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Quote from: SeanJohnson

Quote from: Raphaela

Quote from: Elsa Zardini

Oh I see about the cassok. Did not pay attention to that. Dangerous to be outside with it in the "friendly world we live in"?  

Not at all, especially not in England now. The streets are full of men in "robes" - Greek and Russian Orthodox, mullahs, imams, perhaps even a druid or two? (Also, the SSPX lay brothers here seem to wear cassocks all the time - perhaps because it's their religious habit.)

I think it is important. The Archbishop insisted on it from the beginning for the students in Fribourg in 1969, even though the less confident found it difficult and even alarming, as they were the only ones dressed like that in the whole university. (Mentioned in +Tissier's biography of ABL.)

It's a sad fact that from the beginning the priests of the GB District have worn suits in public. I don't know why. One reason I heard was that otherwise people would think they were High Anglicans! But Anglicans in cassocks must be as rare as hen's teeth now.

The 1970's-style black shirt with "visiting card" collar just says "Vatican II priest". My older Protestant relations say they expect Catholic priests to wear cassocks and are very surprised the SSPX doesn't. They remember them in the streets before Vatican II. (Not all wore them, certainly, but the ones who wore suits were taken to be Protestants, so weren't noticed!)

But a cassock does preach a sermon. The French SSPX priests stationed in England refused to wear suits. Fr. Eric Simonot was in Wimbledon in the 80's and he said it was a wonderful way of getting to talk to people. They would stop him in the street or talk to him in shops and he was able to tell them who he was and what he doing. A chance the others are missing.

Do the SSPX priests in America wear cassocks in public?  

Always.

And look how far it got the majority of them....

Look- all I'm saying is that the interior of the man- his mind and teachings on the faith- are infinitely more important to me than his garb. I don't understand why some Traditional Catholics split hairs on matters like this which are not important to the Faith; I think the bishop has more than proven his Catholic worth. He isn't walking around in a Hawaiian shirt or anything. There may be many reasons for the man to wear what he did when and where he did in this video, and while traveling. He has the permission of the Church prior to Vatican II being in a Protestant, non-Catholic country; not to mention that its not normal garb for him.

This is silly.

Again, how about we talk about the content of His Excellency's talk? I commend him for talking to non-Catholics and being unashamed to expound upon the truths of the Faith. If you are really curious and nearly scandalized that the bishop is wearing a clerical suit, why don't you ask him personally about his choice to wear a clerical suit?

Seriously, the fact that the bishop is out there in the world preaching the Gospel and connecting it with history and politics instead of laying low and maybe saying a few public Masses here and there is something TO BE COMMENDED. It is almost irrational to focus on such an inconsequential issue. Is Bishop Willilamson somehow a liberal now because he chose to wear a clerical suit at this particular talk?

Also, I am fully aware of what the Archbishop said about the wearing of the cassock.

I think some within the "resistance" need to have a clearer focus.