ColdFusion said:You are very sympathetic to Telesphorus' sensitive feelings, as have I, which is why I reserved comment. Now perhaps you and others who felt some comments uncalled for would put yourselves in the shoes of those of us with teenaged daughters (who need shielding from undesired attention), attend SSPX services, and have lineage from "south of the border."
I'm part-Spanish myself so I fall under the condemnation of "macho." Apparently we transmitted it to you, along with Catholicism
Each person in this predicament has a different motive. It's sort of a witches' brew. The father just didn't approve of Telesphorus as a suitor, and that is his prerogative. He doesn't even have to have a good reason. But to send people to tail Tele is wrong.
The girl MAY have been leading Tele on. That doesn't mean she didn't like him, it means that she may not have really been thinking about marriage. Tele is extrapolating badly here from a very slender flirtation.
The priest shouldn't have gotten involved at all. Tele is not a predator who is going to stalk the girl.
And then there is the flock at SSPX, who allegedly put their oar in and portrayed Tele as a pervert. Did it really happen? I have no reason to believe he's lying; I have heard of cult mechanics happening frequently in trad chapels; and I have seen some of that unreasoning hatred directed at Tele here.
Tele is a sincere guy, that counts for a lot with me. There's nothing about him that seems sneaky or underhanded or manipulative, unlike many, many people in the traditional movement, unfortunately. I know others who strike me as the "cream of the crop," just open-hearted and straightforward people, who seem to be persecuted for no reason, Eamon on this site for one, as well as a friend of mine from "real life," and now Tele, who has always been sympathetic to me.
It's no coincidence. The devil is trying to drive those that can hurt him out of traditionalism. If trad chapels are filled with sophists and Pharisees and cult-type people and high-school-like bullies, not many will want to go.