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Modesty and Beach Volleyball
Archdiocese of Washington ^ | 08-14-16 | Msgr. Charles Pope

Posted on 08/15/2016 6:54:47 AM PDT by Salvation

Modesty and Beach Volleyball

August 14, 2016

One of the less edifying aspects of the Summer Olympics in Rio is the attire of the women’s beach volleyball players from Western countries. Most of the women wear a tiny bikini with the bottom being especially tiny. (I do not show a picture here because I deem it immodest to do so. Instead, I show a picture of some of the men, whose attire I mention below.)

Embed from Getty Images

 

Frankly, playing volleyball in a tiny bikini seems quite unnecessary. I would argue that it detracts from the sport because it distracts from the sport. The attention doesn’t seem to be drawn to the ball, shall we say. I would further argue that the attire encourages the focus not even on the women, but on certain aspects of the women’s bodies.

I can understand that swimmers (male and female) wear tight and sometimes abbreviated swimsuits to lessen drag in the water. Gymnasts, too, often wear brief and/or tight clothing to improve their performance and maximize the mobility of their limbs. The clothing is thus at least somewhat performance related.

But I can see no performance enhancement brought about by the wearing of tiny bikinis. Some will point out that the bikini top in question acts as a sports bra. Fine, but men wear supportive attire, too; but they do so under their shorts, not out in the open.

Embed from Getty Images

 

The Egyptian women’s beach volleyball player shown in the above photo illustrates that it is possible to compete quite well without wearing a bikini. One could argue that having short sleeves and shorter leg coverings might be cooler for the players. The impact on performance of wearing the hijab is debatable, but it is worn tucked in and did not seem to bother the women who wore it. These women played and competed well in a sport that is relatively new to their country and region.

Men’s beach volleyball attire also illustrates that near nudity is not required to play the sport well. The men do not play wearing tiny swimwear. They wear ample shorts along with t-shirts or tank tops.

I realize that each time the question of modesty has come up on this blog there are some readers who want to dismiss such discussions and emphasize the right of people to dress as they please. They believe that any sexual temptation aroused is almost wholly the fault of the viewer, not the one wearing the attire.

Modesty should avoid excessively burdening people. It seeks a middle ground wherein the one who dresses and the other who sees share responsibility. The one wearing the attire should not be burdened with difficult requirements, nor should the viewer be burdened by facing undue temptation. Mutual charity and concern are the goals.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church speaks of modesty as protecting the mystery, chastity, and dignity of the human person.

Modesty protects the mystery of persons and their love. … Modesty protects the intimate center of the person. It means refusing to unveil what should remain hidden. It is ordered to chastity to whose sensitivity it bears witness. … Modesty is decency. It inspires one’s choice of clothing. It keeps silence or reserve where there is evident risk of unhealthy curiosity. It is discreet (CCC 2521-2522).

As always, comments are appreciated, but I have found in the past that discussions about modesty are often difficult to have in a way that is helpful or charitable. Reasonable people may differ on the details of modesty. Modesty does involve a range of options, influenced by circumstances and the sensibilities of cultures. I have articulated here that I see no need for tiny bikinis in this sport and that I think more modest attire is important. If you disagree, please explain the relationship you see of the brief bikini to the sport, considering that men in general and women from other cultures who compete do not see the need to wear so little. If you agree, please remember in your comments that the imputation of motives to individuals is a sketchy and usually uncharitable thing to do. Everyone, please use care when commenting.


TOPICS: Apologetics; Catholic; History; Theology
KEYWORDS: 2016olympics; beachvollyball; bhurka; burqa; catholic; modesty; morals; moralsandvalues; msgrcharlespope; olympics; values; volleyball
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To: dsc

“You and the others with you have been offensive since the first post.”

Oh really. Here is my first post, please point out what was offensive...

“”Msgr ignored the Brazilian team who wore bodysuits to pick some non-competitive team in a non-competitive uniform. It was not Alinsky to call him out for the poor choice of an example.””

There was nothing offensive about that post. What is offensive is your statement below:

“An Alinskyite knows that time spent discussing this is time not spent discussing morality”

There is a moral aspect to rejecting women being forced to wear burka’s, and the violence sometimes used to enforce that attire. That is why the example was morally offensive to some.

