Priests not wearing the collar

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I live in Syracuse NY. We have a religious community of Jesuits, Franciscans, order and non order religious. That being said, I do not see any men of the afore mentioned religious in the metro area. Especially in the poorer areas.

They may be there, but not seen. Even on the way to Mass they don’t wear a collar.

Is this a new way of life for these men? Part time priests. Put the uniform on when at the office. Take it off when not.

Priests are missing a great opportunity to show the colors! We’ve got all these men who were called to work the flock, and I can’ find them through the trees.

How the heck can we attract young men to lead us if YOU (priests)hide your colors?

Come on guys, shape up! You’re full time, all the time…you signed up to lead God’s flock!.
 
Why don’t you ask them, or their superiors? Or did you think that berating them on the internet would be a better idea?
 
I agree with you I use to see priests coming to say Mass with some attire on that made me look twice. I no things change but wearing of the collar and presenting yourself as a priest is first respect for God, respect for the Church and respect for man. Not to long ago the superior of the order in which the priests who say Mass where I go issued an order that all priest in the order must where their collar at all times. I was happy to hear that… There is one though who still does not, I would hate to think he puts it on when he heads back to the rectory. Anyway I am glad you brought it up, it is a subject I feel very strongly about. God Bless
 
Aren’t these sorts of decisions made by the bishop or head of the order? I know my bishop wants priests to be called Fr. Last Name instead of Fr. First Name. Maybe wardrobe requirements are also his domain thus the variation in practice in a given country.
 
LinsonWood said:
I do not see any men of the afore mentioned religious in the metro area. Especially in the poorer areas.

They may be there, but not seen. Even on the way to Mass they don’t wear a collar.
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Can. 284 Clerics are to wear suitable ecclesiastical garb according to the norms issued by the conference of bishops and according to legitimate local customs.

Norms for the US, from the USCCB:
Complementary Norm: The National Conference of Catholic Bishops, in accord with the prescriptions of canon 284, hereby decrees that without prejudice to the provisions of canon 288, clerics are to dress in conformity with their sacred calling. In liturgical rites, clerics shall wear the vesture prescribed in the proper liturgical books. 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. In the case of religious clerics, the determinations of their proper institutes or societies are to be observed with regard to wearing the religious habit.

You will have to approach the parties in question and ask them what the bishop and the head of their order require.
 
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Well, not all priests wear collars, some wear cassocks. That said, I think they should ALWAYS wear clothing that stands out. I should be able to tell they’re priests. I feel like they’re ashamed when they don’t.
 
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You are right, the wearing of the clerical attire is important and it is sad that a number of priests choose not to wear it. This is another reason why I love the FSSP. FSSP priests are always in cassock and collar even in the sweltering heat. I have also observed that younger priests tend to dress in clerical attire.
 
I do know that some bishops allowed priests not to wear the collar in public during the height of the scandals because some would come out to slashed tires or be threatened with other physical harm.

The only priest I know who didn’t wear his collar for a while was—well what’s best described as middle age spread. It took him a while to find one that fits. Also, I know the Franciscans I know wear robes and do not wear collars.
 
As I stated the order was given by the superior of the order, and he lives with the priests who say Mass where I attend. I know that it gives me ‘COMFORT’ to see a priest wear his collar,knowing that they are out there for God’s children and that we know who they are. God Bless
 
Generally speaking, certain orders do not wear the Roman Collar. Capuchins and certain Benedictines. They wear the habit of their order, or other such garb as indicated by their religious superiors.
 
Paul from Iowa…I’m sorry about the sound of my statement and will speak
to them, esp my parish priest, the monsignor, and the bishop.
I put my mouth in gear, prior to thinking about ramifications…thanks for
the slap back of my head!
Woodman
 
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You are being to hard on yourself. You got the question out there, I do no not think you berated anyone. It is an issue you obviously feel very strongly about as do others…Take care and God Bless
 
No, you are right to simply address the question to those who can properly answer it.
And yes, the Canonist that married us said he NEVER wears his collar on a plane. Imagine being trapped with lots of people who truly believe that because you are a priest you are also a pedophile.
 
And, it’s also good to remember that there are quite a few holy orders in addition to the diocesan priest. Each of the holy orders are governed by their own order and the diocesan priests are the “regular” or “usual” priests. Diocesan priests are under the local bishop whereas men with holy orders, may or may not be a priest, and are not under the direct influence of a diocesan bishop as they are not diocesan.

Though, even without a white collar being contrasted against black clothing, I think it’s still pretty easy to tell whether a man is a priest or not by the dress … unless he’s going totally incognito.
 
I like it when priests are recognizable as priests. But the only time a priest being “out of uniform” bothered me was when he was “in uniform:” --when I was in the USAF and going to confession to a guy in a captain’s uniform.
 
R_H_Benson said:
You are right, the wearing of the clerical attire is important and it is sad that a number of priests choose not to wear it. This is another reason why I love the FSSP. FSSP priests are always in cassock and collar even in the sweltering heat. I have also observed that younger priests tend to dress in clerical attire.
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I just wanted to comment on this because you mentioned sweltering heat. I actually read a good blog from a priest (I think it may have been Msgr Pope from Washington, DC who said the cassock is actually better for the heat because he can wear shorts under it.

Apparently, a lot of the older priests don’t like wearing it because they were forced to wear them as seminarians - even when it wasn’t really the best choice of clothing. So they are often turned off by it now.

I know the priest at the parish next to mine almost always wears the Cassock. I know if I was a priest, I would always wear the Cassock around the parish and only put on the suit when going out for shopping, movie, etc. If I were a priest, I would never wear secular clothes unless I was at my parents house (I’ve read that many priests like to wear secular clothes with their parents so mom & dad seem them as their son instead seeing him as their father.)

However, with all this said – let’s be charitable. We don’t know why they are wearing secular clothes, and we don’t know where they are coming from or where they are going after mass.
 
Several priests in my neck of the woods have said the same thing about wearing a collar on a plane because people blame all priests for the pedophile crisis as many believe they were ALL involved in cover up of the problem or involved in the problem.

Also, a priest said he had a collar on in an airport and a little kid came up to ask him about it (he was dressed in “priest clothes” all black) and his mother shooed him away and said stay away from people that look like that in a VERY LOUD voice.
 
Brendan said:
Generally speaking, certain orders do not wear the Roman Collar. Capuchins and certain Benedictines. They wear the habit of their order, or other such garb as indicated by their religious superiors.
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I might be wrong, but I think the OP was referring to priests wearing secular clothes, not religious habits.
 
Yep, but if they are religious, not diocesan, that would be up to their religious superior.
 
The priesthood is a calling. Yes, it is nice to see a priest wearing a Roman collar. There are other clergy, not only Catholic who also wear a Roman collar.
Because of the vocational call on a man’s life, and the Sacrament received, I find it interesting that I have been able to know that a man is a Catholic priest even when he is not wearing his collar. This is not an isolated incident when I have met a previously unknown man, and known that he was a priest even before a nearby person who did know him called him by name.
My parish priest is a Franciscan friar. The evident joy of his calling is visible to all who meet him. It radiates from within. I get a certain sense when I am within a few feet of men who have been ordained as Catholic priests. It really doesn’t matter whether or not they are wearing a Roman collar.
 
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