Do you tend to discount (or be somewhat dismissive) of priests/nuns who wear "civilian" clothes?

[Lepanto]

I agree with that completely! I was having a casual lunch with a friend and his seminarian brother (wearing the collar) about a month ago and the downright rude comments thrown at all of us were not worth it…

Luke 6:22. Blessed shall you be when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you and shall reproach you and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake.

Not worth it???

 

[NewUlm1976_2000]

“Pantsuit nuns”, or ones that don’t wear habits, have a reputation for being less serious about their nunly vocation than ones traditionally vested (Caveat: I can’t say how true it is; the only nuns I know well are in habits, and they’re hardcore nuns).

I disagree with this. A habit is not required to be serious about their vocation. It all depends on the order requirements and the woman inside.

Dress does not matter in my opinion. It is what is inside that counts. Habit or no habit, clerical garb or no clerical garb, the ministries can still be done just as well across all walks of life.

 

[agapewolf]

As a musician that plays many places and I am very visable, I often get interrupted in my meals and when out shopping and doing errands. I try to be gracious and polite, but sometimes, I just want to eat in peace.

If you read my past post, I commented that sometimes at meals, we would just be interrupted for nothing in particular…not necessarily hate comments or sacramental needs or faith questions, just a rude interruption, for no reason.’ For some reason, when people see the collar, they think that the man is no longer in need of privacy or rest.

Priests are human too, and I think on their day off of work, they should be able to confidently go out incognito for a meal with a buddy and be able to eat in peace.

I do think that our religious/priests should not be ashamed, and should wear their uniforms proudly, especially out in publc, but I also think because of the rudeness and lack of consideration of so many people in the public, that a night out every now and then without their habits/collars is not a denial of faith, but an admission that one needs rest, and they should not be accused of being ashamed or hiding their vocation

 

[Lepanto]

I disagree with this. A habit is not required to be serious about their vocation. It all depends on the order requirements and the woman inside.

Dress does not matter in my opinion. It is what is inside that counts. Habit or no habit, clerical garb or no clerical garb, the ministries can still be done just as well across all walks of life.

Obviously, a priest or a nun must have the proper internal dispositions first and foremost…however…when someone sees a priest or nun dressed as a priest or nun they think of the Church, and when they think of the Church they think of Christ. It does matter.

 

[ora_pro_nobis]

Good grief! What is this obsession with dress codes? What priests and nuns should wear, what women should wear on their heads at Mass, bare arms, jeans, logo t-shirts, and I don’t know what else.

Surely it is up to the individual priest or religious what they wear, and they know when to dress appropriately or not. As to thinking less of a priest for not wearing a collar, well, that’s just ridiculous! Isn’t their job hard enough without having to deal with the fashion police?

 

[scylla]

I believe the thinking is not as in a dress code but in our witness to Christ.

I know a priests job is difficult and we should support him, the nuns job is difficult also and we should support her. In both instances this also requires an obedience until death of witnessing Christ to others and not just taking it like it is a dress code but service to God.

Sometimes people confuse the Church into thinking all it does is provide social service to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, care for the sick, but that cannot be separated from Her primary message of Salvation through Christ. It benefits my soul if I care for others, yet if I neglect their salvation I then am not truly seeing Christ in them. We need to unify the message of Salvation in our charity and witness.

When a nun is indistinguishable out in the field then our witness to Christ is lost. A Buddhist Monk is more of a witness as they would indeed be distinguisable. In the last 40 or so years many of us have become cowards to witnessing the faith.

In Christ
Scylla

 

[brigid12]

I’ve read (have to get to mass so not able to find link right now, but think it was in Catholic Reporter) that vocations have decreased in religious communities where habits were never worn but not in communities who kept practice of always wearing their habits:shrug: . I have a tendency to believe this is due to the seeming lukewarmness/lack of full commitment to the Faith shown by those communities. Now, that said, I realize that there are individuals who are members of communities who “doffed” their habits who are going by what is recommended by their superiors and would prefer - on their own choice - to wear habits again.

 

[sphilomena]

Pope John Paul II asked all priests and nuns to wear their clerical and religious garb. They are a sign to the world. Of course there are exceptions at times. However, this is another case of what we lay people think not being the issue; the issue is obedience. I can’t describe the feeling of seeing a nun in her habit, rosary swinging from her belt (cincture?). Beautiful!

 

[Tonks40]

I agree with the POV that we should try not to fall into the tendency of being “dismissive” towards clergy that do not wear their collars or the religious who do not wear habits. The some of the sisters at my parish do not wear habits, but the all still serve as wonderful witnesses of Christ. They serve at such various capacities not only in the parish, but also around in our community. We also have Carmelites., with habits, at our parish whose main purpose is more contemplative. All functions of our religious and laity are called to serve in whatever capacity they are able to do. Nothing to be dismissive about towards them.

 

[rwoehmke]

In my years I have met and worked with many priests and nuns, some in the “proper attire” and some not, usually dependent on the days circumstances. I have never had reason except in two cases to doubt their dedication, sincerity, and love for Our Lord and his Church.

The two exceptions were one young priest just out of seminary who insisted when ever possible on biretta, cassock, cape and the whole nine yards. He in my opinion was a rather full of himself and had difficulty with people from day one. He suffered from depression and eventually took his own life. That being said he was never-the-less a very orthodox priest who loved the Church. Pray for his soul.

The second was a young Nun who had left the convent behind and dressed in severe dark pants suits and whose beliefs in the Catholic Church and dedication were extremely questionable. She was a DRE for one year and had what I would call an :agenda." Pray for her too.

