Priests not wearing their collars in public

[chicago]

ByzCath:

Actually, I inferred nothing more than wat was said.

Again,

(bold emphasis added)

they: used to refer to two or more people or things previously mentioned or easily identified

their: belonging to or associated with the people or things previously mentioned or easily identified

them: used as the object of a verb or preposition to refer to two or more people or things previously mentioned or easily identified

The people previously mentioned/identified are priests. So the inference is priests, not just a handful of priests.

Just another attack on the clergy.

People joke about many things all the time, that doesn’t make it right to do so.

“They”, while referring to more than one person or a class does not necessarily mean every member of the class, but rather, those who carelessly or wrecklessly do such things as they ought not. It does not necessarily refer, therefore, to every member of the clergy as you infer.

Further, recognize satirical speech for what it is, rather than being such a literalist, eh?

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

slewi:

They are supposed to be Jesus’s visible representative. For that reason alone they should have to wear clerics when not in church.

This is an arguement I can understand but there are times when a man needs to be able to do what he needs to do without being identified as a priest. For example when traveling or in places where being identified as clergy could be dangerous.

We could also argue that all Christains are Jesus’s representatives.

No bishop or religous order is going to require that their priests/religious wear clerics/habits all the time. When in ministry they should, other than that I think it is up to the individual.

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

chicago:

Further, recognize satirical speech for what it is, rather than being such a literalist, eh?

Satirical speech is fine, but I draw the line when it denigrates the clergy.

Especially now that I am in formation to enter that group.

 

[Brendan]

What is a priest expeced to wear while swimming, jogging or other excercise?

Clerics?

 

[chicago]

ByzCath:

Satirical speech is fine, but I draw the line when it denigrates the clergy.

I believe that there is such a thing as honest critique, even in the form of satire. Sometimes the truth needs to be said and it hurts. Thus is the way to purification. As a man in formation to enter the priesthood, I would hope that you would want such things uncovered and dealt with rather than to remain hidden, only to remain scandalous.

So get some skin.

 

[fix]

ByzCath:

When in ministry they should, other than that I think it is up to the individual.

I cannot agree with this. Obviously, if the man is exercising or at a beach or some such thing one would not wear clerical dress, but that does not mean one should be unidentifiable as a priest when one is not in ministry.

What you you think about this piece by two priests?:

1. The Roman collar helps priests to avoid the on duty/off duty
   mentality of priestly service. The numbers 24 and 7 should be our
   special numbers: we are priests 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We are
   priests, not men who engage in the “priest profession.” On or off
   duty, we should be available to whomever God may send our way. The
   “lost sheep” do not make appointments.

1. The “officers” in Christ’s army should be identifiable as such.
   Traditionally, we have remarked that those who receive the Sacrament
   of Confirmation become “soldiers” of Christ, adult Catholics ready
   and willing to defend his name and his Church. Those who are ordained
   as deacons, priests and bishops must also be prepared-whatever the
   stakes - to shepherd the flock of the Lord. Those priests who wear
   the Roman collar show forth their role unmistakably as leaders in the
   Church.
   WHY A PRIEST SHOULD WEAR HIS ROMAN COLLAR

 

[chicago]

Brendan:

What is a priest expeced to wear while swimming, jogging or other excercise?

Clerics?

I think that goes without saying in the course of common sense. The real question is more one of what the priest ought to be wearing when he is around the parish or out and about on typical errands, personal matters where he could just as easily be wearing clerical garb as that Hawaiian T shirt and jeans or his high quality stylish duds. For the priest remains a priest at these times and ought ordinarily witness to such as best he is able.

 

[msproule]

ByzCath:

It fosters the false idea that priests have no life of their own.

That may be your opinion, but I respectfully disagree. One may still “have a life” despite remaining true to one’s vocation. To continue my last example, if I go out with my friends and my wife stays home, what message do I send if I leave my wedding ring in my pocket? I am no less married to my wife than a priest is married to the Church.

That they must drop everything at the demand of a parishoner.

Are you serious?

It also hurts prospective vocations as it looks like the “job” is more than it really is.

It is *far *more than a job. If a seminarian sees the priesthood as nothing more than a job, then he should really “choose” another line of work. Personally, I believe vocations suffer as the result of the viewpoint that this is nothing more than a job…good quality vocations, anyhow.

