Sorry, folks, but I am not buying the explanation that your churches are too big for a coat rack, and that people would have problems finding their coat.
The Protestant church that I grew up in had over a thousand people in attendance on Sunday mornings, and my husband’s church had several thousand (yes, back in the 70s–we attended some honkin’ big churches!). We had mulitiple church services at our churches, as we were too big to all fit into one worship service. But even as a little child, I never had trouble finding my coat. Neither did any of the hundreds of senior citizens who attended my church. And my church had several large coat racks, so I had to not only remember where on the rack that I kept my coat, but also which coat rack I had hung it on. Same for my husband’s church.
I think that Catholics have as much intelligence as Protestants.
As for the cold of older churches, I can certainly understand that. But it seems to me that most older churches in the U.S. have modernized their buildings and added central heating (to not rehab a building and add heat is hard on the pipes and building structure). And there are MANY Protestant church buildings that are as old or older than Catholic church buildings (my parents in law attend one that is over a hundred years old), and those people don’t wear coats throughout the worship service. I know–I’ve been to these churches!
But if the explanation for Catholics leaving their coats on is that their church buildings are too cold, then I firmly believe that we need to take a serious look at turning up the heat. I honestly think it would add to the friendly and warm atmosphere of the church if people took their coats off in church! If people are sitting there shivering, no WONDER they stay away from Mass! And no wonder they go to the Protestant megachurches where they can not only be warm while listening to the sermon, but they can even sip lattes and enjoy a croissant with their friends before, after, and in some megachurches, DURING the worship service. Duh!
If turning up the heat in our Catholic church buildings will help people to be more faithful in attending Mass, then I say, “Turn up the heat.”
As for Protestants attending a church for “show,” I think we can say that there are Catholics who attend church for show. But most people of faith attend church to honor God, worship Him, and for Catholics, to receive Him in the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist. I am charitable enough to believe that most people don’t go to church to show off their fashion sense.
So far the best explanation has been to mark the spot in the pew. I’ve never visited any Episcopal church services and so I don’t know if these people leave their coats on during their worship service. I usually use a little prayer book to “mark my spot.” But I also don’t worry too much about it if I end up in a different spot after Holy Communion. We’re all family, after all.
. On the rare occasion that I need to wrap up I will usually remove my jacket and place it on the pew beside me.
Women have had their purses snatched when they leave them sitting on the pew during communion, too. I wouldn’t leave my coat hanging unattended if they had a rack (which they don’t), and I take my purse with me when I go for communion, esp. if I’m sitting near an exit.