Opposition – Obstacles – Difficulties
Begin at Baar"The sisters were required to produce their identity-documents to the mayor since some citizens of Baar would never have accepted them without this certification. They tried everything possible not to allow the sisters to come to Baar and were warned by the local authority of Zug to be careful in case these vermin establish them-selves. The sisters had to endure all kinds of insults and mockery". (from the Chronicle about the arrival of the sisters in Baar, November 1846) |
Experiences in Risch"The people of this community wanted to discontinue the school. This was not that they were dissatisfied with the performance of the school as such, but because of their prejudice against schools run by religious women. (Parish-archive, Risch, September, 1853) |
Reports by Sisters
 Sr M. T. Scherer |
Sr Maria Theresia Scherer:
Relatives and friends were totally against her joining the Menzingen Sisters. "When I arrived home many obstacles presented themselves. Nobody wanted me to go to this congregation which was just beginning. They argued that at a time when convents were being closed down it was impossible to start a new one.......nobody wanted to know a thing about it. I was warned that I would not receive any financial help to join this congregation. If I wished to enter another cloister they would have nothing against it."
(See portrait of Sr M.T. Scherer)
Extracts from a letter by Mother Bernarda to Bishop Lachat on 10 June 1863 about Father Theodosius:
"In 1856 Father Röllin and the Auxiliary Aid Society who gave us the house regarded it important that we appeal to our bishop so that he, together with the bishop of Chur clarify matters in connection with the following problems: Father Theodosius, driven by his lively spirit and unrelenting zeal threw himself into many risky works and undertakings. He had decided to join our institute with that of the Sisters of Mercy, a community he founded without us, and which was situated in Ingenbohl, diocese of Chur. This would have meant that the Motherhouse would have been transferred from the jurisdiction of the diocese of Basel to that of the diocese of Chur. He encouraged one sister after the other to disregard the obedience which bound them to their superior in Menzingen. It was then made clear by the Bishop of Basel, with the agreement of the Bishop of Chur, that the two institutions remain independent of each other. The sisters of Menzingen were to conduct schools while the sisters of Ingenbohl were to run hospitals, orphanages etc....
Father Theodosius regarded our behaviour as ungrateful and stubborn. A number of people as well as sisters had the same opinion since they did not have the necessary knowledge about the situation".
Controversies in the Media
Extract of the Zuger Volksblatt 6 February 1875:
"Religious orders have been appointed to form the last link which are to join the schools to the influence of the church and remove them from the directives of the state".
"...Notoriously, it is obvious that religious orders are founded for the purpose of propaganda for the Catholic church. Nowhere have they claimed that they got rid of this illegal purpose so detrimental for schools......"
"...If teaching is their only purpose then why a church organisation, a religious dress and church authorities? The teaching sister who just wants to teach will be in a much more favourable situation if she is paid and able to develop her intellect freely without constraints of the order..."