Fascinating article by a writer who wore a priestly cassock for a day in a large US city

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The fact he also has a secular job is the reason he does not wear clerical clothes – even when ministering as a pastor of a congregation on Sundays?

I would be far more concerned about the preparation/competence of a minister – any minister, and not what sort of garb they wore.
 
My former boss often wore a cassock here in the heart of the south, Bible belt, heavily Baptist area. It is what he wears for any “dress up” occasion. He is treated with respect. Sometimes people are curious and ask and he always has a kind response to them.
 
Is he a priest? I’ve found that even anti-Catholic bigots have a certain intrinsic respect for Catholic priests in person.
 
People have dressed up as nurses or firefighters or cowboys or policemen or clowns ever since those professions have had “uniforms”. It is not intended as a slap in the face, it is usually because the admire the people in that profession. Heck, when my kid dressed up as an astronaut it was not so he could insult astronauts, it is because he wanted to BE one when he grew up.
 
My in-laws are mostly Protestant (Baptist and Presbyterian) and I also live next door to a Protestant church. I never see the ministers wearing anything other than regular business suits or in the case of the female minister, a dress. I have been to two family funerals featuring ministers in a suit, or a jacket and tie.

Apart from Anglican priests, I’ve never seen any Protestant clergy wearing anything specifically clerical.
 
TheLittleLady said:
People have dressed up as nurses or firefighters or cowboys or policemen or clowns ever since those professions have had “uniforms”. It is not intended as a slap in the face, it is usually because the admire the people in that profession. Heck, when my kid dressed up as an astronaut it was not so he could insult astronauts, it is because he wanted to BE one when he grew up.
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I fully agree. It’s a great thing!
 
Tis_Bearself said:
My in-laws are mostly Protestant (Baptist and Presbyterian) and I also live next door to a Protestant church. I never see the ministers wearing anything other than regular business suits or in the case of the female minister, a dress. I have been to two family funerals featuring ministers in a suit, or a jacket and tie.

Apart from Anglican priests, I’ve never seen any Protestant clergy wearing anything specifically clerical.
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I would suggest your exposure is quite limited in that case. Here locally I have seen Catholic priests, Methodist ministers, Lutheran ministers, Orthodox priests, Episcopal ministers and a fair number of “non-denominational” Christian ministers wear clerical collars with their suits.
 
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Yep. Went to an event on Wednesday where there were more clerical collars than I could count! These were ministers of every stripe, including a couple of women.
 
Catholics and Orthodox are not Protestant, so they are irrelevant to this discussion. As for Episcopal, I mentioned Anglican priests, which to me are the same thing. I don’t personally know any Lutherans but would not be surprised if they wear some clerical garb since they and the Anglican/ Episcopal are the closest to the original Catholic church.

There are a wide variety of Methodists. The ones I have seen (mostly in my dad’s hometown) do not wear anything special. It’s interesting that you’ve seen some who wear a collar. The ones my Dad grew up with would object to that as being “too Catholic”.

As for “non-denominational Christian”, where I’ve lived those are usually African-American storefront or urban churches and the pastors are either wearing a nice business suit or some type of African robe.
 
TheLittleLady said:
Yep. Went to an event on Wednesday where there were more clerical collars than I could count! These were ministers of every stripe, including a couple of women.
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Clerical collars seem to be especially popular amongst female ministers around here. I’ve even seen Unitarian ministers wear clerical collars. Not uncommon at all.
 
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The American Catholic Church (not in communion with Rome) near here has an “ordained” lesbian Bishop. She consistently wears a Roman Collar.
 
StephieNorthCo said:
The American Catholic Church (not in communion with Rome) near here has an “ordained” lesbian Bishop. She consistently wears a Roman Collar.
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There you go…

Several years ago my parish was without a pastor for over 18 months. We had a lay parish manager, but the priests were not resident in the parish and they continually changed. One female EMHC (who often conducted communion services) choose that time to lose her marbles. She began wearing a pectoral with her alb that would have made a cardinal blush. Instead of her cane she would use a crucifix-on-a-stick (papal ferula) like the one often used by St. JPII. Far worse she began to wear a “tippet” – an Anglican stole while she conducted the communion services. In other words she was playing cleric.

I was in the sacristy while a Mass just got underway where she was going to read and serve – I was polishing some brass for the bells & smells Mass that was to follow. I don’t know exactly what happened, but it wasn’t until the procession that the visiting priest noticed all her ornaments.

He summoned her into the sacristy, slammed the door, almost yelled “Duesenberg, vest!” as they went outside to have a chat. She never took part in another liturgical ministry at the parish. She soon left.

She is now an “archbishop” of one of those silly women’s priest groups.

I bet she wears a clerical collar as well…
 
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Ooohhh. Archbishop. As Darth Vader would say, “impressive”.

I actually attended a couple of services partly out of curiosity. One sermon contained, “we believe there was no original sin”. I wasn’t back.
 
StephieNorthCo said:
I actually attended a couple of services partly out of curiosity. One sermon contained, “we believe there was no original sin”. I wasn’t back.
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That’s dreadful…

A layperson is never to preach at a communion service – but they can give a “reflection” which many often abuse. I have conducted many myself and I always read 2-3 paragraphs, verbatim from a saint in place of any “reflection.”
 
Anyhow.

The man wearing a priestly cassock and walking through Paris is an actor. He assumes the role of an historical character. A fictional character. A character. He is an actor.

There ought to be no scandal. Priests are allowed to enjoy themselves, are allowed to have a beer.

This was an actor. He gained respect and allegiance for the Church. Why are we engaged in all this controversy?
 
LoyalViews said:
The man wearing a priestly cassock and walking through Paris is an actor. He assumes the role of an historical character. A fictional character. A character. He is an actor.
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That’s not what the article is about.
 
chicago is a “highly catholic city”??

chicago votes lockstep 99.9% blue for pro-abortion candidates

maybe you are talking about the city of chicago on planet pluto…
 
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I thought the story of Sir Alec was cool. He wasn’t claiming to be a priest; just dressed in character. It helped him into the Church, so I figure that was a good thing. As for Protestants wearing clerical collars; the pastor at my parents’ Evangelical Lutheran church wears one. Grey or very pale blue shirt. I’ve even seen a Satanic High Priest on the History Channel wear a collar with a brown shirt. As for the lady with clerical garb: That was plain out right wrong. Only priests should wear clerical garb as part of their duties.
 
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