A "tradcath", or Traditional Catholic, is a follower of the Roman Catholic
Church that does everything in their power to emphasize their affinity for Pre-Second Vatican Council life and, most importantly, aesthetics.
Tradcaths generally believe that the Second Vatican Council, or Vatican II, was either a disastrous event that led to grave consequences for the Church, or that it invalidates anything done by the Church afterwards.
Tradcaths have an strong attachment to the Pre-Vatican II Tridentine Liturgy which is conducted in Latin, and they oftentimes look down on the Novus Ordo (which is an equally valid form) and those who attend it. When they do reluctantly attend this service, they
will most likely kneel to receive the Host in their mouth so that everyone else can see how traditional they are.
Tradcath men can often be seen wearing either button-up plaid shirts with khakis or their finest suit, and
women may be found wearing long skirts and a veil.
In the
United States in particular, tradcaths are known to
put place
conservative values above Church teachings. You will not see many Catholics outside of the US who have dispensationalist beliefs, despise immigrants and refugees, side with their head of state over the Pope, and are hesitant to donate to the needy.
They
may choose patron Saints such as Saint
Michael the Archangel and Saint Sebastian who are revered for their opposition to evil and yet their loyalty to the Church and its values are paper thin.
Person 1: Get a
load of that guy holding up the
line for Eucharist, kneeling in his likely expensive suit.
Person 2: Oh yeah, I saw him ignore the
usher as he walked past during collection.
Person 1: Gotta be a tradcath.
Person 2: Lets pray for him and for ourselves for being judgemental of his ways.
