Inappropriate T-Shirt in Mass

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Catherine_W

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I was hoping you all could tell me what would be the appropriate course of action in this situation. Today during Mass (the mass of the Lords Supper), the man sitting next to me had a t-shirt that said something like:

“Atheist, Catholic, Fat, Tall, Homosexual, Immigrant, Bisexual, Transgender, Hispanic, Black” …. And lots of other things…

Then below the list it said “We are all different Embrace it”

Do you think this is an appropriate shirt for Mass?
Should I have said something politely to him? And if so what should I have said? Should I say it out of concern for his soul or out of concern for other people at mass or out of concern for the Holy Eucharist? Would it be wrong to say something like “I do not think that shirt is appropriate for mass”? If some anger was evident in our voices would that be wrong?

My husband wanted to say something to him after mass, I said we should not say anything (I was worried that it would come across in anger). We didn’t say anything, but now we are wondering if we should have.

Thank you so much for your advice. 🙂
 
Perhaps you should invite him to lunch? Then you could find out a little more about him and then perhaps casually mention something about the t-shirt.

I know it sounds crazy.
 
I don’t see what the problem is. We ARE all different, after all. There’s nothing wrong with being different.
 
I don’t see what the problem is. We ARE all different, after all. There’s nothing wrong with being different.
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Kitteh-
Yes we are all different, and I have no problem with that. I have a problem with embracing sinful behaviors (gay lifestyle, transgender, etc). We should try to help people to get on the right path, not embrace their sin. How can we help them if we never tell them the truth (I think it should be done in a loving, kind manner, but still they need to know right from wrong). If we really care for others, we would care for their souls, we would want them to one day be in Heaven. If we don’t take action to help them on that path, then how can we really care for them? Life on this earth is temporal, but we are eternal beings and our number one goal should be to one day be in Heaven and to help others to attain that same goal, through recognition of sin, repentance, and knowing/loving God more.
 
I think a t-shirt with a printed message is a poor choice for mass, regardless of the message.
 
I think you should ignore him.

His shirt is proclaiming that his belief system is that of secular society, not that of the Catholic Church. People like that will fall away from the Catholic Faith after a short while.
 
Next time you go to Mass stand in front of him wearing a shirt that says,

"Attention all Catholics:
The cafeteria is closed!"
 
Dale_M said:
I think a t-shirt with a printed message is a poor choice for mass, regardless of the message.
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That was my first thought! 😛

My kids get upset that I require a dress code when going to mass.

As far as the content of the shirt, theologically it is borderline - we are supposed to love one another, warts and all. However, the *implication *is that we are to embrace the sinful inclinations of others - that is not the case. I accept that we are all equally God’s children, but we are also all called to repent and be saved.
 
Catherine_W said:
I was hoping you all could tell me what would be the appropriate course of action in this situation. Today during Mass (the mass of the Lords Supper), the man sitting next to me had a t-shirt that said something like:

“Atheist, Catholic, Fat, Tall, Homosexual, Immigrant, Bisexual, Transgender, Hispanic, Black” …. And lots of other things…

Then below the list it said “We are all different Embrace it”

Do you think this is an appropriate shirt for Mass?
Should I have said something politely to him? And if so what should I have said? Should I say it out of concern for his soul or out of concern for other people at mass or out of concern for the Holy Eucharist? Would it be wrong to say something like “I do not think that shirt is appropriate for mass”? If some anger was evident in our voices would that be wrong?

My husband wanted to say something to him after mass, I said we should not say anything (I was worried that it would come across in anger). We didn’t say anything, but now we are wondering if we should have.

Thank you so much for your advice. 🙂
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Where is this T-shirt? I want to buy it. It sounds fantastic.
 
rlg94086 said:
That was my first thought! 😛

My kids get upset that I require a dress code when going to mass.

As far as the content of the shirt, theologically it is borderline - we are supposed to love one another, warts and all. However, the *implication *is that we are to embrace the sinful inclinations of others - that is not the case. I accept that we are all equally God’s children, but we are also all called to repent and be saved.
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Maybe this guy doesn’t believe that those things are sinful? Or maybe if he does, he doesn’t think it’s grounds to reject or ignore or rebuke gay, transgenered, or bisexual people. Maybe he thinks like Jesus did - to embrace the rejected and scorned, even if they are sinful.
 
