Priests out of uniform

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hosemonkey said:
I think that we’ve beaten this horse enough. I recognise that there is a vast difference between sailors and priests and religious, but there do exist some similarities. I guess that that in my day priests and sailors both took vows of poverty and obedience.😃
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We diocesan priests have never taken vows of poverty… 😛
 
ByzCath said:
Or a vow of obedience. Only religious make vows. Secular clergy make promises of celibacy and obedience.
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Whatever. I made $78.00 a month to start. I got married and started a family on $149.00 a month. I call that poverty.
 
ByzCath said:
Show me in the constitutions of my order where what you want is require.

It is getting very tiring of hearing lay people cry about this and try to force us into what they want rather than allowing us to follow our rules, our constitutions, and what the Church allows.

Those are the authority, not you.
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It is gettting very tiring hearing people say that as long as they follow the absolute legal minimum of requirements which are required to avoid a formal charge of disobedience, they need not bother trying to do anything extra above this, and that they deeply resent anybody suggesting that they should.
 
StTommyMore said:
Are you calling my priest, a very effective priest I might add, a liar? I believe him more than I believe you. Keep in mind the clericals are a tool, not a straitjacket, and different circumstances will yield different results. Yes, you will be approached more in a situation in public where you are not around your flock. But how about in your office? Or in your hometown? SOme find the clericals intimidating. Perhaps it is time to remember who you are called to serve primarily, and with all due respect, it isn’t a stranger in an airport.
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Of course we are called to serve that stranger in an airport, ever heard of the lost sheep?

And if your parishioners are intimidated by your clerical dress believe me you are doing something wrong.

And again I would point out that canon law does stipulate that a priest should dress in his clericals while in public, and not just when he is ministering. See my earlier posting.
 
hosemonkey said:
Sounds like ya been there, old mate.
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Was a 4-year NJROTC cadet; Gunny made us read the regs and know the drill. Knowing what I was facing, I joined the Army… 😃

Know a lot of USN and USCG types, plus quite a few of Uncle Sam’s Misguided Children, too. Related to a few of them.
 
I think its time to stop beating this dead horse. We seem to be going in circles…
 
padreb said:
Of course we are called to serve that stranger in an airport, ever heard of the lost sheep?

And if your parishioners are intimidated by your clerical dress believe me you are doing something wrong.

And again I would point out that canon law does stipulate that a priest should dress in his clericals while in public, and not just when he is ministering. See my earlier posting.
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I will take the word of one I KNOW is a priest over someone who SAYS he is a priest.
 
StTommyMore said:
I will take the word of one I KNOW is a priest over someone who SAYS he is a priest.
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No where am I advising you not to take the word of your priest. I am expressing my opinions formed from my own experience as a priest as well at the experiences of the priests I know.

And whatever your priest says canon law is quite clear and requires no interpretation.
 
padreb said:
No where am I advising you not to take the word of your priest. I am expressing my opinions formed from my own experience as a priest as well at the experiences of the priests I know.

And whatever your priest says canon law is quite clear and requires no interpretation.
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Arrogant jerk. I sincerely doubt you are very effective, placing yourself on a pedestal above your flock. If you really are a priest, that is.
 
StTommyMore said:
I will take the word of one I KNOW is a priest over someone who SAYS he is a priest.
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That is good. Only a true priest can help your soul. in these later times it is getting to be a battle. I see articles on the internet about how to dress and act like a priest to get free stuff from people. people always want to give us things, and I refuse, I just say I am not allowed, but please send it to my church address.
We do it for free. people contact me to marry them and always ask how much I charge, I always say, I don’t charge anything.
maybe we do need ID cards these days. but those can be forged also.
 
The two times I went to the English Mass at my grandmother’s parish (if I ever attend that parish it’s usually at the Spanish Mass she goes to) it was the same priest that gave the Mass both times. Under his cassock he was wearing jeans and sandals. One Mass he left the deacon to clean up and he went to the choir and played Bob Dylan’s “I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine” on guitar and sang. About a year ago I was at a fruit stand that sells milkshakes by my school and guess who was there, him. At first when I saw his face I wasn’t sure, but when I saw the jeans and sandals I knew it was him.

My freshman year I went to confession at school once with a retired priest. A few weeks later I saw him again, wearing a white polo and jeans. From my freshman year to junior year I would occasionally see him when he stopped by the school for different events and talk to him. And whenever I saw him he was in a white polo and jeans. This past summer I worked in a ministry he is very involved with and now I see him more often because of this ministry, and every time in a white polo and jeans. There was once during the summer that I saw him ever day of a week and a white polo and jeans. I guess since he’s retired it’s OK. But for me it would be ODD to see him in clerical clothes. Something would seem out of place if he was. And I do call him “Fr. -----.” I would have to say that his ministry is one that requires a lot of attention and it really doesn’t seem like he is retired. I admire him a lot (even if he is very liberal politically, but that’s a different topic for another day).
 
