apologize for assuming you're writing under a pseudonym! Betty Beguiles is right!

Oh! And poor Betty D. So many of us have chosen the pseudonym "Betty" that no one believes it's her real name anymore!

Hi, Janice. If you think Betty Duffy is bad, then I'd like to invite you to read my 'blog. I've been delighting in taking certain other Catholics down a few pegs lately; and as you can see from my Blogger name, I've been doing it all anonymously!

I'd love to visit your 'blog, too, but when I clicked on your name, I ended up at the Catholic Answers Web site. So if Betty Duffy is the blogging pot, I guess that makes you the commenting kettle?

Our generation is craving leaders (and writers I will add) that are authentic about their weaknesses, but still trust in Christ to get them through. It doesn't just stop at our struggles because God is in the process of sanctifying us.

I personally think that's what helps get readers back to certain blogs- because of vulnerabilities exposed and a heart that seeks after Truth.

Good post. Thank you.

Regarding the above comment:

Janice,
You make a very good point about Catholics sniping at one another. It's not becoming, and I'm sorry.

I am not anonymous, however. Aside from a nickname, Betty Duffy is my name. But if you would like to talk more about it, here is my email address:
bettyduffy2 at yahoo dot com

Thanks for this awesome gem!