Regarding liturgical vestments, from the article:
Catholicism has always surrounded itself with beauty, regarding it as the splendor of truth. In the words of the German priest, professor, and theologian Karl Adam, "Art is native to Catholicism, since reverence for the body and for nature is native to it." The Puritan influence is foreign to Catholicism -- just as the idea that smashing altars, defacing Madonnas, and breaking stained glass as a religious act is foreign, and indeed heretical, to Catholics. The Catholic Church leaves such Talibanism to the Protestants and iconoclastic heresies. The Catholic Church, instead, offers a celebration of beauty; and beauty, in our world of pierced faces, body tattoos, gangsta rap, and concrete tower blocks, is something we could use much more of.
From the Gospel
11 ... the king went in to see the guests: and he saw there a man who had not on a wedding garment. 12 And he saith to him: Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? But he was silent. 13 Then the king said to the waiters: Bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the exterior darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 14 For many are called, but few are chosen. (Matthew 22)
That thief hanging beside Christ upon the Cross was 'saved' without ever entering a church.
Matthew 27:50 Jesus, when He had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the spirit.
51 And, behold, the *VEIL* of the Temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent:
52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the *SAINTS* which slept arose,
53 And came out of the graves after His resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
At death Christ became anybody everybody who would intercessor directly to the Heavenly Father.... HE is the path to salvation and it was to be the churches job to teach this gospel NOT make them self that claimed vehicle to salvation.