SalesianSDB said:
The two times I went to the English Mass at my grandmother’s parish (if I ever attend that parish it’s usually at the Spanish Mass she goes to) it was the same priest that gave the Mass both times. Under his cassock he was wearing jeans and sandals. One Mass he left the deacon to clean up and he went to the choir and played Bob Dylan’s “I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine” on guitar and sang. About a year ago I was at a fruit stand that sells milkshakes by my school and guess who was there, him. At first when I saw his face I wasn’t sure, but when I saw the jeans and sandals I knew it was him.

My freshman year I went to confession at school once with a retired priest. A few weeks later I saw him again, wearing a white polo and jeans. From my freshman year to junior year I would occasionally see him when he stopped by the school for different events and talk to him. And whenever I saw him he was in a white polo and jeans. This past summer I worked in a ministry he is very involved with and now I see him more often because of this ministry, and every time in a white polo and jeans. There was once during the summer that I saw him ever day of a week and a white polo and jeans. I guess since he’s retired it’s OK. But for me it would be ODD to see him in clerical clothes. Something would seem out of place if he was. And I do call him “Fr. -----.” I would have to say that his ministry is one that requires a lot of attention and it really doesn’t seem like he is retired. I admire him a lot (even if he is very liberal politically, but that’s a different topic for another day).
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I always thought the romans were very strict but last time I went into a RC church for mass with a friend I saw the priest in casual clothes doing things in the church, and I saw him go into the confessional like that. I would never do that, my clerical clothes are holy to me. even if the confessor can’t see me. Jesus can. and I work for HIM. and I should always dress when I am working for him. and people need to see us out in public as priests as much as possible. even walking around in my cassock or habit, people say, Hello Father, How are you? or, Father, Can you please help me? very least, I would always try to wear a collar. but also, anyone can buy a black shirt with collar, which doesn’t make them a priest. but in a cassock or habit, they will assume you are a priest.
 
padreb said:
So where in the following (canon law) does it say when ministering?

"… 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 can also find various exhortations. For example, there is this from John Paul II in Vita consecrata: “Since the habit is a sign of consecration, poverty and membership in a particular Religious family, I join the Fathers of the Synod in strongly recommending to men and women religious that they wear their proper habit, suitably adapted to the conditions of time and place.**Where valid reasons of their apostolate call for it, **Religious, in conformity with the norms of their Institute, may also dress in a simple and modest manner, with an appropriate symbol, in such a way that their consecration is recognizable. Institutes which from their origin or by provision of their Constitutions do not have a specific habit should ensure that the dress of their members corresponds in dignity and simplicity to the nature of their vocation” (n. 25).

Does that sound like canon law is allowing for casual attire for days off?
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Priests need days off to function properly, and if they want to take a hike for example or ski it would look ridiculous with clerical garb on. Also, I’ve seen my pastor, not in shorts but a simple sweater or shirt and pants helping to set up chairs in the hall for some event or helping to load someone’s car. I’ve even joked with him that “he is a man of all trades”.

I do think though if they are handling functions in Church, they should be wearing a collar, but if I was dying in an automobile accident for example, and a priest came to give me last rites, I sure wouldn’t care how he was dressed!
 
utah_rose said:
Priests need days off to function properly, and if they want to take a hike for example or ski it would look ridiculous with clerical garb on. Also, I’ve seen my pastor, not in shorts but a simple sweater or shirt and pants helping to set up chairs in the hall for some event or helping to load someone’s car. I’ve even joked with him that “he is a man of all trades”.

I do think though if they are handling functions in Church, they should be wearing a collar, but if I was dying in an automobile accident for example, and a priest came to give me last rites, I sure wouldn’t care how he was dressed!
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Once again I will direct you to read my previous post listing the canon law and the rules set up by the USSCB. The pint I am making is this, WHEN IN PUBLIC a priest should be dressed as a priest, even on his day “off”. A priest does not stop being a priest on his “day off”.
 
padreb said:
Once again I will direct you to read my previous post listing the canon law and the rules set up by the USSCB. The pint I am making is this, WHEN IN PUBLIC a priest should be dressed as a priest, even on his day “off”. A priest does not stop being a priest on his “day off”.
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And whether he wears the collar or not, he is still a priest.
 
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