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

[Philothea53]

Accepting that this may be true, why should we presume that any cleric or religious who does not wear clothing deemed correct by you, for reasons deemed good by you, is doing so for reasons of fear or sloth? Why is it our business to speculate about their reasons at all?

Why do you feel it isn’t our business? The Priests are there to serve us, to teach us, to be examples to us. I detect a hint of relativism creeping in.

 

[Chickie]

Then why have clerics at all? Why vestments? Why do we wear crucifixes around our necks? Why scapulars?

I gave our ‘outgoing’ Rector who was on his way to sabbatical, a shirt embroidered with the Knights of Columbus logo and his name as Father FirstName LastName. He thanked me and said he liked it and would wear it whenever he wanted it to be known that he is a Priest. Huh??

It’s not the clothes that make the priest. Is my priest still a priest if he doesn’t wear a collar? Am I a Catholic if I’m not wearing a crucifix?

 

[Chickie]

For all of you who discount or dismiss your “civilian clothes wearing” priests we’ve “run out” of priests in our archdiocese and my parish will have no priest by November. We will share a priest with three other churches. If that priest turns up without a collar we couldn’t care less. Any priest who tends to his flock will be treated with respect and not “dismissed”.

Honestly, find a real issue to get worked up about.

 

[Jennifer_G]

Funny, we were just talking about this (I just noticed this thread) at the end of our RCIA class when on priest came down in his “Hawaiian” t-shirt (dove pattern) in the building to the side of the church where the priests and nuns live. (The priest teaching the class and some of us had a good laugh or two at the end of the class about priests in “civilian clothes” and how he only has a few pairs of clerics - started when he mentioned something like, “this is the only suit I wear”).

He said priests are supposed to wear their clerics when out in public, but don’t have to when they’re in their place of residence.

Atleast when they have their clerics on, it’s easy to identify them when you do need to talk to a priest about something.

 

[ASimpleSinner]

It’s not the clothes that make the priest. Is my priest still a priest if he doesn’t wear a collar? Am I a Catholic if I’m not wearing a crucifix?

That is a false dichotomy. No one here proposed priests weren’t priests if they didn’t have clerics on, or that Catholics weren’t Catholics if they did not wear a crucifix. No one.

 

[Lepanto]

I can confidently say that most non-Christian Australians would be very uncomfortable in the presence of a nun or priest (especially) in full garb.

This goes to demonstrate how much the Church has been acommodated to appease society. Instead of the Church changing society, the Church has been changed BY society. A very sad example of anti-clericalism.

Aussies don’t like symbols of religion or authority pushed in their faces. Or even walking past. So the likelihood of quality interactions with non-Christians is much lower than if a priest looks like a normal guy.

I don’t see how a set of clothes “push” anything in anyone’s faces. Don’t Australian policemen and firemen and soldiers wear some sort of uniforms?

The most recognised priest in my state wears crosses on his lapels.

I suspect that he does not get recognized very much then.

I don’t think that Saint Paul needed a uniform to be a most successful Apostle.

St. Paul was a Pharisee. Pharisees wore distinctive clothing to separate themselves from the Sadeucees, other Jews, and the Gentiles.

 

[Lepanto]

For all of you who discount or dismiss your “civilian clothes wearing” priests we’ve “run out” of priests in our archdiocese and my parish will have no priest by November.

Why am I NOT surprised that your archdiocese has no priests? There are countless other threads on this forum (see especially the vocations room) that talk about how religious orders that wear clerics/habits are growing (if not booming) whereas the ones that don’t are on the verge of extinction. Please do your research and see for yourself.

Honestly, find a real issue to get worked up about.

This is a “real issue to get worked up about” if one cares for the dignity of the priesthood and religious life. Some people get “worked up” about football and TV—we get “worked up” about the health of the Church.

 

[Lepanto]

Funny, we were just talking about this (I just noticed this thread) at the end of our RCIA class when on priest came down in his “Hawaiian” t-shirt (dove pattern) in the building to the side of the church where the priests and nuns live.

How sad. How disgraceful of him

 

[anamchara]

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.

I think that maybe a bit knee jerk. I’ve taken Yoga classes. I never saw anything new age about it. Holding crystals and centering yourself with mother Earth is new age. Taking a yoga class from your local parks and rec to do some stretching and learning to relax doesn’t seem like new age to me. I think this has been addressed in “ask an apologists”. Catholics can take Yoga but using good common sense read this:

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=14225

Back on topic, I would never be so judgmental as to dismiss anyone who has given of themselves what these fine men and women have.

 

[agapewolf]

How sad. How disgraceful of him

How disgraceful of you to judge the guy. Did you read the story? he came down at the end of their class, IN the rectory…probably meaning that it was later in the night.

This priest said he thought it was appropriate to wear the collar in public, and its the “only suit he wears”. but he doesn’t in his place of residence. He probably got comofortable at home, and then had to go out to lock everything up.

