Priests and Pharisees

[CivisRomanusSum]

Hi,

How do I respond to protestants who claim that priests and bishops are hypocrites and like modern day pharisees? Frequently I hear them saying stuff like that the clergy disregard the bible when it comes to the way they dress (elegant flowing robes as opposed to tunics, skull caps and/or tiaras, etc). It seems to me that they’re allergic to all the pageantry of the clergy and our liturgies because the bible expresses simplicity (like only wearing tunics, sandals, maybe even a cane) as opposed to the richness in the way we worship God.

Any thoughts?

 

[DavidFilmer]

Does the Bible ever say that priests (while fulfilling the function of their ministry) are to dress simply? The ancient Jewish priests dressed in a ceremonial garmet known as an Ephod, made of fine and colorful linen, and sometimes decorated with gold, silver, and gemstones. This was the pinnacle of fashion in the ancient world.

However, this is an interesting point - and it backfires on them. When not fulfilling their ceremonial duties, modern Catholic priests typically wear bland black clothing, with a white collar insert. They deny themselves fashion or color. Modern members of a Religious Society wear the Habit of their Order - most Habits are quite plain (and I have never seen one that was colorful or elaborate).

How many protestant ministers put on colorful and elaborate ceremonial clothes while fulfilling their ministerial duties (as the Bible says), yet wear plain and drab clothes at all other times (as Catholics do)?

 

[PbloPicasso]

Hi,

How do I respond to protestants who claim that priests and bishops are hypocrites and like modern day pharisees? Frequently I hear them saying stuff like that the clergy disregard the bible when it comes to the way they dress (elegant flowing robes as opposed to tunics, skull caps and/or tiaras, etc). It seems to me that they’re allergic to all the pageantry of the clergy and our liturgies because the bible expresses simplicity (like only wearing tunics, sandals, maybe even a cane) as opposed to the richness in the way we worship God.

Any thoughts?

You tell them that they’re probably correct in some cases and that they are not free of sin either. Trust me, I know first handed. Everyone is adversely affected by original sin. And whether or not he says he believes in original sin is not really true no matter what he says. By the mere fact that they call themselves Christian, they are saying that Adam and Even chose to sin against God and since then we’ve been in need of redemption. Original Sin is a misnomer. For today’s language, The Original Sin that Weakened Mankind, might work better. Definitions are the key to understanding any language. Christians created words from nothing in order to be able to discuss topics with greater ease. Some things are so gravely misconstrued that it sounds like a different religion by the way they desicribe what they think Catholics believe and do. I have a family full of preachers. And trust me, they are no Saints. They’ll tell you basically the same thing I just told you, but from their slant.

 

[Barbkw]

Priests don’t always wear robes.

They wear them when they celebrate Mass - where they assume the position of Christ. In Latin the phrase is called “In Persona Christi”.

Of course, this is what our protestant brothers most object to. (The Catholic Church’s Sacraments and the one in particular, Apostolic succession, the laying on of hands at the Ordination to the priesthood.)