Priest and the collar

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

Hello Brother,

One can interpret the particular law in various ways but there is no doubt that the US Conference of Bishops promulgated a true, binding law: I don’t see how your comment squares with the decree of promulgation, which was quoted in another post. This particular law did receive at least a 2/3 majority and was given approval by the appropriate Roman Congregation. As a member of a religious institute, you have proper law. Secular clerics have their own, which is what was promulgated by the NCCB. I know of no bishop who has his own rules.

Thanks for your time.
Dan

No where in that decree did it state that a priest must wear clerical dress at all times.

It is being interpreted that way but it does not say that.

I also have not seen the necessary parts (the voting record) nor did I see, in a quick scan, that it was binding.

Be that as it may, it does not require a priest to wear clerical dress on his free time and yes secular priests have free time. They do not work 24/7. Most are not even on-call all the time as they share that responsibility with other priests to allow for down time.

 

[catholictiger]

Be that as it may, it does not require a priest to wear clerical dress on his free time and yes secular priests have free time. They do not work 24/7. Most are not even on-call all the time as they share that responsibility with other priests to allow for down time.

just to clear things up I came to agreement with another poster that there can be exceptions when it comes to this.

so I agree that priest don’t have to wear their collar 24/7 they can wear lay cloths when on their free time or washing their car or relaxing and they don’t want to be disturbed

but as the USCCB conference said and cannon 284 priest’s norm for outfits should be their clerical dress (the thing I have quoted puts 284 into effect in the states)

I agree with what this priest says, and his opinion is mine so my final post on this topic Ill link that article again (i wasn’t the first to link FYI)

wdtprs.com/blog/2010/05/quaeritur-the-obligation-of-priests-to-dress-as-priests-in-public/

 

[FrCorey]

I love the collar and it looks so cool! When i see a priest wear them in the streets, I always feel inspired that they would wear it in a time when many hate the Church. I know a priest who always wears it despite being made fun of sometimes by non-believers.

Besides, At least i wont have to worry about what i will be wearing for work

Amen. they didn’t call it the “dog” collar for nothing.
It takes guts to wear it all the time like they did in the old days.

 

[Oneofthewomen]

I love the collar and it looks so cool! When i see a priest wear them in the streets, I always feel inspired that they would wear it in a time when many hate the Church. I know a priest who always wears it despite being made fun of sometimes by non-believers.

Besides, At least i wont have to worry about what i will be wearing for work

BWA-HAHAHA!
The same reason given me by the 2 who were their clerics all the time-
“It’s just easier, I don’t have to think about what to wear!!”
Typical male.

Peace be with you on your journey!

 

[JerrySeibert]

Collar, when performing functions of the ‘office’. But, everyone needs ‘their’ time. My Priest is always in clericals in and around the Parish but outside of there. He is in his regular clothes.
What does it matter? He is a man of God. Very commited to his Parish and his people and I know he would be there for any of his people.

 

[Maureen1125]

Everyone needs their “down time”. If a priest is out at the store or having lunch or going to a movie, then chances are someone is going to approach him in and ask to have something blessed, or want to debate The Divinci Code, or ask if he could “answer a few questions”…he would never get to relax and enjoy himself.

If you are so adament that a Priest ALWAYS be dressed in his collar, why not require Cops/FIre Fighters/EMTs to be in uniform/turnout gear at all times as well. Or a Surgeon to only wear scrubs so that in the instance they stumble upon an emergency, no one will have to ask if anyone is a doctor, we will easily be able to point them out.

It is not the clothing that makes him a Priest. When he is dressed in jeans and a t-shirt he is no less capable of giving a bless then if he is in his collar, however he stands a better chance of having an uninterupted meal or conversation while out on his day off

 

[Aramis]

To be realistic here, if no one is going to church to have their confessions heard, I highly doubt someone will stop a priest in a mall or in a park and ask for their confession to be heard.

When out playing basketball with some Dominican Friars, I’ve seen people stop and ask for confession. They were quite surprised when the friars playing all said, “None of us is a priest. Go into the office and ask for a priest.”

I’ve also seen priests in collar approached in restaurants.

And I have seen my Dad have to tell people that Deacons can’t hear confessions. And that before his bishop ordered him to acquire the collar. (not that the collar is visible under his beard.)

