Just For Attention

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Hello everyone, I would like to tell you this short story about what happened today in a coffee shop where I live. As I walked in to the coffee shop, there was a man who kind of looked like a hippie dressed with a collared shirt of a Catholic priest. I knew he wasn’t a Catholic priest yet I was curious to ask. I asked if he was Episcopalian with the collar in which he replied "no, I belong to the Green Union Church down the street. I then asked why then do you where the collar of looking like a Catholic priest and he answered “my parishioners said I’d get more attention if I wear it”. To which I replied, "well then you must get a lot of people mistaking you for a Catholic priest in which he replied “yes”. I then said “well, I guess that’s a good thing”. His friend responded “well maybe to you since your a Catholic” and I stated "and also to the 1.12 billion others too.

Question: Does one here think it is wrong to wear a collar in order to get attention? It seemed like some sort of a mockery to my church and others who deserve to wear it. Any comments?
 
Cathdefender said:
Hello everyone, I would like to tell you this short story about what happened today in a coffee shop where I live. As I walked in to the coffee shop, there was a man who kind of looked like a hippie dressed with a collared shirt of a Catholic priest. I knew he wasn’t a Catholic priest yet I was curious to ask. I asked if he was Episcopalian with the collar in which he replied "no, I belong to the Green Union Church down the street. I then asked why then do you where the collar of looking like a Catholic priest and he answered “my parishioners said I’d get more attention if I wear it”. To which I replied, "well then you must get a lot of people mistaking you for a Catholic priest in which he replied “yes”. I then said “well, I guess that’s a good thing”. His friend responded “well maybe to you since your a Catholic” and I stated "and also to the 1.12 billion others too.

Question: Does one here think it is wrong to wear a collar in order to get attention? It seemed like some sort of a mockery to my church and others who deserve to wear it. Any comments?
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My dad, a Lutheran pastor, wore his collar because he was an ordained servant of Christ, not to draw attention to himslef.

Jon
 
I personally know of a few Protestant ministers who wear the collars. It does not phase me. With one exception. I know a female preacher who does. It just don’t look right
 
JonNC said:
My dad, a Lutheran pastor, wore his collar because he was an ordained servant of Christ, not to draw attention to himslef.

Jon
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But a Lutheran pastor I could understand. I believe this man was not ordained.
 
Such collars are known as clerical collars, not merely Roman collars, though the style worn by priests usually has a narrower tab than others.

By his parishoners saying he should wear it for attention. I suspect that did not mean the way some people dye their hair vivid colors, or wear huge earrings for attention, but rather they want their minister to be recognized as such in the community. That will give him, and their church a certain sense of presence and validity. If someone needs a minister, there he is, in the understood garb, and someone might approach him with a question or for counsel. He can then be of service to them, and perhaps direct them to the church for further assistance of fellowship.

When I see a person dressed as clergy, I see it as them calling attention to their role and availability as a cleric, not to themselves.

I have been surprised several times recently by Catholic’s taking ownership of all things clerical and holy. I was listening to a radio show and the Catholic apologist said he had approached a non Catholic and given them a dressing down for wearing a crucifix, and stated that other people shouldn’t wear them, they are a Catholic symbol.

?

cheddar
 
a few years ago I spied someone who appeared in all aspects of dress and demeanor to be homeless (given that we were in drop-in center at the time I may be forgiven for my assumption). I brought him coffee and donuts and invited him to stay for lunch, which I was there to serve, and asked if he needed a shower, use of the phone or anything else. He politely said no, he was just waiting for someone. the “someone” came in, the sister who ran the place, and they met for a while in her office, then she gave him a tour of the place. turns out he was a local priest ministering to one of the poorest communities in our diocese, a town dying because its only industry had shut down, where almost the entire population lived in public housing. he was there because he and the nuns were collaborators in her ministry, and he dressed like that in solidarity with his people. I was the only one present who did not recognize him as a priest. Everyone else in the community recognized him instantly no matter where he went.

the collar does not make the priest, the priest makes the collar have significance
 
puzzleannie said:
a few years ago I spied someone who appeared in all aspects of dress and demeanor to be homeless (given that we were in drop-in center at the time I may be forgiven for my assumption). I brought him coffee and donuts and invited him to stay for lunch, which I was there to serve, and asked if he needed a shower, use of the phone or anything else. He politely said no, he was just waiting for someone. the “someone” came in, the sister who ran the place, and they met for a while in her office, then she gave him a tour of the place. turns out he was a local priest ministering to one of the poorest communities in our diocese, a town dying because its only industry had shut down, where almost the entire population lived in public housing. he was there because he and the nuns were collaborators in her ministry, and he dressed like that in solidarity with his people. I was the only one present who did not recognize him as a priest. Everyone else in the community recognized him instantly no matter where he went.

the collar does not make the priest, the priest makes the collar have significance
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Absolutely, but not to wear one as to seem important.
 
