Shorts at Mass??

[MtnDwellar]

Someone ought to do a scientific study on the perception differences between men and women. Say you have a double-blind study of 100 men and 100 women, and have each of them gaze quickly at someone standing on a stage, drawing back the curtain for maybe 5 seconds, and then have each of the subjects list the color and the brand of the shoes, the type of clothes they saw, the length of the neckline, was the shirt tucked in or not, were the clothes ironed within the past week, was there a belt or any other assessory. And then collate and compare and graph the results, showing which gender was able to acquire the fashion details within the alotted time and which gender was not.

On second thought, such a study wouldn’t yield any surprises.

Perhaps it would surprise. Some of the Clothing Crusaders seem to be men.

 

[SalesianSDB]

I recently attended Mass in the Florida Keys and some, most, were wearing shorts. It was a very casual church. But I went in jeans and a polo.

The one time I wear shorts to Mass is if I am attending Mass in Orlando, Florida Sunday morning right before going to a theme park (Orlando in the summer is ridiculous). But that church is just for tourists so many are dressed similarly.

That’s the only time I will wear shorts. I mostly wear jeans.

 

[elgar]

There is a parish in Houston that does this. They have clothing guidelines posted outside and if your clothing is immodest they will lend you some clothes to cover up with.

I love it. My wife and I once visited Tarpon Springs, Florida and decided to attend a Greek Orthodox Church there one Sunday morning. My wife is partial to slacks over dresses and was very modestly dressed. Someone quickly wrapped her in a choir robe but Greek women were coming and going in leather mini-skirts with blouses that were very low cut with cleavage showing. Nobody attempted to cover them up. Go figure?

 

[cargau]

I was quite shocked to see some people show up for Saturday evening Mass in shorts. I know it was very hot outside where I live, but I would have thought people would have shown a bit of respect regardless if they were regulars or visitors.

Personally, I don’t wear shorts to Mass. But who am I to judge the depth of reverence in another’s soul. That is my brother and sister for whom I am asking for their prayers.

If they do lack reverence, maybe I didn’t set a good enough example of piety in my own demeanor. Further, perhaps they have not had the benefit of the training that I received.

I do not mean to undermine the importance of expressing our love and respect for the holy ground we go to worship our God through our dress, comportment and manners. I am merely willing to accept my fellow believer where he or she is and be willing to help them grow as I am sure hoping that he or she is willing to help me.

After all, isn’t that the meaning of community?

 

[happymommy]

Generally speaking, “the ushers have been notified” ought to imply that the ushers have also been instructed when and how to use their discretion. If someone is going to make a scene, they can allow them in and let the pastor contact those persons afterwards. If someone arrives with extenuating circumstances such as you had, they can allow them in and let the pastor know why they did.

IOW, if they allow a person in who is not dressed according to the code and expect everyone else to treat them as they would anyone else, no one else in the parish will die because they’ve been asked to mind their own business about it. It would be a good idea if the pastor explained that, too. It is not as if the Knights of Columbus are the Swiss Guard.

In our diocese, the EMsHC are not expected to deny communion to people who ought not receive communion. Rather, the faithful are instructed about refraining from Holy Communion when one is not in a state of grace, but the duty to ascertain whether or not one is in a state of grace is laid upon the faithful. It’s not like you can have a “10 Most Wanted List” in the sacristy! Likewise, the faithful can be instructed about what the dress code is. Letting the dress code be self-imposed is not the same as saying, “Wear what your conscience says is OK.” It merely recognizes that outside enforcement has its own practical problems.

so now the ushers have control over who gets in and who doesn’t? I don’t think so!

 

[MtnDwellar]

so now the ushers have control over who gets in and who doesn’t? I don’t think so!

Ushers or bouncers? Potaytoes/Potahtoes

 

[Bearontherun]

Remember that the church is not only a training ground for saints but a hospital for sinners. There are many kinds of sins and faults that we are all struggling with…some may lack the wisdom to choose the “proper attire (whatever that is)” for whatever reason.

Also, Jesus said when you go to make your sacrifice, if you hold something against your neighbour go and make ammends with your neighbour first and then come back and make your sacrifice. He did not say if you come to make your sacrifice improperly dressed, go home and then come back to make your sacrifice after you changed your clothing. We may be holding something against our neighbour if we are agitated and offended by someone’s clothing.

 

[happymommy]

Ushers or bouncers? Potaytoes/Potahtoes

I was thinking the same thing! Big bouncers at the door, talking to the priest on their phones…“well, she’s got shorts on, but says she’s poor. We’ll let it slide this week, tell her wear she can buy clothes and take down her name and if she comes back dressed the same way next weel we will show her to the curb!”

Maybe if you slip him $5 you can get in easier!

Really! Our church would have to get new ushers because all of ours are at least 75!

 

[EasterJoy]

so now the ushers have control over who gets in and who doesn’t? I don’t think so!

I was thinking the same thing! Big bouncers at the door, talking to the priest on their phones…“well, she’s got shorts on, but says she’s poor. We’ll let it slide this week, tell her wear she can buy clothes and take down her name and if she comes back dressed the same way next weel we will show her to the curb!”

Maybe if you slip him $5 you can get in easier!

Really! Our church would have to get new ushers because all of ours are at least 75!

You guys talk as if a church that doesn’t issue weapons can’t hope to have a dress code.