As far as the rest of your nonsense... you can re-correct words my phones auto-correct butchered, or correct my grammar... but what would be really nice is if you could fix the original article.


241 posted on 08/15/2016 6:08:25 PM PDT by csivils
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To: Mrs. Don-o

Claiming that the use of a Burka in an article on modesty has nothing to do with the motivation to wear a Burka is nonsense. That is exactly why it was a poor example.


242 posted on 08/15/2016 6:11:06 PM PDT by csivils
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To: csivils
The Egyptian team was mentioned because they happened to be Olympic competitors -- that's what made them relevant --- and the fact that their full-coverage uniforms didn't apparently interfere with their ability to perform well athletically.

You noted previously that "The rules leave the attire up to the competitors." Isn't that the way it should be? Is it wrong that the Egyptian women's team chose attire did not violate their own sense of propriety?

Besides, the example about the Egyptian woman's uniforms was one paragraph --- the fifth paragraph, with only 2 sentences actually referring to the Egyptians' uniforms --- in an eleven -paragraph article. It was not part of the lede. It was not the overall topic.

Once again, you fault the author for making *his* points instead of *your* points, for writing *his* article instead of *your* article. You want to write an article against Sharia? Have at it. I assure you I'd find many areas of agreement with you.

Anybody who studied "context" and "structure" in middle school Language Arts, could see that this was merely one of several examples in making a point about modest dress and athletic performance, not about Islamic jurisprudence.

243 posted on 08/15/2016 6:41:19 PM PDT by Mrs. Don-o (If they want to live by Shari'a, I don't want them to live by me.)
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To: metmom
That said, knowing that men are so easily enticed by the human female body, it behooves women to dress in a way so as not to cause an undue burden on a man who is tempted in that way, or in a way so as to embarrass children.

Your post is so ridiculous I don't know where to start. So, because Kerry Walsh (a married mother of three) wears a bikini bottom while competing at a world class level, I'm going to be "enticed" by her? Enticed to do what? Fly to Rio and hit on her? Ask her for intercourse? After all, when you say "enticed", you really mean to say that any man seeing her in a bikini will want to have intercourse with her, correct? Let's be frank here and say what you lack the candor to say: that any man seeing Kerry Walsh in a bikini will want to have intercourse with her.

Good god, what a moronic thing for you to say. I'm betting that she wears what she does solely to maximize her chance to win at her sport, not to "entice" me (or any other man) to fly out to where she is competing and ask her for intercourse. Your sanctimonious post brings shame to you and insults a woman who has done more to represent America and bring joy to fans of her sport than you will ever accomplish.

Thankfully, Ms. Walsh doesn't wear an altar boy outfit while playing. That surely would raise the pulse of priests more than a bikini ever would..... Those whole live in glass houses should not throw stones!

244 posted on 08/15/2016 6:41:31 PM PDT by Panzerfaust
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To: Mrs. Don-o

And as I said in my original post to this thread. The Brazilian team are favored to make it to finals in this Olympics and wore body suits. Thus an alternative was available that didn’t involve burkas. The author made a choice to use that.

It may have been one paragraph, but it was part of what he wrote and it should not have been. The context of being inside an article on modesty only made the offense worse. Good intentions, or some non-offensive paragraphs don’t make up for the offensive example.


245 posted on 08/15/2016 6:52:07 PM PDT by csivils
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To: metmom
Oh my god, here's a pic of George Bush, right before Kerry Walsh enticed him into having intercourse and wrecked his marriage with Laura: Image and video hosting by TinyPic Well, I'm guessing W was asking Kerry for advice on his jump serve, not if she wants to do the nasty with her!!!!!
246 posted on 08/15/2016 6:58:11 PM PDT by Panzerfaust
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To: Biggirl; little jeremiah
In other words, strive for a BALANCE.

Yes. In some ways this is harder, since it demands that one achieve inner modesty. It's easier for people to make up external rules rather than looking at the root cause.

247 posted on 08/15/2016 6:58:38 PM PDT by thecodont
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To: All

It is “Beach Volleyball”...i.e. you wear what you wear at the beach. The Msgr. should stick to watching team indoor volleyball.


