Posted on 09/05/2011 6:12:17 AM PDT by marshmallow
Americans getting more casual in what they wear to church.
Deacon Greg Kandra was well aware that modern Americans were getting more casual and that these laid-back attitudes were filtering into Catholic pews.
Still, was that woman who was approaching the altar to receive Holy Communion really wearing a Hooters shirt?
Yes, she was.
When did Catholics, he thought to himself, start coming to Mass dressed for a Britney Spears concert? Had he missed a memo or something?
"Somewhere along the way, we went from neckties to tank tops, and from fasting to fast food. And it's getting worse," noted Kandra, a former CBS News writer with 26 years, two Emmys and two Peabody Awards to his credit. He is now a deacon assigned to Our Lady Queen of Martyrs, a 3,000-member parish in Forest Hills, just north of New York City.
"I recently had to tell a couple that no, they could not have their Chihuahua in a tuxedo as part of their wedding party,"he added, in a Patheos.com commentary. "An auxiliary bishop in Indianapolis recently complained about people who tweet during funerals. Casual Catholics, it seems, have taken 'casual' to a new level."
After the Hooters incident, he decided it was time to stop whining about the rising tide of irreverence and immodesty and to start griping about it right out in the open. Thus, Kandra and the parish's other clergy have resorted to appealing — in the parish bulletin and in public remarks — for a hint of sanity or even some old-fashioned decorum.
One bulletin item proclaimed, with a gag headline: "PLANS FOR PARISH SWIMMING POOL SCRAPPED! After much study, our finance committee has determined it would not be feasible to construct an indoor swimming pool in our church. ... As a result, we can now announce.........
(Excerpt) Read more at seattletimes.nwsource.com ...
In the summer I wear shorts and a polo shirt just about every day. The shorts are pleated khakis and look just fine - fine enough for Mass.
The church I attend is always packed to the rafters and hot to boot. Wearing long pants and a long sleeve shirt would cause me to break into a sweat the likes of which you’d not believe. No way am I subjecting my fellow church goers to that nor am I interested in suffering a heavy sweat.
Attend church in Bermuda and you’ll see most of the men wearing shorts.
Where is the contradiction between “clothes are important” and “societal norms change”?
I remember sitting in church (UCC), one Sunday, and the young man in front of us had on, if I remember correctly, a Black Sabbath t-shirt though it could have been something equally as inappropriate from my viewpoint. I figured his Mother was just glad she got him there no matter what he was wearing. I can’t imagine that she didn’t notice what he was wearing, well then again maybe she didn’t notice until it was too late for him to change his shirt, but thought it wasn’t too late for him to change his soul.
Of course, unlike the Catholics, this group doesnt’t go up in front of the minister to take communion, the bread is blessed and broken into baskets passed around and the grape is blessed and poured into tiny little glasses, which probably have a special name which I don’t know, and then the Deacons pass it among the congregation sitting in the pews, then our Lord’s words are spoke in remembrance and all partake at the same moment. There are even holders on the back of the pews to place your tiny glass for collection when the service is over. So no one, including the minister, except those sitting near someone in an inappropriate t-shirt would have noticed.
TTIUWP. How do you expect the jury to determine guilt or innocence without pictures?
I’d say a woman that dresses like that in church probably isn’t a mature Christian. Doesn’t mean she doesn’t need salvation or cannot change.
Would Jesus speak to women dressed like a prostitutes?
Wait ..... He spoke to actual prostitutes didn’t he?
“No. I’m asking if the woman who dresses like a prostitute would humble herself to ruin her hair by drying Jesus’ feet.”
No less a woman who actually was a prostitute?
Luke 7: 37-38
A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. 38 As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.
What did Jesus think about this prostitute?
Luke 7: 44-48
44 Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” 48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
IF YOU CHANGE YOUR SHIRT, FIRST! (I added that part)
wow just wow
Back around 1985/86, Hank Williams Jr played the Missouri State Fair on a Saturday night as part of his “Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound” tour. As is customary, the concert T-shirt featured the name boldly.
The next day at 0700 Mass there were 2 young ladies proudly wearing their concert T-shirts with that message.
Touching.
Wow? It shouldn’t need to be said. At one time, we were taught to behave this way.
No, you are right about it not being all the clergy’s fault as well. Although I have a hard time imagining another result after the failings of the last 60+ years.
I would be suprised if folks really were mystified that vulgar messages or logos associated with certain delicious wing joints might not be the way to go as far as Mass attire. I do think some of the chicks dressing up might be a cultural thing or something. At the confirmation Mass we had in spring we had a lot of latino young ladies who looked like they were going to a club right after Mass, and maybe they were.
Freegards
Back around 1985/86, Hank Williams Jr played the Missouri State Fair on a Saturday night as part of his “Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound” tour. As is customary, the concert T-shirt featured the name boldly.
The next day at 0700 Mass there were 2 young ladies proudly wearing their concert T-shirts with that message.
Touching.
Much appreciated Cronos.
svcw, my point is that if one can wear business casual to work or a suit to a job interview because they feel it is important then they should show the same or greater concern for how they are dressed when worshiping their Savior.
I see people texting during Mass. I saw a kid answer his phone and during the homily.
’ HELLO? HELLO? ‘ he yelled while running down the center aisle towards the door.
If you are to be a person of faith. I think some measure of propriety should be observed.
The matters in-between are definitely "open", but there is a line that was crossed here.
Specifically about what women wear -- ok, I know St. Paul points out specifically what is needed and outside Orthodox Churches most women don't follow that -- but some do go to the other extreme, a bad extreme of shorts and low decolletage.
A woman/man wearing a t-shirt and jeans -- ok, but a woman wearing a hooters/play* t-shirt and a guy in those gangsta drop-jeans is just disrespectful to God.
The matters in-between are definitely "open", but there is a line that was crossed here.
Specifically about what women wear -- ok, I know St. Paul points out specifically what is needed and outside Orthodox Churches most women don't follow that -- but some do go to the other extreme, a bad extreme of shorts and low decolletage.
A woman/man wearing a t-shirt and jeans -- ok, but a woman wearing a hooters/play* t-shirt and a guy in those gangsta drop-jeans is just disrespectful to God.
There was one earlier.
Given the forum, a moderator must have seen fit to have it pulled.
Very interesting debate.
>>No less a woman who actually was a prostitute?
>>Luke 7: 37-38
>>What did Jesus think about this prostitute?
>>Luke 7: 44-48
>>IF YOU CHANGE YOUR SHIRT, FIRST! (I added that part)
Wow. You took my entire post so out of content that I’m just amazed! Or you made my point. If its the latter, then thank you.
My point was that these women who dress provacatively in our churches today are NOT prostitutes. They are also not humble, as the prostitute in this story was. It isn’t about their shirts. It is about their vanity and selfishness and lack of concern for those around them.
A man who comes to church openly and frequently expressing a common masculine trait, aggression, will be asked quickly to stop it or leave. But a woman who does the same with a common feminine trait cannot be corrected. This is because our culture has demanded that men be feminized, while women are expected to be over-sexualized. A church that molds itself to the culture is doomed.
You may have something here. I think it all boils down to a matter of respect on the part of the parishioners -- something that doesn't seem to be taught these days. Nobody's saying that you have to show up in an Armani suit and $300 shoes - just show some respect and use common sense.
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