 

[Goldy]

ByzCath:

This is an arguement I can understand but there are times when a man needs to be able to do what he needs to do without being identified as a priest. For example when traveling or in places where being identified as clergy could be dangerous.

We could also argue that all Christains are Jesus’s representatives.

No bishop or religous order is going to require that their priests/religious wear clerics/habits all the time. When in ministry they should, other than that I think it is up to the individual.

I respectfully disagree. I think that priests should always wear their clerics in public when others may be watching (at the store, in restaurants, etc.). If they are just hanging out at the rectory, that’s something else. My beef is with priests not wearing their clerics in PUBLIC places. I guess when I see this, it just seems like they are afraid (my opinion) of what others may think of their vocation. My great uncle was a priest, and I NEVER saw him without his collar on. It was who he was, and he fully embraced his vocation as a priest. In other words, I think he was proud to show the world his vocation to the priesthood.

 

[frommi]

1. The “officers” in Christ’s army should be identifiable as such.
   Traditionally, we have remarked that those who receive the Sacrament
   of Confirmation become “soldiers” of Christ, adult Catholics ready
   and willing to defend his name and his Church. Those who are ordained
   as deacons, priests and bishops must also be prepared-whatever the
   stakes - to shepherd the flock of the Lord. Those priests who wear
   the Roman collar show forth their role unmistakably as leaders in the
   Church.
   WHY A PRIEST SHOULD WEAR HIS ROMAN COLLAR

The above is a very misguided representation of the Sacrament of Confirmation…and the Sacrament of Orders…there is nothing about being a “solider” for christ in either sacrament

 

[fix]

frommi:

The above is a very misguided representation of the Sacrament of Confirmation…and the Sacrament of Orders…there is nothing about being a “solider” for christ in either sacrament

Perhaps the Baltimore Catechism was wrong?

**. 673. Why are we called soldiers of Jesus Christ? **

A. We are called soldiers of Jesus Christ to indicate how we must resist the attacks of our spiritual enemies and secure our victory over them by following and obeying Our Lord.

 

[dentremont]

For a long time OUR Priests wore street clothes,when POPE JOHN PAUL 2 died I think they saw there calling again.

 

[frommi]

fix:

Perhaps the Baltimore Catechism was wrong?

**. 673. Why are we called soldiers of Jesus Christ? **

A. We are called soldiers of Jesus Christ to indicate how we must resist the attacks of our spiritual enemies and secure our victory over them by following and obeying Our Lord.

I’ll leave aside that your quoting the baltimore cathecism, which hasn’t been in use for…ohh…50 years…

Regardless, where is the reference to this ‘soldiering’ in the sacraments of confirmation and holy orders

 

[fix]

frommi:

I’ll leave aside that your quoting the baltimore cathecism, which hasn’t been in use for…ohh…50 years…

Its lack of use does not mean it is false.

Regardless, where is the reference to this ‘soldiering’ in the sacraments of confirmation and holy orders

Answer:

We are called soldiers of Jesus Christ to indicate how we must resist the attacks of our spiritual enemies and secure our victory over them by following and obeying Our Lord.

 

[frommi]

fix:

Its lack of use does not mean it is false.

Answer:

We are called soldiers of Jesus Christ to indicate how we must resist the attacks of our spiritual enemies and secure our victory over them by following and obeying Our Lord.

OK…you’ve repeated the answer, so I’ll repeat the question…

Where is this ‘soliders’ thing referenced directly as it involves the two aforementioned sacraments?

When are our priests told at ordination to go out and “Soldier on for the Lord”?

I missed “soldiering” as one of the grace filled gifts of the spirit.

 

[msproule]

frommi:

Where is this ‘soliders’ thing referenced directly as it involves the two aforementioned sacraments?

Arguably not mentioned directly, but inferred nonetheless.

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church:**1295 **By this anointing the confirmand receives the “mark,” the *seal *of the Holy Spirit. A seal is a symbol of a person, a sign of personal authority, or ownership of an object.106 Hence soldiers were marked with their leader’s seal and slaves with their master’s. A seal authenticates a juridical act or document and occasionally makes it secret.107

**1296 **Christ himself declared that he was marked with his Father’s seal.108 Christians are also marked with a seal: "It is God who establishes us with you in Christ and has commissioned us; he has put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee."109 This seal of the Holy Spirit marks our total belonging to Christ, our enrollment in his service for ever, as well as the promise of divine protection in the great eschatological trial.110

Also, you will find reference to this connection in Pope Pius XI’s Ad Catholici Sacerdotii (paragraphs 18 and 48).

