Strapless tops at Mass!

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Dawn_VanName

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Does the Church have any guidelines on Modesty dressing?
There are two young teenage girls at our parish who have worn what I perceived as a strapless one piece bathing suit with a skirt over it and flip flops (and presided that day also as being a Eucharistic Minister) There have been other occasions when the there were spagheti straps, tight and low cut shirts, and shorts that were as short as underwear! :eek: I have been upset for a year over this and have asked our pastor a year ago to say something in Church or the bulletin frequently. One time a brief mention in the bulletin was made. My husband brought it up 2 Sundays ago at Parish Council for something to be done. :clapping:
It is very distracting from the Mass! :crying: It is a type of dress that I do not want my children to see either.:o
Help, it has really left people speechless to see this.:ehh: But I can’t let this continue. My husband said he would start praying for colder weather!😉
Any suggestions or ground I can stand on?
Dawn
 
This type of attire is simply disrespectful of God.

Even in the most hottest of climates one should still remember where they are visiting and whose house they are in.

I would also put some responsiblity back on the priest to say something to these girls and even their family.

If you do not see any improvement, you are free to write to your Bishop.
 
Dawn, is there any way you can just ignore it?

What effect do think your it will have on your children if they see these girls dressed that way? (just curious)

I don’t really have any other suggestions. I try not to be judgemental and when I see people at Mass that look like they just rolled out of bed and didn’t brush their hair or are wearing shorts and just really casual and stuff, and maybe didn’t take a shower. I remind myself that it is great that they are there, they made an effort to come and worship the Lord and celebrate the Mass.

I hope this doesn’t sound superior or like I’m saying that I am better than you, I am just sharing my imperfect thoughts. I haven’t seen anyone terribly offensive, though.

God bless and may you find a resolution!
 
Have you read the lastest fashion news? “Slutwear” is out. The fashion magazines called it “slutwear” not me.
 
So what was the parish council’s reaction?

Maybe you should copy and print your original post and place it on the parish bulletin board.

Perhaps a dress code for EMHC’s?
 
Dawn VanName:
Any suggestions or ground I can stand on?
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Kneeling in the front row will keep your attention on the Mass. And pray for the family that allows its daughters to dress like that.
 
Dawn,

Just be thankful you don’t sit where I do! Being in the sanctuary looking out at the people allows me to see far more than I ever wanted to see.

What you describe seems to be spreading across the country, especially during the summer months. Somehow, I suspect that this would not be found in Cleveland in February! I don’t know how to get it across to people that this type of attire is inappropriate. For people serving as ministers at a Mass, however, it’s inexcusable. We do have a dress code in my parish for ministers, and I’ll tell someone to leave if they are not appropriately attired for ministry.

Deacon Ed
 
Thank you all for your responses! Sola, you had asked about the effects on our children. I’m glad you asked that question…well, our children our 10, 7,6,5, and 4 and we take great care not to even watch T.V. shows where that type of dress could be seen. We thought we could trust the Super Bowl and then…well…Janet Jackson opened our eyes to you can’t even sit down as a family and watch the Super Bowl without wondering what’s going to happen.
But the point I want to stress is that our government does not even allow this type of dress in the public schools because it is so distracting, so why is it allowed at the most holy sacrifice of the Mass?
My husband and I will try to preserve the innocense of our children’s eyes as long as we can.
Hope that helps shed some light…thank you for asking! Thanks for the insights too!
:blessyou:
Dawn
 
I agree this is total disrespect for the Lord. Our pastor often mentions that this type of dress is not suitable for Mass, weddings, or any other service. Sadly, there are still a few who don’t get the message, but most do. With so many struggling with purity in these days, a person who dresses immodestly is actually a near occasion of sin for some people. They are responsible for the sins that they cause.

Deacon Tony SFO
God bless
 
This topic seems to be endless. There was quite a lengthy discussion about decent dressing back in the spring and early summer. Either the message is not being communicated via the pastor or people are just ignoring it. It’s impossible to control unless you are a parent who sees this type of dressing unacceptable and exert control over your children. But guess who’s in charge nowadays?
For extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist, I feel it’s up to the person in charge of their training to get the message across in the beginning and keep reinforcing it.
Thank God the servers have to wear gowns. If you could see what they are wearing or not wearing underneath, you would be amazed. I hate to sound like an old fogey but where has the respect gone.
 
Dawn VanName:
We thought we could trust the Super Bowl and then…well…Janet Jackson opened our eyes to you can’t even sit down as a family and watch the Super Bowl without wondering what’s going to happen.
Dawn
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LOL!! You are quite right. I’m not laughing at you, just at the ridiculousness of the Superbowl halftime show. It’s really true that you can’t even relax now watching sports!

Well, if your kids do see inappropriate clothing, maybe you could talk to them and tell them that that is clothing that does not show respect, and while we leaving judging individuals to God, we judge the clothes as inappropriate. Or maybe that makes too big of a deal out of it?

I confess I have neither children nor strapless top-wearers at our parish (at least that I’ve seen), so my comments are pureley for whatever they are worth.

God bless you for being an involved and committed parent who cares! :blessyou: Parenting is the toughest job and the a holy calling.
 
Unfortunately I’ve experienced a similar situation with a young female lector a few weeks ago. It was rather odd. Usually this person dresses very nice when she lectors. However a few weeks ago she wore a tight spagehetti strap top and practically see through white nylon-ish pants :eek: .

And this was just a couple of months after our priest hosted a manditory training session for lectors and EMHC in which appropriate dress was discussed.
 
One thing you could suggest is keeping some plain tee shirts for the ushers to offer to men and women when their tops are immodest. At the least that might start to get the point accross to some people. At the shrine in Alabamma they even have simple wrap skirts for women whose shorts and skirts are to short to be decent.

We had the same problem at my former parish, it is in a beach resort in the mid-atlantic region. It was a never endding battle of distraction for me, if I parked in the back I saw them going and coming, if I parked my wheelchair in the reserved areas near the front it was the same, the sancutary has entrances on 3 sides. I hope your parish finds a solution.
Linda H.
 
At one time we had a woman that was, occasionally, a cantor. I know there was a problem with her wearing really short skirts on those days. The cantor normally sits up front facing the congregation. Well, the priest worked it so that she would sit up in the choir loft in the back of the church. There was an organ there too, so that wasn’t a problem. I haven’t paid attention lately, but I haven’t noticed that problem for awhile.

I will say that I’ve seen some questionable dress though. But not to the point where it was of great concern for me.
 
Strapless tops anywhere are an offense to God and an abuse to all. One can’t go out of the house anymore without being (dubiously) ‘treated’ to the sight of many a girl’s underpants, midriff, brassiere, precise contours, and more. Here are some modesty links that may be of interest.
Because the daughters of Sion are haughty, and have walked with stretched out necks, and wanton glances of their eyes, … Isaiah 3:16 *
 
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