being contentious of ancient customs is simply not the Christian way. A true Christian respects what has been handed down from antiquity, even if he/she does not fully understand it, agree with it, or for that matter, like it. St Paul clearly leaves no room for any kind of discernment. Furthermore, following upon the apostolic command, the local laws around Christendom prescribed the wearing of the veil in churches,3 and this was sanctioned universally in the 1917 Code of Canon Law. In the 1960’s in the wake of the Second Vatican Council when so many changes affected the Church, the custom was left aside in most places, even though there is not a single ecclesiastical decree that one can point to as dispensing from the obligation to wear the veil.4 Indeed, how could there be? The Church cannot contradict Holy Scripture and apostolic teaching that is presented in such a clear way. Times and customs may change, but God’s laws never change or become outdated. So, what we must say is that the custom was set aside and lost in most places, with, sadly, virtually no resistance from the clergy. I must, however, insist that the failure of the clergy to enforce the veil is certainly not sufficient for the obligation to no longer exist, given the clarity of the apostle’s witness. It only means that the clergy did not stand up for the defence of the tradition, perhaps out of a misguided concern for the role of the laity and a rash cave-in to feminism, for which they will have to answer to God. You will find those who say that St Paul’s prescription was just a cultural taboo that the Church accepted, but this fits neither the data of history nor the text of the epistle. Even though St Paul refers to attitudes that he says are grounded in nature (Doth not even nature itself teach you, that a man indeed, if he nourish his hair, it is a shame unto him? But if a woman nourish her hair, it is a glory to her; for her hair is given to her for a covering), he bases his teaching on tradition, that is to say, what was handed down, not by cultural custom, but by apostolic, and therefore, divine teaching. It has literally nothing to do with cultural usage; it is a religious gesture, and therefore one that abides as long as does the Church of Christ. This being so, if we want to come to a better understanding of what St Paul is saying, we have to look for theological reasons. The whole question really revolves around the Greek word exousia (in Latin, potestas) which literally means power or authority, which the apostle says the woman must have over her head, and 14
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