Sister in veil and symphony concert hall etiquette?

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Over the past 45 years, I have attended literally thousands of classical music concerts on several continents. I have never seen a sister in veil in a concert hall. Now I am being asked by a music-lover friend who lives in a predominantly Protestant / atheist country, in a city with mainly Protestant history: “I live near a congregation of active (not contemplative) sisters, who wear the veil all day long, in their convent, and also when going out for shopping or other errands. Some of these sisters have an interest in music, so my husband and myself occasionally invite one of them to the symphony orchestra concert. We always have the gallery seats in the first row, just above the violins. In other terms, the entire audience looks at the orchestra… and can see us clearly in the first row above it. So far, I have been asking our guest sisters to put their secular clothes instead of their veil (which they are allowed to do), so we don’t distract the audience, are not perceived as ostentatious, and the sister’s veil doesn’t block the line of sight of those sitting behind us. However some older sisters do not even own secular clothes… How should I deal with that? Avoid taking those sisters to the concert? Take them anyway, with their veil, and ignore any inhibition?”

I would be grateful for your opinions.
 
One time on TV, I saw a St. Clare Nun, win a competition, in Veil. I thought that was the coolest thing ever.
 
What? Why can’t sister wear her veil?
I see religious sisters in their veils quite often at the orchestra. Why would anyone have a problem with it? I also see young priests in cassocks.
It makes me feel proud and happy to be a Catholic.
What would be the problem?
 
Let them wear what they please. I don’t see any downside.
 
I don’t understand why they would need to be in secular clothes. Let them wear they habits if they choose. Nothing ostentatious about it…
 
There’s no legitimate reason to prohibit them from wearing their habit.
 
Thanks for the nice replies. My only concern remains:
Popof said:
the sister’s veil doesn’t block the line of sight of those sitting behind
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Maybe they should ask the people sitting behind whether the veil obstructs their vision… and if the answer is “yes”… should the sister remove it?
 
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Are these particularly large veils? How would they block someone’s view?
 
Assuming the sisters are not wearing foot-tall cornettes, I think the audience can handle the sight of sisters in habits with veils.
 
Popof said:
So far, I have been asking our guest sisters to put their secular clothes instead of their veil (which they are allowed to do), so we don’t distract the audience, are not perceived as ostentatious, and the sister’s veil doesn’t block the line of sight of those sitting behind us. However some older sisters do not even own secular clothes… How should I deal with that? Avoid taking those sisters to the concert? Take them anyway, with their veil, and ignore any inhibition?”
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I think it’s actually rather rude to ask this. If they choose to wear secular clothing on their own initiative, that is one thing, but it is quite tacky to ask. Would we ask a Sikh to remove his turban or a conservative Muslim woman to come in jeans with no hijab? This person is either over-thinking it or is too self-conscious about being seen with someone who looks different. Let the sisters wear their habits (or whatever they choose); it is good for people to see a religious sister in her habit.
 
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These sisters’ veils are not larger than Mother Theresa’s; so I think it will be OK. Thanks again for the opinions; much appreciated.
 
Nuns wear veils. People who would have bad thoughts toward a Nun’s habit are deeply misguided.

Yes, ignore any inhibition.
 
Yeah, I can’t see the veils adding much of an obstacle to anyone’s line of sight. Indeed, it is less of an obstacle than a woman who chose to do her hair up, or a person who is simply big and tall.

I agree that even asking the sisters not to wear their habit is poor form (to put it nicely). If they are free to wear secular clothes on occasion, let them decide for themselves what is or is not a distraction to others. I would never presume to tell them myself unless specifically asked.
 
I would enjoy, and embrace, sisters wearing veils to a public event just the same as I would enjoy seeing a priest wearing his collar out in public.

These people have answered to a special calling. They shouldn’t be asked to hide it, ever.
 
I’m from Oregon, so we’re about 45% self-identified as “non-religious” and about 14% Roman Catholic.

No one ought to have any problem with someone wearing religious headgear to a concert when it is something the person would always have on in public. That goes whether it is a religious sister’s veil or a Muslim woman’s hijab or a Jewish man’s kippah or even a Sikh wearing a dastar (which could be quite tall). It’s not worse than simply being someone that the Good Lord chose to make tall.

I don’t know who would ever presume to ask them not to wear it, excepting maybe someone in their own tradition who was being overly soliticious towards those not in it. As a rule, those not in a religious tradition don’t usually expect that kind of accomodation from those who are, not unless they do not realize that the garb truly is worn everywhere by the person. Truly, even one of the performers would usually be allowed to wear their religious garb.

I don’t know where you are, but anybody “distracted” by someone wearing religious garb really needs to get out more. I would trust the sisters to choose their own apparel. They are in a convent, not buried in a cave. They’ll know what suits them in the society they work in and shop in and do works of mercy in.
 
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Why on earth would someone ask a religious sister not to wear her habit? I can’t even contemplate that.

As for what other people think: who cares?

As for blocking the view: I don’t see this as a problem unless they are wearing some sort of giant headpiece, which is NOT common.
 
It is totally inappropriate to ask any person in a vocation not to wear their habit at any time. Many religious people NEVER appear publicly out of habit.

Somehow people well over six feet tall manage in audiences, and habits don’t generally block views at all…most today take little more space than a hairstyle.
 
Popof said:
Over the past 45 years, I have attended literally thousands of classical music concerts on several continents. I have never seen a sister in veil in a concert hall. Now I am being asked by a music-lover friend who lives in a predominantly Protestant / atheist country, in a city with mainly Protestant history: “I live near a congregation of active (not contemplative) sisters, who wear the veil all day long, in their convent, and also when going out for shopping or other errands. Some of these sisters have an interest in music, so my husband and myself occasionally invite one of them to the symphony orchestra concert. We always have the gallery seats in the first row, just above the violins. In other terms, the entire audience looks at the orchestra… and can see us clearly in the first row above it. So far, I have been asking our guest sisters to put their secular clothes instead of their veil (which they are allowed to do), so we don’t distract the audience, are not perceived as ostentatious, and the sister’s veil doesn’t block the line of sight of those sitting behind us. However some older sisters do not even own secular clothes… How should I deal with that? Avoid taking those sisters to the concert? Take them anyway, with their veil, and ignore any inhibition?”

I would be grateful for your opinions.
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Honestly, there is NO reason to ask them to wear secular clothes. None.
 
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