Nuns for Halloween?

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Viki63

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So, my team at work would like us to dress up for Halloween with a common theme, and some have suggested we should all dress as nuns. Someone mentioned getting a pregnant nun costume.
I was taken aback and unable to comment at the time. But this seems on a par with other forms of . . . is it too strong to call it Catholic bashing?
I am planning to say that I find this offensive, if the idea comes up again. Am I being too strait-laced? I know what they’ll say, that it’s all in fun, that I shouldn’t be a party -pooper.
But I don’t see them picking on Jewish people, or Mormons, or any other religion.
What would you say?
 
I see exactly where you are coming from, because I notice a lot of times in my classes that students make fun of Catholics or stereotype us, and I get angry because they never do that with any other religion. But, anyway back to your question… if I were you, I would just say you do not want to dress as that, but if they do than that is their own business.
 
A costume of a pregnant Nun is unacceptable. No one should mock these Holy Women who devote their lives to God.
 
I personally wouldn’t dress up as a priest or nun for halloween because I respect them too much.
Other religions get made fun of too, I have seen people dress up as Rabbi’s w/ exagerated stereotypical dress (Thick glasses, long curly hair etc.)

Then there’s the down right offensive when I saw somebody dress up as suicide bomber…
 
HyeDetroit said:
I personally wouldn’t dress up as a priest or nun for halloween because I respect them too much.
Other religions get made fun of too, I have seen people dress up as Rabbi’s w/ exagerated stereotypical dress (Thick glasses, long curly hair etc.)

Then there’s the down right offensive when I saw somebody dress up as suicide bomber…
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I don’t know. I think it would be perfectly humorous (and probably very accurate in a way). :rolleyes: Ever heard of Achmed the Dead Terrorist? 😛

Anyways, back on topic.
I think a pregnant nun costume is way outta line. Can’t your team just do something along the lines of a cosplay or something? I mean, while they’re obviously far from accurate, at least comic books and video games have made far more aesthetically appealing ‘alterations’ to religious attire.
 
Last school year my Catholic school decided to do a reprise of some “Sister Act” songs for a talent show. One of the married teachers was pregnant. As a surprise, one of the parents “in the know” surprised the teachers at the last minute with nun costumes. She did not even think about the pregnant teacher. So, it didn’t intentionally happen…it just was! Both priests laughed about that.
 
If you work for a corporation (as opposed to a mom and pop venture), such would voilate HR policy. I would hope the company would reprimand an employee who so clearly mocked religious beliefs.
 
Catholic90 said:
Last school year my Catholic school decided to do a reprise of some “Sister Act” songs for a talent show. One of the married teachers was pregnant. As a surprise, one of the parents “in the know” surprised the teachers at the last minute with nun costumes. She did not even think about the pregnant teacher. So, it didn’t intentionally happen…it just was! Both priests laughed about that.
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This situation was funny because of the spontaneity of situation at hand. Someone was truly pregnant then was asked to dress like a nun. No one’s intent was to mock or be offensive. I have no problem poking fun at people who throw themselves in the spotlight. Entertainers, Politicians, and Sports stars are all fair game in my opinion. But slamming or mocking someone devoutly religious ie nuns, Amish, rabbis, and yes even imam is highly offensive.
 
Viki63 said:
So, my team at work would like us to dress up for Halloween with a common theme, and some have suggested we should all dress as nuns. Someone mentioned getting a pregnant nun costume.
I was taken aback and unable to comment at the time. But this seems on a par with other forms of . . . is it too strong to call it Catholic bashing?
I am planning to say that I find this offensive, if the idea comes up again. Am I being too strait-laced? I know what they’ll say, that it’s all in fun, that I shouldn’t be a party -pooper.
But I don’t see them picking on Jewish people, or Mormons, or any other religion.
What would you say?
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Nuns isn’t a problem, but the pregnant nun thing is. That’s a horrible joke to make at the expense of devout women. This is actually a joke made at a religion, and if your company has any kind of decency they wouldn’t allow someone to wear a costume like that to work because it’s on par with telling catholic bashing jokes at work, and it really unacceptable and unprofessional. I would advise you to stick up for yourself. I myself was in a job where I allowed that kind of behaviour, and because I didn’t say anything earlier on, it got so out of hand, I had to quit.
 