There is nothing disgraceful about that.

 

[mommyof4]

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

In other words, do you not take them as seriously if they are wearing normal street clothes instead of clericals/habits?

No. That would be rude and silly. We should never be dismissive of anyone because of their clothing, etc.

 

[Beachcomber]

Having been a product of a pre-Vatican 2 Catholic school religious in habits intimidate me. I find women religious and priests who are not in habits easier to approach if I have to. But that’s just me. The clothing doesn’t make the person.

 

[Lovemyfaith]

I think there are schools of thought, at least of some of the nun’s orders, as to why the habit is worn or not. Some orders feel that dressing as the people they serve makes those people more comfortable. Some orders, the habit is a part of the vocation itself. If I see a nun in a habit, I am especially polite and helpful (well I hope I am always polite and helpful), so I think not wearing a habit might loose some of that attention. I would have to give some credit to the nun who wears her vocation privately, while serving the people.
As far as priests, they have so much to wear during Mass, and while “on duty” most priests I see are wearing roman collar, so I can’t see a problem with them dressing as they wish any other time. They are human, I would think wearing black all the time could get to them.

 

[cecilia97]

I grew up next door to the rectory. We’d see the priests mowing the yard in shorts, running over to the church in their clericals, and jumping into the car in a Hawaiian shirt to go surfing. As long as I already know he’s a priest, I’d still call him Father and have the same respect. The vocation doesn’t dissapear when the collar comes off.

I’d hope I wouldn’t disrespect a priest that I didn’t know who was in civillian clothes, because I try not to disrespect anyone.

 

[Charitychick]

For me, it’s just a correlation. The clergy (with whom I have had experience) that are orthodox in their theology wear collars and habits. The ones in secular garb that I have had experience with have been liberal Catholics that seem to have more interest in socialism and watered down ecumenism.

So, for me, the dress is not in itself scandalous–it’s just a tip off.

I do think that there are situations in which secular dress would be appropriate.

The exception to this correlation (in my experience) would be the consecrated women of Regnum Christi. Though officially laywomen, they take vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience–they dress in business attire. I’ve found these women to be dynamic, orthodox Catholics of an order.

 

[ASimpleSinner]

For me, it’s just a correlation. The clergy (with whom I have had experience) that are orthodox in their theology wear collars and habits. The ones in secular garb that I have had experience with have been liberal Catholics that seem to have more interest in socialism and watered down ecumenism.

So, for me, the dress is not in itself scandalous–it’s just a tip off.

You nailed a big part of it for me. If I had more experience with pious holy priests who wore business suits or plaid shirts and khakis, I think I would not have the subconscious wincing that I do when I meet a “plainclothes-er”.

In 30 some years, almost to the man, the priests I have known who wear “civies” seem to be the same priests who are promoting the most dissident causes…

 

[japhy]

In 30 some years, almost to the man, the priests I have known who wear “civies” seem to be the same priests who are promoting the most dissident causes…

For those of us who don’t subscribe to Catholic Dissident Weekly, who are those people (and what do they promote)?

 

[ASimpleSinner]

For those of us who don’t subscribe to Catholic Dissident Weekly, who are those people (and what do they promote)?

Frs. Richard McBrien & Hans Kung, Sr. Joan Chittister, and Abp Milingo (now excommunicated.)

Google em individually, you will get a good taste of what they are offering.

 

[Marsha_Adams]

Unless a priest/nun/brother has a really valid reason for not wearing their collar and/or habits, I consider them thieves.

What have they stolen, you ask? They have stolen the witness of their lives from you and me and the world.

Have you ever been in a bus station or on the subway or airport or just walking down the street and seen a nun or brother in full habit? What did you feel when you saw her/him? I feel this rush of joy and pride and solidarity. Often my eyes well up to see a person who has dedicated her/his entire life to God, to see person who is not ashamed or embarassed to let the whole world see them walking an unpopular path. Now what if that nun or brother were in street clothes? The dedication of their lives to God may be no less real, but their witness has been totally lost and the world is a poorer place for it…

 

[Ceil-1]

I have experienced the same. Plus, those that have professed to be religious are supposed to have rejected the world. Their lives are no longer their own, and they directly represent Christ, and His Church in the world. They are called to be a sign of contradiction to the world, and I’ve noticed that even n-C’s are a bit awed by it.

These days, it takes heroic virtue to wear the habit in casual public, but isn’t that what we are called to if we expect to go to heaven? Those that do not wear it are a) weakening in their faith/vocation, b) are lacking in courage. Of course, those who would ben endangered- that’s a different story, but they may be passing up a ticket straight to heaven.

One thing I need to say is, I’m no better. I live in an area that has a lot of non-Catholics, many of which are quite prejudiced. With my job, I feel rather self-conscious just wearing a Crucifix. I have even dropped it under my shirt at times. From now on I will wear it loud and proud. I am proud of my rosary in the rear-view mirror, however.