 

[paperwight66]

No where is it stated that a priest must wear clerical dress all the time.

They may do so if they wish but one who does not do so is doing nothing wrong.

There is a photograph of Pope Benedict before he became Pope wearing a collar and tie.

 

[Aramis]

There is a photograph of Pope Benedict before he became Pope wearing a collar and tie.

There are photos of he and his brother in suit and tie AFTER his elevation to the papacy.

(Both are clerics…)

 

[FrCorey]

Everyone needs their “down time”. If a priest is out at the store or having lunch or going to a movie, then chances are someone is going to approach him in and ask to have something blessed, or want to debate The Divinci Code, or ask if he could “answer a few questions”…he would never get to relax and enjoy himself.

If you are so adament that a Priest ALWAYS be dressed in his collar, why not require Cops/FIre Fighters/EMTs to be in uniform/turnout gear at all times as well. Or a Surgeon to only wear scrubs so that in the instance they stumble upon an emergency, no one will have to ask if anyone is a doctor, we will easily be able to point them out.

It is not the clothing that makes him a Priest. When he is dressed in jeans and a t-shirt he is no less capable of giving a bless then if he is in his collar, however he stands a better chance of having an uninterupted meal or conversation while out on his day off

a off duty police office must carry id, badge and a gun at all times.
a EMT must render aid even when off duty.
Hate to see what a priest must carry…

 

[FrCorey]

When out playing basketball with some Dominican Friars, I’ve seen people stop and ask for confession. They were quite surprised when the friars playing all said, “None of us is a priest. Go into the office and ask for a priest.”

I’ve also seen priests in collar approached in restaurants.

And I have seen my Dad have to tell people that Deacons can’t hear confessions. And that before his bishop ordered him to acquire the collar. (not that the collar is visible under his beard.)

I see this a lot with orthodox priests with beards.

true thou, a friar is not a priest. either is a brother. I get stopped all the time in my habit or cassock for help or just even to chat.

 

[Maureen1125]

I don’t know if any of you are familiar with the Grace Before Meals movement, but Fr. Leo routinely wears his collar while he travels and he has been stopped in the airport by people who ask to have their confessions heard. Personally, I couldn’t imagine having such a private conversation in a very public place, but I love his stories.

Some people don’t like to go to confession in the church at the appointed time because “everyone will know why they are there”

 

[NewEnglandPriest]

I don’t know if any of you are familiar with the Grace Before Meals movement, but Fr. Leo routinely wears his collar while he travels and he has been stopped in the airport by people who ask to have their confessions heard. Personally, I couldn’t imagine having such a private conversation in a very public place, but I love his stories.

Some people don’t like to go to confession in the church at the appointed time because “everyone will know why they are there”

Yes, but canon law is clear that confession is to always take place in a church or oratory unless there’s “a just cause.” And I’m sorry, but simply bumping into a priest is not imho “a just cause.”
Hearing confessions in such environments is more likely to encourage an individual’s scrupulosity or be part of an individual’s impulsiveness that ultimately leads nowhere.

A priest could also get plenty of confessions by showing up in a collar to a local bar but its probably not to the most prudent environment…

 

[Maureen1125]

Personally I hate the confessional. It is a cause of great anxiety for me. I do go to confession but I usually schedule a private meeting with the Priest of my choice and we meet in his office, the common room of the rectory, we have every just walked in the prayer garden. Where confession takes place is much less important then the fact that you actually go and you go with a pure heart.

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

a off duty police office must carry id, badge and a gun at all times.
a EMT must render aid even when off duty.
Hate to see what a priest must carry…

But we do not see the gun and id/badge of the police officer.

An EMT that is off duty does not have a “duty to respond” and is not required to render aid (I am a former paramedic in two states).

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

Personally I hate the confessional. It is a cause of great anxiety for me. I do go to confession but I usually schedule a private meeting with the Priest of my choice and we meet in his office, the common room of the rectory, we have every just walked in the prayer garden. Where confession takes place is much less important then the fact that you actually go and you go with a pure heart.

Not according to Canon Law. But I think the office or the rectory or the prayer garden are part of the Church so it is not so much of a problem. I posted the Canon earlier in this thread.

