Catholic church lays down dress code

[buffalo]

Catholic church lays down dress code

Manila: The Archdiocese of Manila has issued a dress code that calls on the faithful to present themselves in formal and more conservative attire when attending mass, a local paper said.
In a circular sent to parish priests on Sunday, Father Godwin Tatlonghari, assistant minister of the archdiocese’s Ministry of Liturgical Affairs (MLA), said a new dress code was being imposed following complaints from worshippers that the slack dress sense of some was proving to be disturbing, the Star said.

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[Dandelion_Wine]

Interesting. Could you see that happening here in the U.S.?

I struggle with this issue. On the one hand, wearing football jerseys seem like a lack of respective. We’re here to worship God afterall. On the other hand, better they come to church than not.

The short skirts, spaghetti straps, et al. while I hesitate to complain about, is definately distracting to me. I don’t know if the ladies have a similar struggle about certain male attire?

 

[buffalo]

I have mixed feelings about this. On one hand it is good they come, on the other we again are dressing to minimum standards.

It is like the 10 Commandments - they are the minimum daily requirements for a Catholic, yet there is so much more.

 

[Lucania]

Interesting. Could you see that happening here in the U.S.?

I struggle with this issue. On the one hand, wearing football jerseys seem like a lack of respective. We’re here to worship God afterall. On the other hand, better they come to church than not.

The short skirts, spaghetti straps, et al. while I hesitate to complain about, is definately distracting to me. I don’t know if the ladies have a similar struggle about certain male attire?

Well, short skirts & shorts, spaghetti straps, extremely tight pants and tight stretchy tops are distracting to me. Although I am a woman & it is not distracting in the same manner as it is for a man, it is still distracting because I find myself wondering “what are you thinking?” by coming to Mass dressed like that! or in the case of a young girl, I am thinking the same toward her parents :doh2: . So, instead of focusing on Jesus, I have let myself focus on others:blush: . By the way, my parish has a dress code posted on the front door. It asks that because you will be in the presence of Jesus that you dress respectfully & modestly. For the most part, people follow that, but there will always be someone who dosen’t. In some of the Churches in my area, it’s a free for all:bigyikes:

 

[blessedtoo]

As a woman, I am also quite distracted by inappropriate dress in Church. A few weeks ago, two young girls who were seated in the pew in front of me, were dressed in such low rise jeans that their entire rears were hanging out in the pew. Aside from the purely aesthetic horror, I couldn’t help but feel sorry for any man who might be subjected to this display while in Church.

The Pastor at my old beloved Parish recently posted a reminder in the bulletin about the importance of dressing modestly in Church. He was gentle and tactful but made his point.

 

[maryjk]

Should there be a dress code? My first thought is yes, who wouldn’t want to dress their best for God?

But then I think about the times that I went to Mass, not dressed my best. Just this last Sunday, I spent the morning and afternoon at the hospital with my husband. We got up threw on clothes and ran out the door to the ER. I was in Capri’s and a t-shirt. We have a 5:00pm Mass. Should I have not gone? (What I ended up doing, was rushing home, showering, dressing and rushing in for Mass. But it would have been nice to know, no one would have been giving me dirty looks because of my casual attire.)

What about my husband? He isn’t Catholic. He is atheist. He does not normally attend Mass with me. But there are times that he is there. Weddings and such he is already dressing up, but what about the times he is going because he is taking me? Should he sit outside because he doesn’t have a suit and tie on? Should I tell him he needs a suit and tie? I am praying for his conversion. Making him sit in the car seems a little counterproductive.

So, I think a note in the bulletin and maybe something posted on the doors about modesty but I think I would draw the line at a “dress code.”

 

[geezerbob]

Did you even read the article? The code was very casual. No mention whatsoever of coats and ties.

 

[Tom317]

I wonder how we would dress to meet the Pope?

 

[jaaraf]

Yup, the way people dress in Church and even in Adoration Chapels is distracting. I hope a similar directive is given in my archdiocese soon. It ahs already started though, with brides being instucted to wear a shawl over their shoulders if they choose to wear a sleeveless or spaghetti strapped gown…

 

[thechrismyster]

dress codes…IMHO, are complete idiocy. People like having their hands held, i don’t. if folks want to dress in tank tops, so be it. i don’t care, thats between them and God.