 

[SnorterLuster]

As best as I can remember, at my confirmation in 1960, the Bishop addressed me as a Soldier of Christ using my confirmation name. He then slapped me lightly on the cheek as a symbolic reminder that I would suffer even physical pain in defending the Faith.

 

[ComradeAndrei]

If everything works out (and I see no reason that it wouldn’t) I’ll be entering the seminary this fall.

If I get ordained, you bet I will wear clerical garb at every moment I am in public or around the church. Also, I’ll probably just wear a cassock and not the usual suit. Why? Because I think that a vocation like the priesthood puts you into a whole different life. Sure, you do need a little personal time, but I think it is a bad idea to put the vocation aside to have it. I want to stand out like a sore thumb because I have given my life to the Church and to Christ and I have a duty to serve my fellow Catholics and more generally my fellow Man as a priest.

If I am ordained, I want people to be able to tell that I’m a priest a mile away. Not because I want any breaks or pharasiacal honor given to be, but rather because I want to be a witness to the priesthood, to the Church and of course to Christ. I want to make myself available to my parishoners or other Catholics who may want to confess or to have something blessed or want to ask about something dealing with theology or whatever.

I also want to make myself visible to the enemies of the Church. I don’t want to hide my collar in shame of the Church and its teachings because it is either too “old fashioned” or we “worship” Mary etc.

Also, I don’t want to take on secular garb out of a false sense of “humility” as some folks like to think of it as. I think this opinon is the most disgusting and insulting of all of them for not wearing clerical garb. We do not wear clerical garb (cassock or suit) or habit for religious out of pride-one reason for this distinctive dress was to get rid of the vanity of wearing fancy clothes and put on something that isn’t popular or stylish.

In ending, I think a priest (or religious men and women) should always wear their garb out in public and in their respective rectories, abbeys, or convents. Canon law demands it (except for extreme circumstances) and respect for the office demands it.

 

[Anna_Elizabeth]

OK, You who revel in sanctimony, here goes!

It’s easy to separate the real priests from the psuedos and wimps who show up on TV in anything but collars. Personally, I prefer cassocks, and a priest who wears a cassock is a priest who is immediately seen as one willing to be sign of contradiction.

Moreover, I am appalled at the miserable taste of those who wear “street clothes” when out and about or on TV. I sometimes wonder if ex-nuns are choosing their wardrobes. Yuck!

It’s really true that when the habits came off, “dowdy” set in, and with the men it’s hardly any different.

Everyone offended? Sanctimonious ready to huff and puff?

Anna

 

[Goldy]

ComradeAndrei:

If everything works out (and I see no reason that it wouldn’t) I’ll be entering the seminary this fall.

If I get ordained, you bet I will wear clerical garb at every moment I am in public or around the church. Also, I’ll probably just wear a cassock and not the usual suit. Why? Because I think that a vocation like the priesthood puts you into a whole different life. Sure, you do need a little personal time, but I think it is a bad idea to put the vocation aside to have it. I want to stand out like a sore thumb because I have given my life to the Church and to Christ and I have a duty to serve my fellow Catholics and more generally my fellow Man as a priest.

If I am ordained, I want people to be able to tell that I’m a priest a mile away. Not because I want any breaks or pharasiacal honor given to be, but rather because I want to be a witness to the priesthood, to the Church and of course to Christ. I want to make myself available to my parishoners or other Catholics who may want to confess or to have something blessed or want to ask about something dealing with theology or whatever.

I also want to make myself visible to the enemies of the Church. I don’t want to hide my collar in shame of the Church and its teachings because it is either too “old fashioned” or we “worship” Mary etc.

Also, I don’t want to take on secular garb out of a false sense of “humility” as some folks like to think of it as. I think this opinon is the most disgusting and insulting of all of them for not wearing clerical garb. We do not wear clerical garb (cassock or suit) or habit for religious out of pride-one reason for this distinctive dress was to get rid of the vanity of wearing fancy clothes and put on something that isn’t popular or stylish.

In ending, I think a priest (or religious men and women) should always wear their garb out in public and in their respective rectories, abbeys, or convents. Canon law demands it (except for extreme circumstances) and respect for the office demands it.

This is the best answer yet on this thread!! I wish you the best of luck in your calling from God. We need more of you guys out there!!