I know for a fact that some parishioners aren't Trad at all -- I knew of at least one case where an older lady was going to the Novus Ordo and the SSPX indiscriminately. Can you say she really understands the Crisis and what the SSPX stands for? She obviously doesn't understand the Crisis, since she still goes to the Novus Ordo!

We have at least one like that in Phx, I just shake my head.  She also goes to Resistance Mass at times too.  One confused lady.

Quote from: JPM

Whatever the "grave problems regarding sɛҳuąƖ purity" are, Fr. Vassal's resignation letter offers a cautionary tale for every traditional catholic school (SSPX or not) and the parents who consider sending their children there.

Every school has to have a strong personality at the head, who takes no s***, and when s*** happens takes action.  Expulsions. Firings. Immediately. Yesterday. I wouldn't even consider a school that doesn't have that dynamic.  

On another thread it was speculated that Fr. Deister will be the new principal but that he shouldn't be because he has no experience running a school.

That may be true, but he came from an excellent school with a very strong leader and he does have experience with kicking some ass. That's probably the most important qualification at the moment.

I agree, but then when there is a strong personality at the helm who does take decisive and immediate action, all hell breaks loose.

There's been a problem at ICC from almost the beginning.  They have two camps of traditionals there:

1.  The first camp of traditionals understand that being a traditional Catholic isn't only a tendency towards incense and Latin.  They understand that being a traditional catholic encompasses every area of their life.

2.  The second camp of traditionals have almost two feet in the world and pay a nod to their nostalgic sensibilities on Sunday morning.

I would say all hell has already broken loose because of the two groups. It's not uncommon, unfortunately.  Sure it might cause some initial pain, but the best way to deal with it is grab a knife and cut the cancer out. That's the only way to form Gideon's Army.

Matthew:

The problem is that his "school days" in grade school were all too recent!

The man was ordained in 2014. Not exactly the experienced priest the situation (a difficult, challenging parish in crisis) needs.

Let's be clear:  The new principal of 's ICA, you say, is a priest fresh out of seminary, ordained in 2014?  This is the guy who, JPM suggests, may be able to kick some butt, and, apparently, has had a lot of experience with discipline in other school venues?

I choose to believe that the new principal is just another priest lackey of the sspx hierarchy.

Not to say that he doesn't have JPM's 's stamp of approval:

I don't consider youth a detriment. Experience, I agree, is important.  Based upon his upbringing, his schooling, his mentors, and his personality he has many years of the type of experience as a leader that many priests thirty years his senior don't have. I would love to have him lead my children's school.

Really, JPM?  How can you be so certain of that?  He can't have had too many years  of experience, can he?
BYW, are you the lawyer with a priest son in the Society?


Mark:

"The buck stops" with Fr. Beck...
Fr. Beck must resign... and he should not be replaced by another short-man martinet.

Actually, the buck stops with Bp. Fellay.  He is the one who should be asked to resign.

I'm assuming that the letters from Frs. Vassal and Wegner posted on this forum are authentic. I hope they are not.

I'm surprised at the glaring grammatical mistake in Fr. Wegner's letter, i.e., "...of immense help to the families [sic] sad souls..." But that pales in comparison with the breezy tone of the letter. These changes--vaguely broadcast--are to "help guarantee the fruitful work of the priests." This does not even make sense. Never fear, though: the necessary due diligence (!) is being conducted. Don't you feel better already? You conduct due diligence when you're buying a property. You commit to a full investigation when you are addressing stuff of this importance.

Fr. Vassal's letter is equally baffling, though in a different way. He acknowledges "certain grave problems regarding purity in the recent past" yet in the first sentence of the following paragraph notes that the problem has gone on for years. Time--that old chestnut--apparently got the best of him. And what no one has yet mentioned is this: If there were ɧoɱosɛҳųαƖ acts committed among the boys and if one of them was not consensual, then not only is there a crime among one of (at least) the boys, any adult who knew about it and did not report it is also a criminal--that includes clergy.

Denouncing internet rumors and imploring the faithful to turn to our Lady do not in the least mitigate the magnitude of the problem out there.

Who is advising these men? Anthony Weiner? Is Bill Cosby too sick?

Ultimately, the question will come down to what it always comes down to: What did those in charge know, and when did they know it?

Fr. Beck will not resign.  If anything, he'll simply be reassigned, and moved off into the shadows, in the  finest tradition of the NO church.  I suspect the same will be done with Fr. Vassal.  How can the SSPX justify punishing the man?  After all, ir was sspx hierarchy who deliberately switched out a Swiss priest and replaced him with a French one.  Now, apparently, at ICC they're going for a couple of young American priests.  To perhaps silence the critics?  Who knows?

But it's obvious that Fr. Wegner's visit was not made in an effort to find real solutions to the ICC/ICA problem.  No, it was a cynical ploy.  Wegner attempted, I think, to put out the fire by privately meeting with a string of aggrieved parents throughout the day of 7/26/16.  The hopeful outcome will be a situation in which the matter is finally forgotten, and they can continue with business as usual.  The Academy, though it should be closed down and boarded up, will be raised up, dusted off, get a fresh coat of paint, and resume operations next school year.  Some new sspx personnel have been brought in, who, of course, will change nothing.  Why? Because they are part of the problem, not its solution.