| Why do traditional Catholics believe in using chaperones when it comes to dating? The traditional Catholic movement consists of Catholics who reject the changes from the Second Vatican Counci (1962-1965). They attend the traditional Latin Mass and practice Catholicism as it used to be before Vatican II. For some reason they believe chaperones are very necessary when dating, no matter what age you are. My grandparents lived well before Vatican II and they told me they never heard of using chaperones at all ... ever. They said they were never chaperoned and everyone else they knew around them were never chaperoned either. Basically chaperoning didn't go on before Vatican II. So why do traditional Catholics believe in using chaperones when that didn't go on before Vatican II? lyn ... I have news for you. I don't know where you're getting your info from, but I've talked to my grandparents, granduncles, granaunts, and many others who lived through the pre-Vatican II days and they never heard of chaperones tagging along on dates. They and everyone else around them went on single dates without a chaperone around. Religion & Spirituality - 8 Answers Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions : 1 : There is no such tradition, someone is pranking you 2 : There is an old spanish saying: "El diablo empuja"/"The Devil pushes", meaning that under the right conditions, you will do what is "wrong" in the eyes of the Church. The Chaperon is there to be witness that nothing happened. It is more a cultural than a religious thing. 3 : Chaperones are there to keep them from lapsing into sin. It is also the correct way a Christian should date. 4 : I'm Catholic. (although not a traditional Catholic, at least by your definition.) I agree that there are Catholics who have not accepted the changes of Vatican II. Because of my work, I come in contact with many such people and know them extremely well. AND - I have never ever heard of this. Are you sure someone isn't pulling your leg? Or maybe one family just made this up as a rule for their family, and they say it is because they are traditional Catholics? I know many Catholics in the homeschooling movement who are extremely conservative in every way, and they do not require chaperones for dates. 5 : While Traditional Catholics may not accept the changes of Vatican II, that does not mean that ALL their beliefs HAVE to be tied to post-vatican I, anotherwards, they can have their own traditions as well. ::EDIT:: {{ I agree with PLM before me. This sounds like a rule for that family, or that congregation. A local tradition of theirs OR they are pulling your leg or the person is too shy to go on a date along. But it doesn't sound at all like a central belief. }} Key to understanding this is that their are "practices" and "doctrines" or traditions with a small "t" and Holy Traditions with a capital "T" Chaperones are merely a practice or a small "t" tradition of that group/family/parish/etc. . They are not an example Doctrine or Holy Tradition. {{ I even doubt that ALL Traditional Catholics follow that, as PLM mentions.}} You seem to think that everything they do is tied to doctrine or a CORE belief. But in fact some of their beliefs are merely practices or "norms" -- more cultural. So they are free to say "we think this is good practice, a good general rule, so we will do this most of the time" Chaperones are not doctrinal.. they are merely something they feel is a "good practice" to keep people pure and honoring. 6 : I think that sæcula sæculórum explained it best. 7 : someone has been watching the film ..Quite Man..John Wayne its only a fictional film 8 : "didn't go on before Vatican II?" Oh, but it did. Don't be so fast to make rash conclusions. Were you there? --you would not have minded,-- people knew the boundaries of morality & less tempttion to commit sin could occur. While individual chaperones were not common, at Proms and dances chaperones were de rigeur. Chaperones--teachers & parents, attended dances & proms, held in gymnasiums of all private Catholic academies & schools (& public schools). Tennagers of "good" upbringing did not "date" during the week A boy may be allowed to visit and to do homework together, (parent in attendance) and/or to take his "date" to a nearby fountain for a an ice cream soda, but he would leave about 9:00 p.m and go home. Those are homework nights. Weekends, movies & dances (there were other people) "dates" were allowed, up to 11:00 p.m. Maybe 12:00. Weekend afternoon "dating" before 16 (picnics, going to the beach, to the library), was considered a good opportunity to "date" or learn companionship. But never alone and not before 16, under 16 was frowned upon by all members of society, not just Catholics. Actually 18 was a standard to be dating, but teens spent many hours for years before that talking to their friends on the phone--to the dismay of the entire family, which tended to limit the use of the phone. It was much better then, for all the useless blather was not going on, (like today--nonsense drains the brain of its ability for conjecture, cognitive conclusions and imagination). Minutes were precious, the language clean, the topics intelligent. Parental chaperoning at proms and dances.was a norm. No one "went out" after a prom, but were expected to be home by one hour after the event was over, within reason. Midnight for sure. If anyone went anywhere it was to a private home, chaperone (parent) in attendance.. Double-dating [not single-dating] after16-18 was a norm, using dad's borrowed vehicle, the rare occasion of loaning the car was a treasure not to be abused. This is still a norm among Catholics. Traditional Catholics at traditionalmass.org/ |
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