Catholic church lays down dress code

  • Thread starter Thread starter buffalo
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
I attend always mass in either a dress or a skirt and blouse. I look neat and have received compliments from other parishioners.

But I am not there to be showing off my wardrobe but I am also not dressed as if I had just come off the farm either.

We all know what sensible means. I have to think how I would want to appear before God the day I die if I had the choice to decide. Would I want to present to him in shorts and a vee neck tee without a bra. NO! Yet I see many of the younger girls today dressing no different without realizing they are standing in front of God at mass.

The guys are not that much different. They come into mass in clothes that seem to have met better days and sweatshirts that they must have been wearing the day before when playing football.

I think there should be a code of decent presentation. Not necessarily women should be required to wear dresses or skirts but at least look presentable and not ‘enticing’. Guys should at least dress with respect in the presence of Jesus and not look as if going out to a sporting event as the dress code of the day.

I also have a another dilemma. A disabled women is often assisted by a young man who drives her to church. He seems like a nice person but I feel offended when he enters the church with his baseball cap on and never takes it off even while walking her to the pew. I suppose he is not Catholic since I never see him take holy water or kneel or bow when passing the altar. He simply takes her to the pew then leaves the church.

But even if not Catholic does it not seem that he is ignoring the matter of common respect in a house of worship? And, would it be out of place for someone to bring this to his attention? I mean if we enter a courtroom does not the bailiff direct all men to remove their hats so why then not also in the house of God?

Lynn-D
 
Lynn-D said:
I attend always mass in either a dress or a skirt and blouse. I look neat and have received compliments from other parishioners.

But I am not there to be showing off my wardrobe but I am also not dressed as if I had just come off the farm either.

We all know what sensible means. I have to think how I would want to appear before God the day I die if I had the choice to decide. Would I want to present to him in shorts and a vee neck tee without a bra. NO! Yet I see many of the younger girls today dressing no different without realizing they are standing in front of God at mass.

The guys are not that much different. They come into mass in clothes that seem to have met better days and sweatshirts that they must have been wearing the day before when playing football.

I think there should be a code of decent presentation. Not necessarily women should be required to wear dresses or skirts but at least look presentable and not ‘enticing’. Guys should at least dress with respect in the presence of Jesus and not look as if going out to a sporting event as the dress code of the day.

I also have a another dilemma. A disabled women is often assisted by a young man who drives her to church. He seems like a nice person but I feel offended when he enters the church with his baseball cap on and never takes it off even while walking her to the pew. I suppose he is not Catholic since I never see him take holy water or kneel or bow when passing the altar. He simply takes her to the pew then leaves the church.

But even if not Catholic does it not seem that he is ignoring the matter of common respect in a house of worship? And, would it be out of place for someone to bring this to his attention? I mean if we enter a courtroom does not the bailiff direct all men to remove their hats so why then not also in the house of God?

Lynn-D
Click to expand...
I am in full agreement with everything you have said!!!

I have been in so many Roman Catholic Churches where there seems to be little or no respect for the Lord… Leaving Mass just after receipt of the Host, (Maybe the game of the week has a priority over Jesus?) … Dress if very casual, shorts, tee shirts with graphics not really appropriate for mass. Plus more…

All we can do is pray and set an example… However, the clergy could address this issue in the homily or in a parish new letter…:gopray2:

Blessings,

Will B.
 
According to the article, T-shirts and jeans would be acceptable.

I don’t think that’s asking too much.

I do not agree that women shouldn’t wear pants (or to say that in a less confusing way-I think women wearing pants is OK).

It advises against wearing shorts. Nothing wrong with that.

Our priest wears an undershirt, his black priest shirt, long pants, and dress shoes at every Mass. If he can do that in a Michigan July, then I can wear a polo shirt and khaki pants for an hour and a half.

It also says jerseys, caps, tank tops, spaghetti straps, etc… should go out the window. I agree.

How many of the people who carelessly dress down for church (intentionally dress with absolutely no regard whatsoever for it-you know who they are), would spend all kinds of time to get all dressed up to go bar-hopping?

I am not advocating a return to women in dresses wearing hats in church and men wearing suits and ties, wearing hats everywhere but church, just don’t dress like you crawled out from under your bed fifteen seconds ago.
 
We do sacramental prep in our parish. And frankly, we have had to include a few comments about dress code. We remind them, coming to church is not the same as going to the beach or to an after five lounge. Dress appropriately to respect the house of God to which you are entering. Plunging necklines, short shorts, tight clothing,muscle T-shirts or pants that are hanging off a man’s waist just don’t cut appropriate clothing…It is sad that we have had to include it, but people just don’t get the message unless it is clearly spelled out to them…and the hard part, is the guests that come as well. Brides and their bridesmaids often times wear deeply revealing or strapless gowns as well and we have asked them to provide a shawl during the church services.