The more I think about this, the more I see it as an intentional deception: a lie. If we was a minister who wore the collar so that people would know that he was a man of God, that is one thing. Instead, he wears it to get attention. Why does he want attention? Is it to attract others to his church? If so, is he targeting Catholics or other groups that see that collar as an outward sign of a life dedicated to God?
 
ralphinal said:
The more I think about this, the more I see it as an intentional deception: a lie. If we was a minister who wore the collar so that people would know that he was a man of God, that is one thing. Instead, he wears it to get attention. Why does he want attention? Is it to attract others to his church? If so, is he targeting Catholics or other groups that see that collar as an outward sign of a life dedicated to God?
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Perhaps he really just wants to be a Catholic priest! 😃
 
cheddarsox said:
Such collars are known as clerical collars, not merely Roman collars, though the style worn by priests usually has a narrower tab than others.

By his parishoners saying he should wear it for attention. I suspect that did not mean the way some people dye their hair vivid colors, or wear huge earrings for attention, but rather they want their minister to be recognized as such in the community. That will give him, and their church a certain sense of presence and validity. If someone needs a minister, there he is, in the understood garb, and someone might approach him with a question or for counsel. He can then be of service to them, and perhaps direct them to the church for further assistance of fellowship.

When I see a person dressed as clergy, I see it as them calling attention to their role and availability as a cleric, not to themselves.
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That’s how I see the matter also.
I have been surprised several times recently by Catholic’s taking ownership of all things clerical and holy. I was listening to a radio show and the Catholic apologist said he had approached a non Catholic and given them a dressing down for wearing a crucifix, and stated that other people shouldn’t wear them, they are a Catholic symbol.
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That’s just dumb! So dumb I wish I had heard the entire exchange.
 
quote: cheddarsox
Such collars are known as clerical collars, not merely Roman collars, though the style worn by priests usually has a narrower tab than others.
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By his parishoners saying he should wear it for attention. I suspect that did not mean the way some people dye their hair vivid colors, or wear huge earrings for attention, but rather they want their minister to be recognized as such in the community. That will give him, and their church a certain sense of presence and validity. If someone needs a minister, there he is, in the understood garb, and someone might approach him with a question or for counsel. He can then be of service to them, and perhaps direct them to the church for further assistance of fellowship.
Click to expand...
When I see a person dressed as clergy, I see it as them calling attention to their role and availability as a cleric, not to themselves.
Click to expand...
I have been surprised several times recently by Catholic’s taking ownership of all things clerical and holy. I was listening to a radio show and the Catholic apologist said he had approached a non Catholic and given them a dressing down for wearing a crucifix, and stated that other people shouldn’t wear them, they are a Catholic symbol.
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?
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cheddarsox
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Thank you, cheddarsox, for your thorough and clear reply
to the topic of this thread.

reen12
 
ralphinal said:
The more I think about this, the more I see it as an intentional deception: a lie. ?
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nothing in description of OP says this individual is not an ordained minister of a church whose clergy wears collars, so until we know (and it is probably not possible to find out) it is a bit extreme to accuse him of anything.
 
puzzleannie said:
nothing in description of OP says this individual is not an ordained minister of a church whose clergy wears collars, so until we know (and it is probably not possible to find out) it is a bit extreme to accuse him of anything.
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Then I misread this line:
“my parishioners said I’d get more attention if I wear it”
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That reads to me that the collar is not normally worn in his denomination.
 
ralphinal said:
Then I misread this line:

That reads to me that the collar is not normally worn in his denomination.
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or that could also be the response of a Catholic priest or protestant minister, who should be wearing a collar but doesn’t, who received a gentle reminder from his flock. still think we are reading a lot into this report.
 
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puzzleannie said:
or that could also be the response of a Catholic priest or protestant minister, who should be wearing a collar but doesn’t, who received a gentle reminder from his flock. still think we are reading a lot into this report.
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True, but that would still be a deception: he does not want to be recognised.
 
Thanks for your (name removed by moderator)ut here, the person wearing the collar seemed to want attention more than knowing what the collar actually represents.
 
This is my first post on Catholic Answers Forums. Greetings, brothers and sisters.

I always wondered how Roman Catholics felt about Protestant ministers wearing single-breasted cassocks. I am really thankful that the Roman Catholic Church has retained this garment as it, for me, communicates gravity, seriousness, mournfulness, and a sombre demeanour that should mark all those who are public representatives of the Church.

Every day, infants and children die slow, painful deaths in ICUs, as their parents look on, their hearts pierced through as with a sword. Every day, hidden behind walls, countless children endure emotional, physical, and sexual abuse. There is so much suffering in this world. The public representatives of the Church, the men of God, should be the ones to remind the world that live is not about finding happiness for ourselves and our own, but rather about compassion and love for those who need it most. The public servants of the Church should be the ones to walk the walk, and teach others that the ones who mourn are the ones who are blessed, and that sorrow is better than laughter.

So, how do members of this forum feel about protestant ministers wearing the single-breasted cassock? Do you feel that it should be a uniform set aside exclusively for the Roman Catholic Church, or do feel it is appropriate for protestants, also?
 
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