Catholic modesty?

[Rozellelily]

I know this topic “gets old” but I was just curious because usually on CAF here I read people’s responses being quite pro modesty so I was a bit surprised recently when I saw some posts on a Catholic women’s Facebook page.
For example a woman asked opinions regarding her swimsuit,should she wear it etc and there’s all these comments (mainly from other women) saying “hot” “smoking”,wear it etc.

I’m known for sometimes having a bit of cleavage myself or shorter skirts (at the disapproval of my sister) but this woman’s swim costume was like major cleavage and while the costume was a one piece it was a monokini so also had big cut outs at the sides.
Is it that no one wants to say anything “negative” because they want to be nice or what is it?

Even in general society (ie:not Christian) I don’t think trying to look smoking hot is necessary a good goal to have.

Am I becoming too much a prude in my 30’s?

I know these days on Bondi Beach etc a lot of girls like to wear bikini bottoms with half the bum hanging out so maybe a monokini is modest to some people by today’s standards?

 

[Lou2U]

We had a whole massive thread on the topic just a few days ago. I’ll link it, but it’s nearly 300 posts long, so I don’t blame you if you don’t want to read it.

Modesty in swimsuits Catholic Living

I have recently been looking at swimsuits for the summer. I am a little confused about the modesty standards though. I have always been told bikinis are immodest and I agree some of them are. I don’t plan on wearing one but I have been looking at some one piece suits and tankinis. According to my mom most of the cute bathing suits are immodest because they may show a little bit of cleavage or a few inches of the midriff ( no bellybutton). I find it hard to accept her judgement because she think…

I definitely don’t think you’re a prude. I absolutely wouldn’t wear that, and I’m not religious at all.

 

[LawyersGunsAndMoney]

Not another modesty thread so soon. Is this penance for our collective sins?

Anyway, some people are going to say it’s fine. Some people are going to say it’s not. Then those people are going to fight for 500 pages, resolving nothing.

But I think basically everyone would agree that if you personally aren’t comfortable wearing something, that’s fine, don’t wear it. Easy enough.

 

[DeSales111]

I have a very beautiful wife. I thank God that the beauty she tries to project is not about trying to boost her own ego by showing off her body, and believe me, she could. Her FIRST thought is always about others, and she dresses modestly because she respects the marriage vows of others. She does not want to turn the heads of other men out of respect for their wives.

Hmm, I wonder if God would use the word “prude” to describe my wifes modesty? Or would He see her respect for others in being modest as an act of love.

And I’m sure to get blasted by some women who will say “well a man shouldn’t look” and yes it’s true, but that is usually a man’s greatest weeknesss when it comes to sin. Adultery does not have to be a physical act, as Jesus tells us we can commit it with our minds.

So for anyone who wants to hang the term “prudish” on my wife or any other woman who dresses modestly, thank you for noticing their love for their selves, for others, and most of all, their love for God and our Blessed Mother Mary. I wonder what she would pick for you to wear? I pity the person who calls her prudish!

 

[Tis_Bearself]

The short answer is that Catholicism includes a very big group of people, from all different sorts of cultures, backgrounds, ages, shapes etc and there are widely varying views on what is a “modest” swimsuit, as shown by the last thread we just had on the subject. I’m sure some people on this forum would think the swimsuit in question was just fine, others would think it was okay for some body shapes and not for others, and still others would think it was immodest and a grave sin to wear.

If you personally feel that a swimsuit is not modest and you wouldn’t wear it yourself, then don’t wear it. I would not be overly concerned with the opinions you read online as you could likely find another “Catholic women’s page” that said you shouldn’t even be wearing a regular modest athletic one-piece swimsuit and would need to cover it with a skirt or a cover-up or not go swimming at all unless it was an all-women’s pool.

We are never going to reach a consensus on modesty unless it is some suit so extreme that it’s clearly immodest, like a teeny bikini or a thong that provides almost no coverage.