It just makes common sense to me. You wouldn’t meet the Queen of England that way…why would you meet God that way?:confused:
 
Of some of the recent posts that I have seen, I believe a lot of you have the right idea for teh attire for the mass. It would be a good idea that a dress code would be a good idea for the church, It should be voluntary for starters. Not all women and girls will wear high enough necklines and skirts low enough to cover the knee either standing or sitting, but the idea of it should be the recommendation. Not all men and boys will wear the suitcoat and tie and dress shoes but a voluntary rule shoulud have an effect.

It would be nice if all comply, but I don’t think everyone will.

I believe in an appropriate attire dress code for church.
 
This thread is a year old, so I decided to search for more recent news about the Philippine dress code. Apparently quite a few Filipinos are ignoring it.
A Catholic bishop on Wednesday said that “freedom of expression” should not be used as an excuse for some churchgoers who continue to ignore a “dress code” inside the church.
Click to expand...
Davao archbishop Fernando Capalla said it is foolish to invoke personal freedom in the choice of dress for liturgical functions.
Click to expand...
“We have to admit that, while living in society, our personal freedom is limited by the rights of others. And if we want to live in peace and harmony with others we have to observe certain proprieties of behavior,” he said in a statement on the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines website.
Click to expand...
gmanews.tv/story/100437/Bishop-reminds-faithful-of-dress-code-inside-churches
 
Have any of you ever seen atire like the flip-flops, short pants? or short skirs; tube tops, halter tops, spagheti strap of crop tops? muscle shirts, or rock concert atire displaying something like Led Zepplin, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Motley Crue , Ozzy etc? or perhaps you’ve seen young men or boys wear baseball caps without taking them off during the catholic Mass? I call it disgraceful. Wearing such attire is never has nor will it ever be appropriate. It probably was a problem in th ePhillipines and something had to be done about it. Could or should it happen here?👍
 
If it needs to be done, it needs to be done. That’s what I think about it. People should have enough sense to at least dress modestly when they go to Mass.
 
As long as you are clean and modestly dressed that should suffice

Years ago back in the 1970’s a woman came into church wearing a tennis dress

It looked awful…Fr was giving the homily and he never missed a beat…he said Do you try to have the shortest dress in the whole church when you come to worship

It was a zinger and I was glad he did it…It was disgusting
 
I was at a Mass once in a very upscale neighbourhood in the city where I live.

Two obviously homeless men attended or they were at least severely down on their luck.

Would these men be barred from Mass?
 
I don’t think anyone should be barred from attending mass…I think many people should consider where they are going when they leave home
 
I was at Mass once and a young woman sitting in front of me, clear as day, her thong was purposely visible to the world.

Now that is not appropriate. So yes, provocative dress is not appropriate for any Mass or religious service.
 
onetimeposter said:
I was at a Mass once in a very upscale neighbourhood in the city where I live.

Two obviously homeless men attended or they were at least severely down on their luck.

Would these men be barred from Mass?
Click to expand...
Don’t derail this whole discussion with relativism. There is a HUGE difference between people who can and should know better and those who are completely unable.
 
Philothea53 said:
Don’t derail this whole discussion with relativism. There is a HUGE difference between people who can and should know better and those who are completely unable.
Click to expand...
I wasn’t, thanks for your concern.

Remember, Jesus wore sandals.
 
Katie1723 said:
As I have said before…the blame falls on the “looker” and not the 'Lookee"

Kathy
Click to expand...
God says, "If your brother is distressed because of what you
eat, you are no longe acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy
your brother for whom Christ died. “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit…Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification…It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall.”

(Romans 14:15-21)

I think its pretty clear that we don`t want to do anything to cause our brothers and sisters in Christ to fall/sin. If your booty is hanging out my guess is you would be enticing someone to sin.

Our Pastor just gave us a homily on appropriate attire. It was casual but stern. He basically said if you would fit in at the beach; it is inappropriate. Some people were letting it ALL hang out…

And, yes, if a guy walked in with a wife beater and some spandex shorts that would cause my attention to waiver. I like what someone else said earlier, How would you dress if you were going to dinner with Jesus? Because that is the purpose of going to Mass.

I am the worst offender in jeans and a tshirt most days. I feel lucky to just get the kids up and dressed on time and end up throwing on whatever to get out the door. Time to develop a new game plan!
 
The blame lies with those that dress to entice, as well as those that let them selves be…Me, I just find people who do this kind of stuff pathetic, and slightly revolting
 
I agree; clean and modestly dressed would suffice. Sad to say, not everyone understands that.
 
onetimeposter said:
I wasn’t, thanks for your concern.

Remember, Jesus wore sandals.
Click to expand...
Yes you were. Your question regarding the homeless men had nothing to do with the question at hand. Your statement about the footwear worn by our Saviour also has no bearing on the discussion. Tossing comments out and hoping they will stick is really counterproductive.
 
redrosetea said:
I don’t think anyone should be barred from attending mass…I think many people should consider where they are going when they leave home
Click to expand...
I favor a voluntary dress code for the mass. Not everyone could follow a manditory rule.
 
I do not think it unreasonable to ask people to dress appropriately for Mass.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top