Should Catholics support new laws on banning certain fashions?

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Melek said:
Many of you from older generations didn’t have a problem with this because the fashion was nowhere near as bad.
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Friend, this is just silly! Do you honestly believe that men struggling with masturbation is new? That women wearing revealing clothing is new?? I know I already posted about the 80’s and 90’s, but let’s go waaay back. Have you ever seen how much cleavage is exposed in Renaissance clothing? How tightly a corset hugged a woman’s body in Victorian clothing? Any idea what a codpiece was for on men?! Or did you realize that those long pointy shoes men wore were meant to directly advertize the length of their… ahem… At one point the fashion for the shoes became so long that men were tripping on them, so they invented a chain or ribbon that tied from the toe of the shoe to his pants just to keep them pointed. History is an interesting thing, which is why I studied it so extensively in University and in Grad School. You can get some pretty fun facts like that last one. 👍 Or what about other cultures where women simply go topless, how do the men control themselves there? Or do they? The point is about control, friend! You are pointing fingers and blame at others when you, along with so many others, are faced with temptation. Temptation is not new. It is not unique to this generation. Granted, I would agree there are more levels of temptation with the current generation because pornography is free, it is everywhere, and it is pervading our society’s attitude toward sex and sexuality.

My heart goes out in prayer every day for this specific issue: men and women genuinely trying to live a modest, chaste and pure life. I will include you in my prayers, Melek. You can overcome your temptations, but to do so you must stop placing the blame on others and look inward on yourself. Be well, pray hard. You can do this.
 
I agree that there are many people (both men and women) who dress in an inappropriate fashion. However, I do not think that there should be a law regarding how people dress.

There are a number of reasons for this. The first one is that there are much bigger issues that we need to address: abortion, same-sex marriage, etc. and this would be a distraction to those goals.

An extension of the above is that pushing for a law like this would give ammunition to those that lobs attacks that we are trying to push our morality on others and create a theocracy. I am willing and able to defend against these charges when talking about things like abortion that are costing millions of innocent lives, I am not sure I could do as good a defense against these charges against clothing laws.

Lastly, extending the first two, these types of laws in the United States would require a constitutional amendment, as this would be a clear 1st amendment violation. This would be a long drawn out fight that we are not likely to win, and therefore, I think it would be a mistake to spend a lot of time and resources on this fight that could be better used elsewhere.
 
CatholicGeek1 said:
I agree that there are many people (both men and women) who dress in an inappropriate fashion. However, I do not think that there should be a law regarding how people dress.

There are a number of reasons for this. The first one is that there are much bigger issues that we need to address: abortion, same-sex marriage, etc. and this would be a distraction to those goals.

An extension of the above is that pushing for a law like this would give ammunition to those that lobs attacks that we are trying to push our morality on others and create a theocracy. I am willing and able to defend against these charges when talking about things like abortion that are costing millions of innocent lives, I am not sure I could do as good a defense against these charges against clothing laws.

Lastly, extending the first two, these types of laws in the United States would require a constitutional amendment, as this would be a clear 1st amendment violation. This would be a long drawn out fight that we are not likely to win, and therefore, I think it would be a mistake to spend a lot of time and resources on this fight that could be better used elsewhere.
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I would also respectfully submit that provocative fashion sense isn’t necessarily the problem but rather the symptom of a much bigger problem; that being an overall decline of morality in general. Teach children morality and as they get older the promiscuity problem will take care of itself.
 
A decline in morality in general did not happen overnight. The fashion “industry” which is just a collection of Dictators, presents their models, and whatever they put on them is applauded by the elite. Bold. Daring (usually meaning offensive). Chic (usually meaning offensive and to make the buyer feel like they are living in “modern times” as opposed to two weeks ago).

I am sick and tired of them. The mini-skirt was rightly called a scandal. I was there. Followed by the mini-dress and other forms of clothing that because they were made by the fashion dictatorship, were presented more and more in movies and on TV. Madonna wearing underwear on the outside. Wake up people!

A statement should be issued to the fashion industry:

As fashion designers and self-styled ‘trend setters,’ you have a responsibility to your neighbors, especially women, to not objectify them in any way. To respect them as whole persons worthy of respect. As part of society, you must consider what you do as having an effect on people’s perceptions of themselves, both male and female. Sexualizing fashion is disrespectful and scandalizes the wearer and those who see him or her in public.

Peace,
Ed
 
While we are not Jewish, it was required that skirts for young girls and teens, cover the knees during the 1960s in Catholic schools. The guys and gals wore uniforms and clothes that were considered appropriate dress.

I think the following article from our Jewish neighbors may offer a helpful perspective on modest clothing:

orthodox-jews.com/modest-jewish-clothing.html

Peace,
Ed
 
Melek said:
explain to me then why I had an easier time controlling myself back in high school
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Among other things, your disrespect for women has clearly increased.
Melek said:
I treat women fine, thank you very much.
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Clearly you do not treat women well. You’re objectifying and violating women, then blaming women for your own bad treatment of women.
 
desertstudent said:
Melek,

I am a male North American who lived in a Muslim country for several years. The idea that women covering themselves reduces the lust of the men surrounding them is completely false. This muslim country has men that are hyper sexualized and frustrated, even more so than North America. They treat the women in the street who are covered or uncovered as objects. This is in an environment of women being covered head to toe!