 

[pianoplayingmom]

I had a couple situations recently that gave me pause. The first was when I was out with a priest friend for dinner and a symphony concert. He did not wear his clerics and I was sort of uncomfortably wondering if people who knew him would think we were out on a date. (I’m not entirely sure why I was wondering that night, considering I’ve been to things like this with him before.) He and I go out for a meal at least 4 or 5 times a year and sometimes he wears his clerics, sometimes not. I never think anything of it because he’s my friend and I never, ever forget that he is a priest first and foremost. (I’m usually asking his spiritual direction at some point in our conversation!) He loves his ministry and I love being privy to his ministry as his friend. I just think it would be a wonderful witness of faith if he wore them his clerics all the time so that people could see that he’s serious about giving witness to his priesthood. It seems as though people from his parish who run into us when we are out tend to keep a respectful distance, after they’ve greeted him. We’ve never been bothered when he wears his clerics. I know that priests need friends, even women friends, and it is an honor for me to call this particular priest (and others) a friend of mine.

The other situation was when I was on retreat. One of the resident priests taught yoga to us. I went to one session and was appalled that he was in a muscle shirt and shorts. The entire room was full of women. Maybe I’m being a prude but it seemed risque.

 

[ASimpleSinner]

Although I’ve been guilty of being overly critical in the past, I try not to judge clergy who walk around in street clothes. Many times, I think we, as Catholics, are far too critical of our beloved priests, especially on these forums.

I think many of us on these forums (myself included) need to concentrate more on supporting our priests instead of spending time criticizing everything they do.

I generally agree with you. I have been too critical - or at least took the low road in rightful criticisms - way too often.

BUT (you saw that one coming didn’t you?) when I run into sisters in pantsuits and Jesuits in their chinos and plaid button-down shirts, the mind reals and I am - against my best efforts - always taken back to having been bitten before.

(Slight lrelated… funny thing is, the non-habit has become so predictably identifiable in some quarters it works almost like a habit. My sister went to an all-girl academy where the sisters no longer wore habits. The crew cuts and sensible shoes made it pretty obvious from 500 yards who was though…)

So yes, the priests and religous who are out of the habit of the habit (or clerics) generally need to win me over. If you get bit enough times by a few big dogs, all big dogs start to look scary.

 

[RCA]

My priest once told me that you should be able to tell a catholic by their actions, behavior and personality - it doesn’t need any outward symbols. Surely we should be able to tell priests and religious in the same way!

 

[sphilomena]

The other situation was when I was on retreat. One of the resident priests taught yoga to us. I went to one session and was appalled that he was in a muscle shirt and shorts. The entire room was full of women. Maybe I’m being a prude but it seemed risque.

Yikes! Never mind the attire; what is a priest doing teaching yoga?! Read what is said by people who got out of that type of thing, new age healing, etc. Sorry, back to the subject.

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

1.) It depends on the circumstances. “Yes” or “no” simply do not suffice in the poll. Should a priest wear clerics to change the oil in his car? Should he jog in a cassock? Should a sister wear her black veil to paint a ceiling?
2.) Not every order has a habit, even back 40 or 50 years ago. I went to an elementary school where sisters were taught to be teachers, along with some lay student teachers. Some orders of Benedictines and Dominicans never wore habits, even in “olden times” before VII. You could tell the sisters because they behaved as sisters should.

I can think of three or four sisters right now, who do not wear a habit, because their order does not have a habit in the sense of a long dress or robe with a veil, and never did.

Does it mean something when an order has a habit? Sure! Does that mean I discount those who do not? Not on your life!!

 

[ASimpleSinner]

My priest once told me that you should be able to tell a catholic by their actions, behavior and personality - it doesn’t need any outward symbols. Surely we should be able to tell priests and religious in the same way!

If you have a heart attack at the mall, and you are there lying on the floor looking for a priest, do take time to observe the behavior of all those around you to determine which one is a priest.

Laudible sentiments, to be sure, but the habit or clerics are a witness. Sometimes, I fear, the lack of a habit or clerics give license…

 

[Holly3278]

No, I don’t feel that I do this.

 

[Holly3278]

Not dismissive. But I do wonder why they go for street cloths in the case of nuns. I think the habits they wore were a wonderful sign of consecration of being set aside for God.

I totally agree. I used to want to be a nun and I would have only joined an order that wore habits.

 

[RCA]

If you have a heart attack at the mall, and you are there lying on the floor looking for a priest, do take time to observe the behavior of all those around you to determine which one is a priest.

Laudible sentiments, to be sure, but the habit or clerics are a witness. Sometimes, I fear, the lack of a habit or clerics give license…

If you’ve had a heart attack and are conscious enough to look for a priest, surely you would be able to either contact one, or get someone else to contact one for you. And for that matter, a nearby priest seeing this, if he is acting in a Christian manner would go across in concern.

Actions surely remain more important than dress.

 

[Pug]

If you’ve had a heart attack and are conscious enough to look for a priest, surely you would be able to either contact one, or get someone else to contact one for you. And for that matter, a nearby priest seeing this, if he is acting in a Christian manner would go across in concern.

Actions surely remain more important than dress.

But while shopping in a grocery store, I don’t think I could pick out a priest without his clericals. The only reason I can pick them out is that I know them. Well, unless the priest tries to use holy water to bless the meat department or something.

I enjoy being able to see religious and priests around town. It helps me feel, oh, more like people of my faith are everywhere.