Priest not wearing clerical clothing

[ellzeena]

From the horse’s mouth:

usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe/canon-law/complementary-norms/canon-284-clerical-garb.cfm

Well in one of the churches I serve at, the priest is fairly difficult to identify from the general public on most occasions! Last Sunday I noticed he was wearing a collar under his vestments, quite unusual. This is a small community and I guess everyone here knows who he is but…I just don’t get it. Meanwhile, I know him to be a fine man, a true priest, so I don’t in any way judge his attire but I gotta say sometimes it’s just a tad much.

 

[garn9173]

I don’t see that any of these situations make a collar unreasonable, except maybe the cow part, but why don’t they call the vet instead? Cows don’t get extreme unction.

Do you know how expensive vet services are? Any farmer or rancher can pull a calf with their eyes closed. I take it you’ve never been to Iowa in July. You would be perfectly fine with a Priest riding a bike 60-70 miles in any given day for a week in the dog days of summer wearing a collar? What about Priests in the Dakota’s who are avid pheasant hunters?

 

[Aran_Houlihan]

I would only expect a priest not to wear his clerical collar when its his day off or doing anything recreational activity’s .

 

[bben15]

is this during Mass ?

No, when he gets to the church, he prepares the altar in the clothes I just mentioned. He then vests in his alb and purple stole to hear confessions.

A lot of parents bring their babies with them during the distribution of the Eucharist. He always says something funny while blessing the babies.

 

[bben15]

Would you expect a Priest to be in his collar when riding a bike across Iowa in July when the temp is in the 90’s with 5,000% humidity? Would you expect a Priest to be in his collar when on the golf course? A priest of mine from my childhood had a small herd of cattle. Would you expect him to be in his collar when pulling a calf from a cow that was having troubles calving?

I’m just wondering if a priest is required to wear his clerical clothing in church. No one has answered my question, yet.

 

[Aran_Houlihan]

I’m just wondering if a priest is required to wear his clerical clothing in church. No one has answered my question, yet.

Do you mean the vestments he wears when cerebrating mass

 

[Aran_Houlihan]

I’m just wondering if a priest is required to wear his clerical clothing in church. No one has answered my question, yet.

Do you mean the vestments he wears when cerebrating mass ?

 

[bben15]

Do you mean the vestments he wears when cerebrating mass ?

No, I mean his Roman collar while he’s not celebrating Mass, but still serving the parish. I go to a tiny parish, so we have only one priest.

 

[Aran_Houlihan]

No, I mean his Roman collar while he’s not celebrating Mass, but still serving the parish. I go to a tiny parish, so we have only one priest.

My answers is above your question

 

[L_Marshall]

No, I mean his Roman collar while he’s not celebrating Mass, but still serving the parish. I go to a tiny parish, so we have only one priest.

It depends on your country. Canon 284 says “suitable clerical clothing, according to the norms issued by the Episcopal Conference and according to legitimate local customs.”

In the United States the norm is as follows (from the USCCB):

Outside liturgical functions, a black suit and Roman collar are the usual attire for priests. The use of the cassock is at the discretion of the cleric.

My interpretation:
At the parish: setting up, doing administrative work, et c.: YES

Outside the parish: shopping, mowing the lawn, going for a work: PROBABLY (I often hear priests complain that if they go to by a gallon of milk before Mass, it takes 45 minutes because 3-4 people want spiritual advice).

Leisure time: family gatherings, watching TV at night, days off: OPTIONAL (though at their discretion: a priest should never wear just a shirt and tie if he’s going to something that requires semi-formal or formal dress; he belongs in clericals).

 

[runningdude]

oh,my goodness, I never thought of that. Understandable. But are they required dress in their clericals when going about their personal life?
They certainly need our prayers.

There are no dress requirement when they are not “on the clock”.

 

[tabycat]

I don’t see that any of these situations make a collar unreasonable, except maybe the cow part, but why don’t they call the vet instead? Cows don’t get extreme unction.

Do you know how much a house, or barn, call cost??? :bigyikes: It’s alot more then just an office visit to get your little pooch to get it’s shots.

 

[april32010]

Of course he didn’t respond; there isn’t a polite response to such rudeness and disrespect.

thank you,

 

[babochka]

I think there is nothing wrong with a priest not wearing clerics when he is not directly working on parish business, but I am always impressed by the witness of those who always wear them.

I was once shopping on a 105 degree day, while 9+ months pregnant. I also had a 2 year old and a 3 year old at the time. I was miserable and I was whining to myself about how miserable I was. The concept of offering up my suffering hadn’t even come into my mind. On my way out to the parking lot, I ran into an elderly priest that I knew. He was in his 80s at the time, frail and dressed all in black. He was walking very slowly and with great effort, but when he saw us, he greeted us with a radiant smile. It was a beautiful sign of his fidelity to his vocation and I have never forgotten it.

 

[BettyBoop416]

One of the priests in our parish is tennis buddies with DH. I can’t imagine him wearing his collar while playing tennis. In fact, it’s not unusual to come home and find the two of them sitting on our back porch, shirtless, drinking a beer after a tennis match.

It never fails to freak me out.

 

[MissBorgia]

Don’t get me started (MICHEL WOSTER!)

 

[Angel_Bradford]

Hello. At my parish, we are getting a new priest. But for the time being, we have a retired priest filling in. This priest doesn’t wear clerical clothing. He just wears a white button-down shirt and black dress pants. Is this allowed? It’s strange that he doesn’t dress like a priest.

Thank you for answering my question.

If I were you, I’d be grateful there is a “retired” priest who is willing to step in and help your parish until your new priest arrives.

 

[bben15]

If I were you, I’d be grateful there is a “retired” priest who is willing to step in and help your parish until your new priest arrives.

I am absolutely grateful. I didn’t mean to imply otherwise.

 

[cheezey]

One of the priests in our parish is tennis buddies with DH. I can’t imagine him wearing his collar while playing tennis. In fact, it’s not unusual to come home and find the two of them sitting on our back porch, shirtless, drinking a beer after a tennis match.

It never fails to freak me out.

uh, yeah, understandable. And I thought it weird to catch a glimpse of my unabashed lawyer in his boxer shorts because we shared the same dr… awkward!!!..