Over the last four to five years, the SSPX chapel we used to attend sponsored "fundraisers" affordable only by the wealthy minority.  In place of pot-lucks, bake sales, lawn sales, there were dinner-dances, art auctions, concerts with one commonality- the events were unsuited to families, especially large families, and very expensive.  An elite group organized and attended the fundraisers.  Those who failed to participate were made to feel badly, and were gradually excluded from the social life of the chapel. Most recently, a packet arrived in the mail soliciting funds for the new seminary.  It seems every person is expected to give a "minimum" amount, not exactly stated, but implied as $1500!  Does the hierarchy of the Society believe most will give this amount?  Where does the widow's mite and trust in Divine Providence come into play?  Or is the New, Improved SSPX merely a capital venture?

Are you kidding?  

I'm sorry, but riff-raff people no longer fit into the neoSSPX brand formula.

You might ask a neoSSPX member about Msgr. Fellay's affinity for benefactors who own gambling casinos that run their businesses on Sundays.  

These benefactors have enormous cash flow and fit the neoSSPX model.   Msgr. Fellay wants to "bond closely" with them.

These neoSSPX benefactors give generously to try and ease their consciences and gain dispensations for their chronic flaunting of the 3rd Commandment.

Wow!  No wonder they hate Fr. Pfeiffer!  How embarrassing it must be for them to receive Our Lord from a priest who often sleeps in his car and wears a well-worn cassock.  Think of what these generous types would have done with St. John Vianney!

I've not been to the SSPX regularly for a few years.  But in the UK this never appeared to be a problem nor Australia when I lived there 1995

There was a French and Spanish contingent that reportedly pandered to the monied classes, but I'm going back 20+ years and from second hand experience through French and Spanish Trads and English SSPXers who had experience of them.  What I would describe as the TFP types.

I think it comes from the European "old money" mindset.

In truth, money has always talked and made the world go around.  Pick any of the last 19 centuries and I would think having money got you the ear-time of the leaders and politicians.

Over the last four to five years, the SSPX chapel we used to attend sponsored "fundraisers" affordable only by the wealthy minority.  In place of pot-lucks, bake sales, lawn sales, there were dinner-dances, art auctions, concerts with one commonality- the events were unsuited to families, especially large families, and very expensive.  An elite group organized and attended the fundraisers.  Those who failed to participate were made to feel badly, and were gradually excluded from the social life of the chapel. Most recently, a packet arrived in the mail soliciting funds for the new seminary.  It seems every person is expected to give a "minimum" amount, not exactly stated, but implied as $1500!  Does the hierarchy of the Society believe most will give this amount?  Where does the widow's mite and trust in Divine Providence come into play?  Or is the New, Improved SSPX merely a capital venture?

This post doesn't make sense.

A small minority of well-heeled parishioners gets together and forms a clique, holding fund-raisers and holding their snoots in the air, with an air of superiority.

I'm with you so far.

But everyone else being excluded from the social life of the chapel? That doesn't even make sense.  How can a group of 5 people make 95 people feel "out in the cold"? They're the small minority, not the families. Frankly, the families could ignore the hotsy-totsies and not miss a beat.

Quote

How can a group of 5 people make 95 people feel "out in the cold"? They're the small minority, not the families. Frankly, the families could ignore the hotsy-totsies and not miss a beat.

How can people become more snobbish and exclusionary?  And where did you come up with those numbers?  Only 5 people attend the functions the OP is talking about?

Haven't you complained of the lack of social life at your chapel?  Isn't that a reason you have given for establishing cathinfo?

No, I don't believe it's 5 exactly, but I also don't think it's a tiny chapel of 100 parishioners. 200 or 250 is more average.

Yes, there is a lack of social life, but that's more because of the dispersed nature of trads, the lack of good "friend material" for integral "live your Catholic Faith during the week" type (also known as "serious") Catholics, cultural divides, plus general lack of numbers. Even among the good Catholics at our chapel, many are older -- even the other families we know. It's hard to be super close to a family that is 1 hour away, that already has children in college when your oldest is in 2nd grade.

All the families our age tend to move away. I can't blame them -- we don't have a school here. And very few are willing/able to homeschool, it seems.

For example, we're not ga-ga over babies anymore. Babies are old hat for us. Similarly, these older families aren't fascinated by the "2nd grader" stage -- they've been there, done that, several times over. They're busy guiding their teens right now through job fairs, college prep, etc. -- which seems an eternity away for us right now.

Individual families can speak with and make friends with whomever they wish -- and they can arrange all sorts of get-togethers on their own.

I have often said in the past that most trad Catholics would have a hard time meeting their friendship needs locally. A few might be lucky, but most are not. Most need the Internet.

There can't be more than 5% of the parishioners that are "well heeled". That would go against common sense. It's difficult to become and stay rich, especially today.

And it's hard for them to be anything other than a SMALL minority, considering that each FAMILY adds considerable "bulk" to the number of non-rich.

The last time I went to confession at an SSPX chapel as part of my penance the priest told me to attend the upcoming Ignatian Retreat (which costs a paltry $600) and acknowledged that it would be money well spent.  I won't be attending.  

It seemed like a sales pitch rather than a remedy for my spiritual life.  I could be wrong.

That's not my experience here in Texas, sorry.

You would be wrong to assume only 5% of trads are the types that can afford to go to those sorts of fund raisers being described in the OP.  Certainly around here you'd be wrong.

Between those people and their extended families, it's a significant proportion of those who attend chapel.