Kage is right, there are workplace anti-discrimination laws that encompass religious-based discrimination (I believe even in mom-and-pop type operations, but I’m not sure), which is exactly what this entails - public mockery of a religion, where you are a captive audience. There are plenty of other things that can be done that safely skirt this issue of religion, say, sports teams, historical figures, animal costumes etc. You should bring it up with your HR personnel.

While people are free to engage in distasteful behavior outside the workplace, but within the workplace, such freedoms are limited.
 
As children my mom made three nun outfits for me and my sisters. We LOVED THEM!!! 😃 You (or someone else) asked why Catholic’s are always targeted? Because we know the Truth. Jesus said to rejoice when we are despised and mocked. Are we better than Jesus who was tortured and mocked for our sakes.

Honestly… I take it as a complement that a pregnant Nun is out of the ordinary and everyone who sees someone dressed as a pregnant Nun immediately sees the quandary! 🙂
 
Viki63 said:
So, my team at work would like us to dress up for Halloween with a common theme, and some have suggested we should all dress as nuns. Someone mentioned getting a pregnant nun costume.
I was taken aback and unable to comment at the time. But this seems on a par with other forms of . . . is it too strong to call it Catholic bashing?
I am planning to say that I find this offensive, if the idea comes up again. Am I being too strait-laced? I know what they’ll say, that it’s all in fun, that I shouldn’t be a party -pooper.
But I don’t see them picking on Jewish people, or Mormons, or any other religion.
What would you say?
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I suppose it is Catholic bashing but don’t bash them back. The protestants always dress up as Catholic priests etc. and I saw this guy on a stag do dressed up as some type of bishop but I couldn’t tell if he was real or fake.
 
At the Halloween carnival we always attend, a teacher there dressed as a nun one time. Not a pregnant nun, though! :eek: She’s a perfectly sweet lady and faithful Catholic who wouldn’t dream of doing so as an insult.

To each her own, I guess. I don’t like the idea of guys dressing as nuns for a joke, though. That seems disrespectful to me.

oneseeker2
 
Intent comes before content. Meaning, that if their intent is to mock the church, then this is unacceptable. If there best excuse is, “it is all in fun” it is a ridicules excuse.
 
Thank you for all the helpful replies.
I do intend to stand up for respect for consecrated women when/if it comes up again. The trick is not to alienate my co-workers - because I’d like to be someone they can talk to, not the uptight prude who spoiled their Halloween. However . . .we’ll see what happens. October is a ways away.
 
Viki63 said:
Thank you for all the helpful replies.
I do intend to stand up for respect for consecrated women when/if it comes up again. The trick is not to alienate my co-workers - because I’d like to be someone they can talk to, not the uptight prude who spoiled their Halloween. However . . .we’ll see what happens. October is a ways away.
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Very true, my earlier post regarding seeing HR should really be a last resort, if the situation can’t be resolved without the alienation of someone (either you or them). My company’s discrimination class we had to take (I work for government, so these things are necessary) focused on ways to diffuse such situations before they become legal liabilities. Such actions usually start simply with talking with your co-workers and discussing the offending behavior. It’s possible the person who suggested it doens’t have a clue how offensive this would be to Catholics in the workplace - perhaps he/she doesn’t realize there ARE any Catholics in the workplace. Start there and hope for the best. 👍
 
I find it rather offensive and in poor taste as well. Especially a pregnant nun. But I find myself hypersensitive to anything I perceive as “Catholic bashing” at the moment.
 
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