I beg to differ. Not one of the statements you posted actually states what types of clothing are worn by men and women in an immodest way. They are general statements and can be interpreted in many different ways.
That quote denotes no such thing! It doesn’t use or even imply “shame” or “recoiling from trespassing the boundaries of propriety.” All it states is that “women should adorn themselves modestly and sensibly in seemly apparel.” That’s it. How did you ever get from that simple little statement to “shame” and "recoiling from trespassing the boundaries of propriety? I think you’re reading a whole lot more into those quotes than what is actually there.
Mini skirts and bikinis are not unseemly apparel. You have your opinion and I have mine. I’m not going to worry about inciting “sinful desires” in men and I’m not going to change my opinion.
Dear LittleSoldier,
Cordial greetings and a very good day to you. Thankyou most kindly for your response to my post.
Whilst the statements from our Catechism do not stipulate the
types of immodest clothing that are to be avoided, they hardly sit comfortably, by any reasonable interpretation, with mini-skirts, bikini’s and low cut garments. How can modesty possibly “inspire the choice” of such degrading clothing?; and surely to be clad in such apparel is an unveiling of that which should remain hidden?
The word translated “modesty” in I Tim. 2: 9
does indicate a sense of shame and a shrinking from exceeding the bounds of propriety and thus a proper reserve when it comes to clothing. That is the most obvious elucidation of the Sacred text and the one with which the majority of orthodox exegetes agree with. Of course this does not necessarily entail a woman having to balk at all fashion, only those fashions which happen to be unseemly and indecent.
LittleSoldier, are you not being slightly uncharitable and insensitive when you baldly remark that you are “not going to worry about inciting sinful desires in men…”? Regardless of your opinion in this matter, this sounds a rather harsh and unkind attitude to have towards members of the male sex, especially as a Catholic. As I said previously, we are all individually responsible for resisting the manifold temptations that come our way, however we should not be indifferent to the fact that our inconsiderate actions may be causing another to sin and fall from grace. Any woman who wears seductive and revealing clothing has the potential to become a prime mover in causing a man to commit adultery with her in his heart (cf. St. Matt. 5: 28); would any respectable and God fearing Catholic woman wish to be responsible for being the occasion of such a sin?
Ostentatious and seductive attire, like bikini’s and mini-skirts, hardly point to a mind which is set upon that which is heavenly (see Col. 3: 2). Interior purity and chastity will always be accompanied by outward modesty which makes iteself known by the wearing of seemly attire.
This is not about being a moralistic fuddy-duddy, but about the wearing of clothing that is expressive of inner modesty and of a sober outlook on life, the outlook of a devout Catholic.
Warmest good wishes,
Portrait
I wrote a post in which I asked why there was so much anger. I noticed that the threads were being closed rather quickly.