248 posted on 08/15/2016 7:00:19 PM PDT by Drago
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To: csivils
Besides, they weren't in "burqas," which are long flowing, enveloping outer garments which cover everything except the eyes. This

`

... is not a burqa. And it doesn't cover much more than the US women's equestrian uniforms.

`

I'm glad they're not in cocktail-napkin-sized bikinis.

You know, just so long as they don't frighten the horses.

249 posted on 08/15/2016 7:04:24 PM PDT by Mrs. Don-o (If they want to live by Shari'a, I don't want them to live by me.)
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To: csivils

You take offense where none is intended.


250 posted on 08/15/2016 7:06:03 PM PDT by Mrs. Don-o (If they want to live by Shari'a, I don't want them to live by me.)
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To: Panzerfaust

Well good for you that sexual temptation is not something you struggle with.

But not all men fall into that category.

Can you even begin to think of someone besides yourself?


251 posted on 08/15/2016 7:30:33 PM PDT by metmom (...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith...)
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To: metmom

So who has Kerry Walsh seduced? If not me, than who? You cast the first stone, so name names or apologize to Ms. Walsh.


252 posted on 08/15/2016 7:38:41 PM PDT by Panzerfaust
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To: Salvation

and all the butt slapping is unnecessary as well...


253 posted on 08/15/2016 7:51:42 PM PDT by Coleus (For the sake of His sorrowful passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.)
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To: cherry

Well said!


254 posted on 08/15/2016 7:52:14 PM PDT by Goreknowshowtocheat
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To: ObozoMustGo2012

With all the issues going on in the world, the Catholic church needs to weigh in on athletic-wear... >>>

Just because Msgr. Pope’s last name is Pope, that doesn’t mean he was elected Pope by the college of cardinals. He is one of 40,000 priests in the USA giving his opinion.

Oh, and read what Jesus said in Matthew 19 about committing adultery just by thinking about it...

Msgr. Pope is right on target..


255 posted on 08/15/2016 7:58:58 PM PDT by Coleus (For the sake of His sorrowful passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.)
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To: Mrs. Don-o

“You take offense where none is intended.”

And you jump through hoops to defend a bad example.


256 posted on 08/15/2016 8:28:05 PM PDT by csivils
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To: csivils

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2016/08/15/olympians-competing-in-full-muslim-garb-are-far-from-liberated.html

Two points:
1. The Egyptian team got “thumped” according to the article which is a polite way to say they got beat bad. If the author wishes to claim the uniform doesn’t matter, then he should have picked a winning team... say like the Brazilian team.

2. While most athletes have a choice on attire, again to quote the article: “an athlete from a conservative Muslim country wearing the standard beach volleyball attire would be signing their own death warrant.” True modesty should be something willingly chosen by the female, not forced into it under threat of violence. It was a poor choice, especially when there was another team that wore body suits by their own free choice...

Either of those two facts is enough to make the case that it was a poor example to use.


257 posted on 08/15/2016 8:35:48 PM PDT by csivils
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To: ResponseAbility

You are right, they all should dress in burkas.


258 posted on 08/15/2016 8:56:49 PM PDT by isthisnickcool (Say what you will about The Donald, but he has all the right enemies.)
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To: isthisnickcool

They should dress in MODERATION. Get it? MODERATION. Is that concept to hard for you to understand?


259 posted on 08/15/2016 9:12:15 PM PDT by ResponseAbility (The truth of liberalism is the stupid can feel smart, the lazy entitled, and the immoral unashamed)
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To: trisham

no honey

I think I can be a Christian and find women in beach volleyball bikinis hot

That is what I think

A true tempest in a teapot considering what we’re faced with overall

Imagine a wave of bubonic plague infesting our shores and meanwhile some are worried about chiggers

That’s an analogy

Beach volleyball bikinis are the chiggers and Muslims wishing to annihilate us while our president and your pope are out napping is the plague

And please don’t try to convince me it started with beach volleyball bikinis

I would however agree it’s a damned silly Olympic sport


260 posted on 08/15/2016 9:22:21 PM PDT by wardaddy (black lives kill....and kill....and kill.....like no other race today senselessly)
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