Get a grip on your thought life and look to change yourself, before you go legislating the behaviour of others. I am sure you can find numerous verses from the New Testament of Jesus’ words that support that.
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wonderful answer!

And while I have to say that I am all for modesty, I think the OP’s u idea is wrong. You are a human being not an animal and God gave you a rational brain and power to make decisions. While is true that being an occasion of sin to others is wrong, you have the duty to not act on lust. You are acting on lust and that is your responsibility. If there is a girl exposing herself on the street then look away, control your thinking, cover your eyes whatever, but don’t fall into the temptation. Temptations are going to be everywhere, but what God expects of you is not falling into it.
 
Melek said:
I’m a young man and it’s very tempting for me to go home and masturbate whenever I see a woman dressed provocatively. Fashion these days reveals so much on women. The winter time used to be safe but even that has turned into a time of temptation with all the tight yoga pants young women are wearing these days.

Should Catholics support new laws to not allow certain fashions that are distracting? Many of my Muslim friends who are from countries such as Pakistan agree with me on this.
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I’d support it. I’ve daydreamed before about removing that temptation to sin mortally. 👍 It’s like being forced to watch porn in public.
 
Melek said:
I think many of you are missing the point here. It’s unavoidable to see women on a college campus. In my high school, we had rules that girls couldn’t wear tight clothing or anything that reveals too much skin. The same rules should be applied to universities all over the country. For those of you saying such rules wouldn’t work, explain to me then why I had an easier time controlling myself back in high school when my hormones were raging more than I do now in college?

I get tempted to masturbate because of biology. Biology controls how my hormones react. Many of you from older generations didn’t have a problem with this because the fashion was nowhere near as bad.

You guys can argue all you want but there is no reason to be wearing clothes that are ridiculously tight. There is no way those kind of clothes are comfortable.
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I am sorry Meek but you are trying to justify your own bad behavior and put the responsibility of your actions on others. Don’t blame biology that is the silliest argument in the world. Your brain is the one that controls everything, you are having impure thoughts and you are acting upon them. You are viewing women as sexual objects and the problem here is your thoughts not the fashion. Again I don’t agree with inmodesty, but you are looking for excuses. You obviously have a problem with masturbation and what you need to tackle is that not how women dress. Speak with a priest, start praying the rosary daily, start doing some mortification exercises and try to change your thinking into more life thinking. I am sure that will help you.
 
You mean if I showed tasty ice cream everywhere I went you wouldn’t get hungry because you saw it? It’s just like that.
 
JannyJa21 said:
You mean if I showed tasty ice cream everywhere I went you wouldn’t get hungry because you saw it? It’s just like that.
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Not quite.

But, if I knew that the tasty ice cream was bad for me personally, for whatever reason, it would be up to be to train my brain not to want it or to feel hungry at the sight of that ice cream. The responsibility for my reaction to the ice cream is mine.
 
originally posted JannyJa21
You mean if I showed tasty ice cream everywhere I went you wouldn’t get hungry because you saw it? It’s just like that.
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You are speaking to a nation with a weight problem.

I also think women have to take some accountability. If they dressed provocatively, isn’t part of the sin theirs?
 
gam197 said:
You are speaking to a nation with a weight problem.

I also think women have to take some accountability. If they dressed provocatively, isn’t part of the sin theirs?
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Perhaps the motive of the woman needs to be considered. If a woman dresses provocatively in order to provoke, then she’s getting what she asked for.

But fashion being what it is…I would not want to necessarily presume that conclusion.
 
gam197 said:
If they dressed provocatively, isn’t part of the sin theirs?
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What’s provocative?

What one sees as provocative another won’t 🤷

When I’m not in a business suit, I’m in tight jeans or short shorts or a mini skirt.

I’m only little 😛 so everything that accentuates my legs is all good to me 😃

Am I trying to be provocative.

No.

I dress the way I feel comfortable.

Sarah x 🙂
 
Melek said:
I’m a young man and it’s very tempting for me to go home and masturbate whenever I see a woman dressed provocatively. Fashion these days reveals so much on women. The winter time used to be safe but even that has turned into a time of temptation with all the tight yoga pants young women are wearing these days.

Should Catholics support new laws to not allow certain fashions that are distracting? Many of my Muslim friends who are from countries such as Pakistan agree with me on this.
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I’m not wearing a burkha, get over yourself. :rolleyes:
 
Julianna said:
I’m not wearing a burkha, get over yourself. :rolleyes:
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:D:D:D

But if you were to wear a burkha, I’ll bet men who can’t control their urges would still find a way to sexualize and objectify you 🤷

Sarah x 🙂
 
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