If we are to be strict on abuses in the Mass, then we should be just as strict on abuses in the other Sacraments.

That being said, your level of anxiety may be a “just cause”.

 

[NewEnglandPriest]

Personally I hate the confessional. It is a cause of great anxiety for me. I do go to confession but I usually schedule a private meeting with the Priest of my choice and we meet in his office, the common room of the rectory, we have every just walked in the prayer garden.

The fact that the confessional causes you great anxiety would indeed be “a just cause.” And thus you make the proper appointment. However that’s a far cry from the drunk, the overly scrupulous, the impulsive, etc. who simply bump into a priest and decide that its a sign to go to confession.
Outside of danger of death, there are very few “just causes” that require immediate confession in an airport, mall, restaurant, supermarket, etc.

Where confession takes place is much less important then the fact that you actually go and you go with a pure heart.

Indeed, but the sacraments exist to serve our souls not our whims. I agree that a priest wearing a collar in public is going to draw conversation and inquiry. I just dispute that its productive in 99.9% of cases.

 

[benedictgal]

My parochial vicar almost always his roman collar, even on his days-off. I have rarely seen him in civilian clothes.

As for the issue of confession, while I was at the Society for Catholic Liturgy Conference three weeks ago, one of the priests gave an excellent talk on confession. It spurred me to seek out one of the priests (I had a choice of 14). I picked a priest whom I had never talked to until that time. He graciously heard my confession in the little bench outside of the conference area. It was a moment of grace for me because I really needed to go. I thanked him profusely and he told me that even though he does not get to hear confessions much (as he works for his bishop at the chancery), he almost always gets stopped when he is at airports, at train stations or at terminals by people wanting to go to confession. He always carries his stole with him.

 

[Elizabeth502]

Some people don’t like to go to confession in the church at the appointed time because “everyone will know why they are there”

Please don’t take this the wrong way, Maureen; it’s not my intention to mock. It just strikes me as an amusing statement – or perhaps an amusing concept on the part of those going to confession.

You mean, other people (translation: other sinners, other members of that parish, etc.) will notice that the person going “at the appointed time” has a need to go and/or desire to go? Will “know” that there was not a second Immaculate Conception?

In a nearby parish here there’s an Opus Dei priest, not assigned there, who comes once/week to hear confessions because apparently O.D. members are enjoined to partake of confession once/week. If I happen also to be going to confession at that time (as I did recently), I don’t think, “Wait. This person in line was also here last week. They must be committing mortal sins and need to go.” I don’t “think” anything, and I really assume most people were trained the same way I was as a cradle Catholic: we aren’t to assume or judge anything. If we’re at confession (i.e., the majority reason why we would likely be there “at the [same] appointed time,” what position are we in to judge why anybody else would also be there?

Last time I went I had “only” venial sins to confess. I went for two reasons: (1) I had been previously waiting too long between confessions, according to my confessor – and he’s correct; (2) I had just seen the movie The Rite eek: see other thread ), and I felt I needed the sacrament, and additionally needed brief counseling about my reaction to the movie. I seriously doubt that anyone else wondered what my sins were, whether I “needed” or just wanted to go, etc. (I also think that the more one partakes of confession, the more self-consciousness vanishes, and the more one welcomes the humility that draws us there and results from being there. ) I actually don’t care whether “people think” I commit lots of mortal sins on a regular basis and therefore go frequently.

 

[FrCorey]

My parochial vicar almost always his roman collar, even on his days-off. I have rarely seen him in civilian clothes.

As for the issue of confession, while I was at the Society for Catholic Liturgy Conference three weeks ago, one of the priests gave an excellent talk on confession. It spurred me to seek out one of the priests (I had a choice of 14). I picked a priest whom I had never talked to until that time. He graciously heard my confession in the little bench outside of the conference area. It was a moment of grace for me because I really needed to go. I thanked him profusely and he told me that even though he does not get to hear confessions much (as he works for his bishop at the chancery), he almost always gets stopped when he is at airports, at train stations or at terminals by people wanting to go to confession. He always carries his stole with him.

see? if the priest is “in cognito” how would people know he was a priest?
I made a little priest kit I carry in my backpack. almost everything I need if someone needs help. plus, blessed holy medals and “give away” rosarys too.