[Winniesboy]

“Dog Collars”

This is not a derogatory usage, nor is it recent. It has been the commonly used term for a clerical collar (all denominations) in Britain for more than a century. The first recorded use in the OED dates from 1883.

[dighton]

Thank you.

[RedMonqey]

It has been the commonly used term for a clerical collar (all denominations) in Britain for more than a century. The first recorded use in the OED dates from 1883.

So has n*gger, broad, fag etc. etc. Usage and longevity doesn't automatically mean proper.

Anyone calling a Muslim's or Hindu's headscarf a "raghead" or even a Mohammedans would be condemned.

For news article "clerical collar" should have been used instead of the slang term "dog collar"

Of course if the priests themselves don't demand respect then why should anyone else.