If someone is disruptive during Mass, I’d think an usher would usher them out, yes. If the priest wants the ushers to talk to anyone who walks right past the sign that lists the dress code as if it doesn’t apply to them, then yes, they could do that. If some guy tries to walk in naked, the ushers are going to let him walk by? Or do they have to have a wire, so they can ask Father about that directly?

I’m not suggesting they ought to usher someone out for wearing shorts–I did say that we don’t have EMsHC who decide who can or can’t have Holy Communion either–but yes, they could. If the shorts are essentially bikini bottoms, then call me a prude, but they ought to. So again: the only question is where to draw the line, not whether or not there ought to be a line. That much, a sensible person ought to agree to.

 

[MtnDwellar]

I was thinking the same thing! Big bouncers at the door, talking to the priest on their phones…“well, she’s got shorts on, but says she’s poor. We’ll let it slide this week, tell her wear she can buy clothes and take down her name and if she comes back dressed the same way next weel we will show her to the curb!”

Maybe if you slip him $5 you can get in easier!

Really! Our church would have to get new ushers because all of ours are at least 75!

You must really be a happy mommy. You cracked me up.

 

[MtnDwellar]

So again: the only question is where to draw the line, not whether or not there ought to be a line. That much, a sensible person ought to agree to.

I thought that the question of this thread was whether or not the line should be drawn somewhere around the ankles for pants’ length.

Some posters feel that all shorts lack dignity and are disrespectful. The claim is not that shorts are immodest.

If this thread has turned into how short is too short for the sake of modesty - I am outta here.

 

[happymommy]

You must really be a happy mommy. You cracked me up.

:curtsey: I am a happy mommy!

And I’ve seen a lot worse in church than shorts. We have one family that wears jogging suits everyweek, another that wears their favorite football team jerseys every Sunday during football season ( It’s the Steelers, so it’s ok ) Then there are those that wear super short skirts or skin tight blue jeans! All of those seem worse to me then the nice dress shorts and top I have worn. My shorts go to the knee…which is as long as some of my skirts!

 

[catholictiger]

is this just sunday mass, becuase I think its best if people don’t wear shorts to sunday mass. But I’m not going to condemn anyone for doing it, especially where I live, when the temp gets into the upper 90s all summer.

 

[nebraskajewels]

You guys talk as if a church that doesn’t issue weapons can’t hope to have a dress code.

If someone is disruptive during Mass, I’d think an usher would usher them out, yes. If the priest wants the ushers to talk to anyone who walks right past the sign that lists the dress code as if it doesn’t apply to them, then yes, they could do that. If some guy tries to walk in naked, the ushers are going to let him walk by? Or do they have to have a wire, so they can ask Father about that directly?

C’mon nowComparing shorts/being naked? Me thinks you’ve gone a wee bit overboard with that one!

 

[nebraskajewels]

I wear shorts (a couple inches up from the knee, same as the Catholic school dresscode) a nice shirt, sandles, hair and make-up.

The gal next to me wears flannel plaid jammie pants, hair a mess, no make up.

Am I to judge her? Nope, she is there praying to the same God I am.

(and this is a true story! Flannel jammie pants in the winter, spring, summer and fall)

 

[TrueLight]

People have common sense and know what is considered super casual and what is not. I think everyone at some point have noticed that some people dress up for church mass. I really believe it is a conscience decision to go against the grain and not abide by any rules.

What if a pastor preaches about dress at mass. Would most people will dress differently the next Sunday? I think not.

 

[happymommy]

People have common sense and know what is considered super casual and what is not. I think everyone at some point have noticed that some people dress up for church mass. I really believe it is a conscience decision to go against the grain and not abide by any rules.

What if a pastor preaches about dress at mass. Would most people will dress differently the next Sunday? I think not.

There are different types of shorts. There are super short ratty denim shorts or there are nice knee length “dress” shorts. I have some that are linen. In my opinion, there are some shorts that can be worn as dress clothes and there are some that are not.

 

[TrueLight]

There are different types of shorts. There are super short ratty denim shorts or there are nice knee length “dress” shorts. I have some that are linen. In my opinion, there are some shorts that can be worn as dress clothes and there are some that are not.

I agree.

I wouldn’t object to this if worn with a nice shirt.

This is nice.

But this , nope.

Nor this.

 

[TobyLue]

MtnDweller

Judge: 1. Form an opinion or conclusion about.

The reason I stated what I did is because I have hear people say those exact words time and time again that God doesn’t care what you wear to mass. But I have heard some priest answer that same question by asking them how they care about God.

Lunch with the president has almost no similarity to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. The President is not at Mass. Jesus is present at Mass. I believe that the two of them have completely different standards of judging people

Exactly my point.  Do we hold more regard for the President than we do for God?

Comparing Catholics and Baptists is almost as wrong as comparing the president with Jesus. There are many things that Baptists do not understand.

Again, exactly my point. Baptist do not have Jesus present in their churches, like the Catholic Churches do, Body, Soul, and Divinity. But yet they wear they Sunday clothes, and not their go to the beach, or go to the car wash clothes.
Here is a reply from Michelle Arnold CA Apologist, actually two if you click on the link.

I know we go to Mass to give thanks to our Lord and to praise Him but it’s hard not to notice when a girl or a woman in front of you is wearing super tight jeans, low cut blouse etc. or when a guy or a man is wearing low saggers revealing boxers or not so pleasant saying on their t-shirts.

 

[JHow]

It’s all about social class, people.