Enoch said:
Next time you go to Mass stand in front of him wearing a shirt that says,

**"Attention all Catholics: **
The cafeteria is closed!"
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Is it though? What does that even mean? “Cafeteria” Catholics most likely make up the majority of parishoners. Do you send them away if they don’t change their views to conform to the Church? Do you tell this man in your Church that he isn’t welcome there because of his viewpoints?
 
My first response is to tear it off of him and then beat him with a rolled up missal.

However, that is not the Christian thing to do so I ask the priest to speak with him and if that doesn’t work I would ask him why he feels his promotion of sin is more important than your right to worship.
 
Exalt said:
Maybe this guy doesn’t believe that those things are sinful? Or maybe if he does, he doesn’t think it’s grounds to reject or ignore or rebuke gay, transgenered, or bisexual people. Maybe he thinks like Jesus did - to embrace the rejected and scorned, even if they are sinful.
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Maybe his beliefs are irrelevant so far as Church teaching is concerned?

Perhaps his intent was to say “love thy neighbor”, and we really don’t know. But more than likely is was to make a statement against judging certain behaviors.

I doubt he’d get much support if his shirt said

"Rapists, Muderers, Adulterers, Pedphiles, Pet Molestors, Necrophyliacs"

"We are all different embrace it."

Why not, we should embrace one another, right? Such a foolish, outdated, hippie notion.
 
Exalt said:
Is it though? What does that even mean? “Cafeteria” Catholics most likely make up the majority of parishoners. Do you send them away if they don’t change their views to conform to the Church? Do you tell this man in your Church that he isn’t welcome there because of his viewpoints?
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Are you honestly asking if we should ask people to leave if their views do not conform to those of the Church? So it’s OK to interrupt a worship service with that type of distraction?

So I can come to your Church with a shirt that says “F*ck You and your beliefs” and that would be OK?
 
Exalt said:
Is it though? What does that even mean? “Cafeteria” Catholics most likely make up the majority of parishoners. Do you send them away if they don’t change their views to conform to the Church? Do you tell this man in your Church that he isn’t welcome there because of his viewpoints?
Click to expand...
Flawed argument, you just got done defending t-shirt wearing and message spreading. You can’t pick and choose which messages you find appropriate. You need to embrace and all that nonsense.
 
TemplarKnight said:
My first response is to tear it off of him and then beat him with a rolled up missal.
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:rotfl: You’re right…that wouldn’t be the Christian thing to do.
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TemplarKnight:
However, that is not the Christian thing to do so I ask the priest to speak with him and if that doesn’t work I would ask him why he feels his promotion of sin is more important than your right to worship.
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👍
 
Exalt said:
Is it though? What does that even mean? “Cafeteria” Catholics most likely make up the majority of parishoners. Do you send them away if they don’t change their views to conform to the Church? Do you tell this man in your Church that he isn’t welcome there because of his viewpoints?
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Well, I was being facetious. But since you decided to be so serious about it.

We need to conform to Christ, not make Christ conform to us. Excommunication is an act of mercy not condemnation. Christ calls us to be as one.

Last night our priest told my parish, “If you don’t believe with all your heart that the Holy Eucharist is truly the body, blood, soul, and divinity if Jesus Christ, don’t approach the altar, otherwise you will be bringing condemnation upon yourself”
 
Catherine_W said:
I was hoping you all could tell me what would be the appropriate course of action in this situation. Today during Mass (the mass of the Lords Supper), the man sitting next to me had a t-shirt that said something like:

“Atheist, Catholic, Fat, Tall, Homosexual, Immigrant, Bisexual, Transgender, Hispanic, Black” …. And lots of other things…

Then below the list it said “We are all different Embrace it”
Click to expand...
I wonder what his reason was for wearing the shirt. But then I wonder about why you bolded the words you did.

I wouldn’t have liked seeing that shirt but I wouldn’t have said anything about it. I would have tried to take the most charitable view. Perhaps the man is some of those things and was wondering if he’d be accepted in church or not. Nothing like putting it all out there and then see if someone yells at you or tells you that you don’t belong there. That would then be an excuse for never coming back.

If I were brave – and I’m generally not – I might ask him gently about why he selected that shirt to wear to church.
 
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