Author Topic: How much control should a Trad chapel have over its members? (Read 8489 times)

Matthew · « **on:** August 04, 2014, 12:04:03 PM »

Should the members be allowed to talk to each other?

Can they exchange phone numbers or e-mail addresses and discuss things off-site?

Should a chapel consider each and every member of that chapel to be its "exclusive property"?

I believe it would be a sign of good will on the part of the chapel to publish a parish directory with names, addresses, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses. Parish members should be able to freely communicate with one another.

If an organization makes a bad move, should its members be allowed to freely talk to each other (outside the chapel, in the hall, etc.) and even discuss other options for Mass? Some might leave if this is allowed. Are there any tactics that can be lawfully employed to prevent this?

Perhaps a chapel can simply exercise a minimal level of control, such as ripping down posters/flyers posted without permission -- that much seems fair. If you want to recruit for the a new chapel in the area, etc. you should have to do it by word of mouth. May the best chapel win.

Shouldn't members be respected at all times as adults that can make choices about their souls? Shouldn't they be treated like adults who know what's best for their souls, rather than mindless sheep that need the "cult daddy" to approve everything they do?

Just like some people rely on the government and don't take responsibility for their lives, there are some who place their SPIRITUAL welfare in the hands of this or that "group" or cult.

No, we must only be absolutely loyal to the Catholic Church. We are responsible for saving our own souls (and those of our family members) and we must use our prudence to determine where, in this Church Crisis, we can be safe and receive the Catholic Faith. We already determined that the Novus Ordo isn't going to cut it -- too dangerous; too many spiritual casualties. But where to go from there? That's up to each one of us.

Ladislaus · « **Reply #1 on:** August 04, 2014, 02:24:32 PM »

Quote from: Matthew

Should the members be allowed to talk to each other?

Can they exchange phone numbers or e-mail addresses and discuss things off-site?

Only if it doesn't want to become a cult.

Perhaps publishing everyone's contact info might be a bit much, but the chapel should never prevent the members from freely exchanging the info of their own volition.

Ladislaus · « **Reply #2 on:** August 04, 2014, 02:26:42 PM »

Quote from: Matthew

Shouldn't members be respected at all times as adults that can make choices about their souls? Shouldn't they be treated like adults who know what's best for their souls, rather than mindless sheep that need the "cult daddy" to approve everything they do?

Yes, their religious liberty should be respected at all times.

TKGS · « **Reply #3 on:** August 04, 2014, 02:52:17 PM »

While I don't think it is necessarily the responsibility of a chapel to publish a phone book, a priest that attempted to restrict the three things you listed first isn't running a Catholic chapel; he's a cult leader.

Ladislaus's comment above is out of line. Matthew was clearly not speaking of "religious liberty" but of adults taking responsibility of their souls. If there is a specific moral problem, the priest, obviously, has the duty (to protect his own soul) to warn and to advise, but he must act within his state of life. There is a lot that he can do to help resolve specific moral problems, but he cannot be the command and control arm of all his parishioners, nor should the people rely upon a priest to make every decision for them. He must teach them the Catholic faith so that they can make the correct moral decisions on their own when issues come to them according to their states of life.

But I don't think the questions asked here are really the point. The real question is what brought this issue up that prompted Matthew to ask the questions in the first place?

Matthew?

Ladislaus · « **Reply #4 on:** August 04, 2014, 03:39:02 PM »

Quote from: TKGS

Ladislaus's comment above is out of line.

That was a joke, but a joke that was intended to make a point.

Where's the line between legitimate authority and cult-like micromanagement / control?

Pastor (normally) does have legitimate authority to exercise on behalf of souls and for the good of the parish. Where does he go over the line? Not an easy black-and-white question.