Why do some priests and nuns never wear religious clothing

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And keep in mind there might be some places (not the U.S.) where the civil government forbids clergy and religious to dress in their habits/clerical clothes. I believe Mexico once had this law, although I don’t know if they still do.
 
LilyM said:
Mind you, just this morning I was out shopping and saw a priest from our nearby Maronite parish in full regalia - it was an awe-inspiring and heartlifting sight.
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That has to have been one of the monks (if it was in NSW, probably a member of the OLM). 👍

Maronite secular clergy are rarely seen publicly in cassock outside of the Patriarchal Territories, and even there it’s not too common these days.
 
LRThunder said:
And keep in mind there might be some places (not the U.S.) where the civil government forbids clergy and religious to dress in their habits/clerical clothes. I believe Mexico once had this law, although I don’t know if they still do.
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The Mexican government abolished that law in the 1990’s, but many Mexican priests still wear the traditional white dress shirt and black pants as they did before the repeal.

In the state of Oregon, the 1923 “Garb Bill,” which prohibits habited religious sisters from teaching in public schools, remains on the books. It was last used successfully in 1983 against a Sikh teacher who wanted to wear her robe and turban to class. This was one of the many anti-Catholic laws passed with the help of the KKK in the 1920’s.
 
Many clergy and religious no longer wear their religious/clerical garb beicause because they feel they would be wearing it out of pride, rather than out of a genuine desire to save souls and serve the needs of the community around them. I know many do not wear their clerical/religious garb in public because they don’t want people acting differently around them or giving them special treatment. I think those reasons are noble reasons, but I think the people who use them are misguided. I do not see muslims, orthodox jews, amish, pentecostals, mormons, or any other religious group who often wear distinctive clothing being criticized for that. Also, in just under a month, many many Catholics will walk around all day with ashes on their foreheads for all to see- I don’t hear too much criticism over that.
 
Cavaille-Coll said:
The Mexican government abolished that law in the 1990’s, but many Mexican priests still wear the traditional white dress shirt and black pants as they did before the repeal.

In the state of Oregon, the 1923 “Garb Bill,” which prohibits habited religious sisters from teaching in public schools, remains on the books. It was last used successfully in 1983 against a Sikh teacher who wanted to wear her robe and turban to class. This was one of the many anti-Catholic laws passed with the help of the KKK in the 1920’s.
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Thanks for the clarification.
 
My parish priest is almost NEVER seen in the clerical suit around the parish. The problem I have with it is that visitors to the parish will not be able to know who the priest is and give him the proper respect. The only way you can tell if he is a priest is when he stops shaking hands and making small talk and strolls over to the altar. It makes my day to see a priest in a cassock, they are so rare!

Pax Vobiscum
 
Our priest (a Byzantine Franciscan monastic) does not wear the monastic garb when he is out and about, but he does wear a pectoral cross over his “street clothes”. And he dresses simply, humbly, without a worry about today’s fashions for men. 🙂

You can tell he’s a monk by his long beard and long hair, in any case. Though he has said those who are not familiar with the pectoral cross’ significance have taken him for a hippie relic from the 70’s! 😃
 
IrishDude45 said:
It makes my day to see a priest in a cassock, they are so rare!
Pax Vobiscum
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Then you would be happy to know that I have NEVER seen the priest at the parish 35 miles away not wearing a cassock. He’s also the only priest in this diocese that celebrates Solemn High Mass.

Et cum spiritu, tuo.
 
I wonder if this is a geographic or local type thing? I live in a very Catholic town and am very used to seeing priests walk around in their collars. I think it’s a good thing, you never know when some poor soul might turn to a priest he happens to find on the street or at an airport and want to seek help or a confession. If they all dressed like civilians, those opportunities could easily pass…
 
mystified said:
I always compliment a nun for being visible in her habit. The priests in my current parish almost always are “in uniform”, unlike my former pastor whom nobody can recall ever seeing in clerical attire.
I have had to say, “No sir, I am not a priest, this is a black turtleneck sweater from Old Navy.” 🤷
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When I worked in a Catholic bookstore, I always complimented a Sister when she wore her habit-did it in a sotto voce tone of voice, though, the owner was a Call to Action liberal.

And there were times when customers thought I was a nun because I wore dark conservative clothes. I had to say, ‘I’m not a nun-but if I were, you’d see me in habit and veil.’

Most of the priests who came into the store wore their clericals-and there were others who wore civlian garb. But I’d always address them as ‘Father’ whatever garb they had on!
 
Fidelis said:
http://www.sosj.org.au/about/victoria/images/Team_000.jpg

A group of nuns from Queensland, AU.
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I could be wrong, but I rather doubt that these are “nuns” in the true, canonical sense of the word. More like “religious sisters” of one or another society or congregation. (More like “mini-sisters” at that, but I digress.) In the mesozoic era, we didn’t commonly make that distinction but, in case someone hasn’t noticed, things have changed. And it’s not only the (lack of) habit 😦
 
Fortunately no, not “nuns” in the true canonical sense. The name of the congregation kind of gives it away.
 
barb_finnegan said:
EWW-especially the one on the far left [no pun intended] with all the jewelry! “Vanity, thy name is legion…”

Give me Mother Angelica’s nuns, Mother Teresa’s Sisters, and the Ann Arbor and Nashville Dominicans anytime!
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Nice of you to judge these ladies’ hearts by their clothing - for all you know the jewellery was a gift from a beloved friend or relative. But then I guess if you saw ME wearing one of the necklaces given to me by my parents and grandmother, you’d call ME vain too.
 
LilyM;:
for all you know the jewellery was a gift from a beloved friend or relative.
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For those who don’t look beyond the first page of a link.

religioussistersofcharity.org/religiouslife.html
"TEMPORARY PROFESSION –
On completion of the novitiate, and after prayerful consideration, you make your First Profession. Here vows of poverty, chastity, obedience and service of the poor are made for a period of three years and can then be renewed for a further three years. During this time you will live in community and continue to discern God’s call in your life. "

religioussistersofcharity.org/questions.html
"What do you mean when you talk about poverty?

Poverty is having an attitude of respect for creation, using the goods of the world to help others. For us it means, not having personal ownership of what we might earn, it is used for the good of all."
 
Dale_M said:
Yes, I had a couple sisters tell me that what they wore was their habit, even though it was not distinctively Catholic. The idea, apparently, was to blend in and not to stand out from the people they were helping.
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It’s never a bad thing to not have to wear a visual statement. That can quickly ward off others by an out of the loop dressing. Mingle and schmooze just like the politicians!
 
LilyM said:
Fr John Corapi tells some stories about receiving horrible abuse from passersby when out in his clericals. I’d imagine these days a lot of priests and nuns get the same treatment. Sadly, that makes it a little more understandable that some of them might not want to be a target for such abuse.
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“Blessed are ye when they shall revile you, and persecute you, and speak all that is evil against you, untruly, for my sake. Be glad and rejoice for your reward is very great in heaven. For so they persecuted the prophets that were before you.”

Matthew 5:12
 
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