People want to regulate good taste inside and outside of Church, and you can’t do it. well, they can try to, but they’re wrong.

i want a Church, not a nanny. Jesus wouldn’t have been wearing acceptable garb to enter his own Church under the Manilla code.

 

[maryjk]

Did you even read the article? The code was very casual. No mention whatsoever of coats and ties.

Yes, I did read the article.
But this is a topic at many churches. And it is a hot topic here on the forums. There is currently a thread about wearing jeans. Okayed by the article, but on page four here on the forums.

Tom317:

I wonder how we would dress to meet the Pope?

And there is my point. If I were to meet the Pope on the day that my husband was in the hospital, the Pope would get me in what ever I had on. Yes, it is the exception. But maybe exceptions happen more often than we think.

 

[jaaraf]

I wonder how we would dress to meet the Pope?

With modesty in mind, I hope. Protocol dictates that one wheres something dark-colored too. I remember this since someone remarked that the daughter of our president was given a dark colored coat when about to meet the Pope several years ago. I think she had a light pink suit on at that time.

 

[Tom317]

dress codes…IMHO, are complete idiocy. People like having their hands held, i don’t. if folks want to dress in tank tops, so be it. i don’t care, thats between them and God.

People want to regulate good taste inside and outside of Church, and you can’t do it. well, they can try to, but they’re wrong.

i want a Church, not a nanny. Jesus wouldn’t have been wearing acceptable garb to enter his own Church under the Manilla code.

If Jesus invited you to dinner, how would you dress (be honest)?

 

[Tom317]

Yes, I did read the article.
But this is a topic at many churches. And it is a hot topic here on the forums. There is currently a thread about wearing jeans. Okayed by the article, but on page four here on the forums.

And there is my point. If I were to meet the Pope on the day that my husband was in the hospital, the Pope would get me in what ever I had on. Yes, it is the exception. But maybe exceptions happen more often than we think.

So let’s refine the question. Say there was nothing extraordinary going on in your life. Say the Pope was coming to your town and he invited you to have dinner with him. How would you dress?

 

[Tom317]

With modesty in mind, I hope. Protocol dictates that one wheres something dark-colored too. I remember this since someone remarked that the daughter of our president was given a dark colored coat when about to meet the Pope several years ago. I think she had a light pink suit on at that time.

We would hope.

 

[maryjk]

So let’s refine the question. Say there was nothing extraordinary going on in your life. Say the Pope was coming to your town and he invited you to have dinner with him. How would you dress?

Same way I dress for Mass. Modestly.

I just have a problem with posting some sort of dress code, because it doesn’t take into consideration exceptions.

 

[thechrismyster]

If Jesus invited you to dinner, how would you dress (be honest)?

in what i felt was appropriate. if i was wearing jeans and wasn’t near my house, and someone called me and said “Jesus is at the Pizza Hut”… i wouldn’t waste time running home first to change… i’d go as is.
if i was home, i’d wear what i always wear, jeans and a shirt.
my taste isn’t your taste isn’t other peoples taste…

you can’t regulate dress with any meaningful result.

 

[Tom317]

in what i felt was appropriate. if i was wearing jeans and wasn’t near my house, and someone called me and said “Jesus is at the Pizza Hut”… i wouldn’t waste time running home first to change… i’d go as is.
if i was home, i’d wear what i always wear, jeans and a shirt.
my taste isn’t your taste isn’t other peoples taste…

you can’t regulate dress with any meaningful result.

It is not about regulating dress, it is about giving our best to the Lord. I seriously doubt you would wear jeans if you were invited to dinner with Jesus and had plenty of time.

 

[Tom317]

Same way I dress for Mass. Modestly.

I just have a problem with posting some sort of dress code, because it doesn’t take into consideration exceptions.

The dress cose can include exceptions and dress codes for Church could never be obligatory. I do think people dress for our Lord in ways they would never dress at a wedding, or at work, etc…

 

[thechrismyster]

It is not about regulating dress, it is about giving our best to the Lord. I seriously doubt you would wear jeans if you were invited to dinner with Jesus and had plenty of time.

its exactly about regulating dress. that is why its a dress code.

if i choose to wear jeans, thats my choice.not better or worse than your choice to wear slacks.

because your cotton stitch is called a docker and mine is a looser weave and is called denim, there is right and wrong in that?