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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.

That's why I started this thread.

There was another thread today about the Cebu City "Diktat" where the SSPX authorities warned that anyone promoting the Resistance would be denied the Sacraments.

It got me thinking; how far can a chapel morally go to protect itself against the "competition" -- and should there be there any "competition", properly speaking, between a Catholic chapel and another Catholic chapel?

Unless you have to competing CULTS which are merely herds of cattle owned and harvested by their respective warlords. If that is the case, then of course you want exclusivity, cut-throat competition, etc.

But in the Trad world, I think we should all have the LIBERTY OF CONSCIENCE to decide which Traditional Catholic chapel we think it's most prudent to attend.

Basically I'm all for a limited form of religious liberty and ecuмenism -- when applied strictly to Traditional Catholicism. We should be left to our own free will/judgement/conscience/virtue of prudence about which TRAD CATHOLIC group we will attend.

Because the Catholic Church was founded by Jesus Christ, and is the sole means of salvation - It alone is the Truth. But beyond that, which TRAD GROUP has the exclusive stamp of approval from Jesus Christ himself? None of them -- or all of them, depending on how you want to look at it

So all the things that apply to false religions (error has no rights, acquiescence to Catholic authority, etc.) DO NOT APPLY when you're talking about ONE TRAD GROUP vs ANOTHER. Get it?

At my SSPX chapel, they seem to have something happening almost monthly - parish picnic, baseball, school play, BBQ and etc. where they at least try to get the community together - I think most of the time it's the priest who tries to get the people to do something together as a parish, and quite often there is a nice turnout.

I know there are a lot of folks there who choose not to socialize which is fine, but there are also a lot who met each other and became friends at these events as well.

As for having control over the chapel, the priest is the boss so far as things like finances are concerned or perhaps some other functions of the chapel - but no way should the chapel be like what you are describing - where are those things going on?

FWIW, the CMRI gets an A grade on the points you brought up.  They do not act in such ways.