I do not think that the rules that govern dress at the Vatican are automatically applicable at every church and chapel throughout the world. Yes, we should be modest at all times. Men wearing shorts that show their knees is not generally considered immodest in the US. Sleeveless blouses are not generally considered immodest, while tank tops, spagetti straps, or strapless tops more often are.
Knees and thighs?!
At least half of the congregation at any of our Masses would have to leave if this was truly a “Church rule” for Mass! And many of those would be elderly! Lots of the older men and women wear shorts or short pants that expose the knees, and many of the older women wear a top that exposes their shoulders.
I think that it is really a big stretch to expect that the rules that govern an international place of worship that is constantly covered by international media and that is visited by the kings and presidents of nations would also apply to an anonymous U.S. parish adoration chapel.
Again, this goes back to subsidiarism. The local governing authority, which in most U.S. cities is their bishop, gets to make the rules about dress code in his places of worship and adoration. It just makes sense–the dress code in a city in Hawaii will be very different from the dress code in Rome or Chicago or Vancouver.
Well, I could quote twenty other priests and bishops from all over the USA, Europe, Mexico, Asia (Philippines, India, Sri Lanka), and Australia, but I just chose to give this handy reference to Fr. Dominic Mary’s sermon on EWTN’s Mass - here’s the quote again from
youtube.com/watch?v=PZHECJJbzPM - please see it and hear it for yourself, especially starting at 4:50:
Quote:
**One should not come to church dressed in shorts. Miniskirts, swimsuits… tank tops… dresses above the knees… no dresses or skirts that go higher than the knees… bare shoulders… sleeveless shirts… It is disrespectful to our Lord who gave us the virtue of purity and modesty. It is clear that there must be a return to having a holy fear of God, and for his true presence in the Eucharist and for being in His House… **
So, no, shorts and bare shoulders are definitely not OK in church, and it’s not a Vatican exclusive. Shorts and bare shoulders are not OK in Alabama, where Fr. Domonic Mary’s church is located. Shorts and bare shoulders are not OK in Texas, Oregon, Louisiana, or California - I have read articles and instructions by bishops and priests from Texas, Oregon, Louisiana, and California, to this effect. I have read articles and instructions from bishops and priests in Manila and other cities in the Philippines, from India and Sri Lanka, from Knock in Ireland, from a coastal city in Croatia (Europe), from a major city in Australia, and even from a priest in Africa, to this effect. It would take me quite a bit of time to post links to all these articles, but you get the point: because I only posted the sermon of a Catholic priest from Alabama, and made reference to what’s required throughout Vatican City, throughout the churches of Rome, and throughout the churches of Italy (including those that are not major turist attractions!), the same rules of modesty apply also outside of Alabama, and outside of Rome and Italy.
The fact that shorts, dresses and skirts above the knee, and bare shoulders are not appropriate for church, should not even come up - there’s such a wealth of sermons and instructions by our Catholic clergy, available on the internet, against that kind of immodesty. The rules for churches are very clear, and I simply don’t see why should people think that they are allowed to wear shorts, for example in Hawaii or Florida, after we have had our Catholic clergy banning shorts in churches of Rome, Italy, Ireland, France, Croatia, Oregon, Louisiana, Texas, Alabama, California, Mexico, India, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Africa, and so on. It would also detract from the thread’s purpose which is to ask whether rules are any different in adoration chapels, compared to churches.
Quoting again Fr. Dominic Mary’s sermon, it seems to me that he would see no difference between a
church and an
adoration chapel, simply because both are the House of God, and because God’s holy presence in the Eucharist is there, in both cases:
Quote:
**It is disrespectful to our Lord who gave us the virtue of purity and modesty. It is clear that there must be a return to having a holy fear of God, and for his true presence in the Eucharist and for being in His House… **
Using this logic, modesty, and coverig onne’s shoulders and knees, would be required because we are in God’s House, and we are in God’s presence in the Eucharist. So, my question still is:
after we have clearly established that shorts, skirts above the knees, and exposed shoulders are forbidden for church, could it be that they are nevertheless allowed in the Adoration Chapel which is also God’s House and where we come into God’s holy presence in the Eucharist?
I’m also being reminded of this passage from the Bible - John chapter 21 - quote from
vatican.va/archive/ENG0839/__PXT.HTM :
4
When it was already dawn, Jesus was standing on the shore; but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
5
Jesus said to them, “Children, have you caught anything to eat?” They answered him, “No.”
6
So he said to them, “Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something.” So they cast it, and were not able to pull it in because of the number of fish.
7
So the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.”
When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he tucked in his garment, for he was lightly clad, and jumped into the sea.
8
The other disciples came in the boat, for they were not far from shore, only about a hundred yards, dragging the net with the fish.
The Douay-Rheims Bible translates John 21: 7 as follows - quote from
drbo.org/chapter/50021.htm :
[7] That disciple therefore whom Jesus loved, said to Peter: It is the Lord.
Simon Peter, when he heard that it was the Lord, girt his coat about him, (for he was naked,) and cast himself into the sea.
Apparently, Peter found it important to put on his coat, not to stay half naked, before he jumped into the sea to go hurry to the shore and meet Jesus. And we think it’s OK to go wearing shorts and bare shoulders, to go meet Jesus in the Eucharist?
