In his first epistle to the Corinthians (ch. 14, v. 34) the Apostle Paul said:
Mulíeres in ecclésiis táceant, non enim permíttitur eis loqui, sed súbditas esse, sicut et lex dicit.
(Let women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted them to speak, but to be subject, as also the law saith.)
The Church has always followed this in that women, as good as they may be -- and I am married to one of the best -- do not have ANY leadership roles or official duties in the Church itself. They can teach in the schools, sing as part of the congregation, confess their sins, receive the Holy Eucharist, and, if they do things right, even get to heaven.
This being said, I would ask your forbearance as I relate some things that have happened in our "parish" and ask if anyone else has experienced the same or similar.
Back in early 2012 (or maybe it was late 2011), it was made known here that the Sisters of the SSPX were considering our "parish" for a new foundation, and that "we" were in competition with another location. Our "pastor" advised us all that we should pray that the Sisters should choose us, because it would be so great to have traditional nuns among us. Many of us did so. And the Sisters did choose our location. The following is my testimony:
1- Upon their arrival, the local gentleman who had been the Sacristan for several years was relieved of his duties, and the Sacristy was given over to the community of Sisters.
2- The Sisters Set up the Altar before Mass, with the removal of the vesperale, setting up cruets, Missal, Altar Cards; and they enter and leave the Sanctuary in a manner that some describe as "boldly".
3- In the Sacristy the Sisters handle the Sacred Vessels with their bare hands, and the "pastor" allowed, and continues to allow this to happen. When queried why they do this, one of the Sisters replied, "That's the way we've always done it."
4- During the public recitation of the Daily Rosary, each of the Priests present will lead a decade of the Rosary, and then, before any of the HNS men present are allowed to take up the lead, one of the Sisters will lead the public in praying a decade. This is explained as "they have a rule that says they must do so." (I cannot understand how an order of traditional Nuns could have a "rule" that requires women to lead public prayer.)
5- The Sisters have taken over as the Schola Cantarum, and they now sing the propers of any High Mass. The men who had sung before, and are always willing to resume singing the Mass, are not only prevented from singing in the choir, but, because the Sisters have a "rule" that they are not allowed to sing in mixed choirs, the men have been totally excluded from it. The men are allowed, however, to sing the propers on the rare occasion that the Sisters permit it.
6- A group of "gentlemen of the parish" called upon the "pastor" to voice their opposition to this scandalous stuff. The "pastor" yelled at them, called them "rebels" and told them to shut up because they had no say in the matter.
7- The nuns acting like this have scandalized a number of "parishioners" and even a few people who visit the Church. It is rare that visitors are seen again.
I say that what the Sisters are doing here is against the tradition of the Church. They should have absolutely no assigned duties within the Church building at all. They should never be "east of the Altar Rail." To lead public prayer in the Church is not something that women, even these "Brides of Christ," should do. And the Schola Cantorum[/u] should be only men, even though they may sing less "like angels."
My question to TradCats in general is: Does this happen everywhere the SSPX Sisters go, and am I alone in thinking it wrong? Saint Paul said that this is "The Law." Does this indicate a "direction" in which the SSPX is going?
¡Viva Cristo Rey!