Priests in secular clothes

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Is it okay for priests not to not wear their normal black shirt and white collar in public?
 
It depends on the situation.

If it is his day off, he probably will wear regular clothes. If he is doing something messy, he probably will wear regular clothes. (For example, our parish was preparing to renovate one of our office buildings, and he was helping with cleaning out the basement, and he wore jeans and a regular shirt.)

If he is performing clerical duties or presiding over or attending church functions, he should be wearing clerical clothing.
 
Yes, basically they may wear what they want. Most priest’s will wear their collars at all times, and depending on diocese it may be optional.

If they are going to the hospital they should wear some form of clerical garb, however if they are going to a restaurant with friends it can be optional. I was just at the seminary, and the priests that live there are basically always in their collar, but when the day winds down they usually don’t wear them.

Like last night when I went to the kitchen around 9:30 pm, one of the priests were there in sweat pants and a t shirt, fixing him a plate of food.

After that I went downtown with a couple of seminarians to meet their pastor at a hotel to go to steak and shake. He wore his clerics, and of course he got the most attention, and the bill lol. We meant to ask the waitress to split the bill up, but Father paid for it.

But yeah, not always necessary.
 
In certain occasions, yes they should wear their collars.

But more than the dress, what matters is the way of life. Just because you wear a collar does not mean that the Priest lives by his vocation and follows the teachings of Christ. It should be visible in his conduct. 😉
 
Some traditional priests do wear their clerical garb most of the time, and for some, that means the cassock.
 
the priest at my home parish (vs. being away at college) would always wear his black outfit and collar when working in the church office or performing other duties associated with his ministry.

But other times, it is perfectly normal to encounter him at the library or store in ordinary jeans, shorts, and button downs. and scandals.

Then again, he wears the scandals during mass as well.
 
On days off we had one priest who loved to mow and garden, so he dressed for that. Another went to a local gym every day for exercise, so he wore shorts and a tshirt for that. He also bikes, so when he rides, he wears biking shorts and the racing shirts. On very warm summer days, one wears shorts and sandals.
 
A diocesan priest does not take the vow of poverty so he can really wear what ever he wants. I have great respect for those that wear their collar whenever possible though.
 
jcunningham352 said:
Is it okay for priests not to not wear their normal black shirt and white collar in public?
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There’s nothing stopping them, but me personally I like it when a priest is always wearing his clerics.

I remember when I was in RCIA someone had asked one of the priest if he wore his collar all the time. He smiled and said “Not when I’m sleeping or taking a shower.” 😉 He went on to say he felt it was part of his vocation to always proudly proclaim that he was a priest, just as those in the RCIA should always proclaim they were Catholic. He felt it was important that people knew he was a priest so that they could approach him when in need. The biggest down side he said was enduring the muttered remarks about child molesters, etc. He just saw that as his cross to bare.
 
Like what others have said, they normally wear the shirt and collar when performing their clerical duties but do not have to wear the collar all of the time.

One time recently, I had to go to my parish office to fill out some paperwork. The priest came downstairs wearing a Pink Floyd t-shirt and raggedy cargo shorts - he was going out to walk his beagle.
 
Priests in secular clothes is really a preference thing outside of public ministry/pastoral situations. I am in a heavily Catholic region so the odds that someone who needs a priest can’t find one when appropriate is pretty rare.
If I’m out for dinner, the movies, etc. I usually don’t wear my collar because it becomes a distraction and I can’t always enjoy my meal. Having people constantly looking over and attempting to eavesdrop on conversations becomes rather annoying. Then there’s the individual at the restaurant bar who’s had one too many and decides s/he has a question and its of no real importance.
Simply put, in heavily Catholic areas its a bit of a “fishbowl experience” to wear one’s collar in non-Church related areas. I’m not saying it happens everytime but it happens often enough and when it does neither I nor the person/people I’m with are able to enjoy the time.

I love my vocation and my choice not to always wear a collar in no way implies I’m ashamed or embarrassed but rather that I simply want to relax and enjoy the company of those I am with…
 
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NewEnglandPries said:
Priests in secular clothes is really a preference thing outside of public ministry/pastoral situations. I am in a heavily Catholic region so the odds that someone who needs a priest can’t find one when appropriate is pretty rare.
If I’m out for dinner, the movies, etc. I usually don’t wear my collar because it becomes a distraction and I can’t always enjoy my meal. Having people constantly looking over and attempting to eavesdrop on conversations becomes rather annoying. Then there’s the individual at the restaurant bar who’s had one too many and decides s/he has a question and its of no real importance.
Simply put, in heavily Catholic areas its a bit of a “fishbowl experience” to wear one’s collar in non-Church related areas. I’m not saying it happens everytime but it happens often enough and when it does neither I nor the person/people I’m with are able to enjoy the time.

I love my vocation and my choice not to always wear a collar in no way implies I’m ashamed or embarrassed but rather that I simply want to relax and enjoy the company of those I am with…
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👍

I know when we have our priest over for dinner…he usually does not wear his collar…but often he has it tucked inside his pocket… But on his day’s off…you know…he just wants to be able to do his grocery shopping without everyone looking to see what he is eating…I don’t think that is too much to ask.
 
There is a parish nearby me. Their pastor wears a cassock all the time when saying mass and doing ministry. The pastor before him never wore his collar on Sunday’s. Just throughout the week. I have heard the old pastor was a better

It goes to show you, you shouldn’t judge a priest on what he wears
 
I’ve experienced Pastors who always wore clericals when going out to do ministry.

I’ve experienced one whom I’ve known for 11 years and have seen in clericals no more than 5 times – and I was his secretary. At times it was downright embarrassing to see him show up at ecumenical services, in our church, dressed in sweats when the rest of the clergy were dressed in clericals or uniforms (S.A.). He’s said that he hates wearing the collar.

I’ve yet to experience one who dresses in clericals in the office.
 
Phemie said:
I’ve experienced Pastors who always wore clericals when going out to do ministry.

I’ve experienced one whom I’ve known for 11 years and have seen in clericals no more than 5 times – and I was his secretary. At times it was downright embarrassing to see him show up at ecumenical services, in our church, dressed in sweats when the rest of the clergy were dressed in clericals or uniforms (S.A.). He’s said that he hates wearing the collar.

I’ve yet to experience one who dresses in clericals in the office.
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When you say office I assume you mean the Rectory.

Sounds kind of strange to me because the Rectory is a Church Administration office.
During my ten years as a sacristan working daily except Mondays, I’ve very rarely encountered my parish priest without seeing him wearing his clerical collar.

I know some priests who wouldn’t wear their collar walking in the downtown core streets because they would always get picked-off by some pan-handler every time. And occasionally some could get nasty and disrespectful usually swearing at the priests.
Sad but this does happen when priests are in public. It only takes a few seconds for a priest to put on his collar.
 
centurionguard said:
When you say office I assume you mean the Rectory.

Sounds kind of strange to me because the Rectory is a Church Administration office.
During my ten years as a sacristan working daily except Mondays, I’ve very rarely encountered my parish priest without seeing him wearing his clerical collar.

I know some priests who wouldn’t wear their collar walking in the downtown core streets because they would always get picked-off by some pan-handler every time. And occasionally some could get nasty and disrespectful usually swearing at the priests.
Sad but this does happen when priests are in public. It only takes a few seconds for a priest to put on his collar.
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I worked as the parish secretary for 13 year and saw 5 Pastors of ours and 3 Pastors of other parishes who had offices there too. I never saw one wear clericals during the day unless he was heading out to the hospital or to some official function.
 
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