The Cassock Fine: Clergy Reform 101

Saint Claret reformed and promoted the clergy in holiness.

One of the essential elements of The Council of Trent was the reform of the clergy; and the enforcement of clerical attire was an integral part of that.

Recently, I came across a passage in Saint Anthony Mary Claret's Autobiography in which he indicates how he reformed the clergy in Cuba during his seven years there in the middle of the 19th century (1850-1857). Among other measures, he mandated the cassock for all of the clergy and imposed a stiff fine for any violators.

"I made...the Canons and the pastors alike, and the other priests...always wear the cassock, mandating it by decree, with the penalty of ten duros ($330)* for those who should fail. Only one failed. And I bound him to wearing mufti and made him pay the fine; and, since he was caught in a house with a reputation for women, I removed his faculties and put him in seclusion."

"Tanto a los Canónigos como a los párrocos y demás sacerdotes...[l]es hice vestir siempre hábitos talares, mandándolo por edicto, con la pena de diez duros al que faltase. Sólo faltó uno. Yo le hice comparecer vestido de seglar y le hice pagar la multa, y como fue cogido en una casa sospechosa de muejeres, le recogí las licencias y le metí en reclusión."
Antonio María Claret, Autobiografía, Barcelona: Claret, 1985, 280.

*The "duro" coin of Spain is a five peseta coin which. One peseta in 1850 Spain would be equivalent to 6 euro today. That would be 30 euro per duro. Ten duros = 300 euro, around $330 USA today. Seems fair, though I would suggest a fine today of $500 per infraction, according to the Claret reform.