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The Church of England has joined the war on plastic as vicars buy cassocks made from recycled bottles. A clerical clothing manufacturer has launched the first-ever plastic cassock in a bid to make priestly clothing more eco-friendly. Butler & Butler has begun selling a men's cassock made from 100 per cent recycled polyester made from reclaimed PET bottles. The company, which specialises in fair trade and organic clerical outfits, first began selling the clothing a fortnight ago and Mr Butler says it has been popular with ethically-minded clergy. Director of the company the Rev Simon Butler said it had come...

Tridentine Community News (June 19, 2011):[Today’s column is an update of our June 25, 2006 edition.] If you have been attending the Tridentine Mass for a while, you have surely noticed that a greater variety of vestments is used than is typically seen at a Novus Ordo Mass. Today we will examine what they are, as well as their symbolism.The base garment that a priest wears is the black cassock, or robe. This is the same type of robe that altar servers wear. Over the shoulders of the cassock, a priest wears an amice, a white hood-like garment that symbolizes...

The Soutane which is required as clerical attire in the Church law books, shows itself to be ever a career killer. (kreuz.net)"I have decided for several years now to almost exclusively wear the Soutane." Father Hendrick Jolie said this for the most recent interview of the Catholic monthly magazine 'Kirchliche Umschau'. The Soutane is is in the eyes of the clergyman an acceptable and practical possibility, it makes the clergyman stand out in public: "The Priest is not >>better<<. but most probably he's, >>other<<' -- he explains.

Editor: We found this in the German Paper, Katolisches.info and it's about an article translated from the Italian into German. Well, you guessed right, a Communist Daily in Italy is supporting Clerics. Better count your fingers before you shake that hand.

Editor: The Soutane is a prayer. An outer sign of the inner decay of the PresbyteriumFather Hendrick Jole in Interview: The Soutane is the sure sign of the avant-garde of the new clergy. [kreuz.net] "I decided some years ago to wear the soutane," says the Mainz Priest, Father Hendrick Jolie, on Monday in an interview with Linz website, 'kath.net'.Father Jolie sees the priestly robe in connection with Benedict XVI's approach to the "hermeneutic of continuity":"The Pope maintains with this formula that there are not "two Churches" -- one before and one after the Council, rather one Roman Catholic Church."

TOULON, France (Reuters) - The French law meant to banish Muslim headscarves from state schools is finding unexpected targets in southern France, where some principals have begun turning away Roman Catholic chaplains. Five priests have been barred from state schools in the Var region despite the fact that French law has long allowed them entry to meet Catholic pupils there, according to the local diocesan spokesman Father Charles Mallard. One school in this Mediterranean port city barred a priest this week because he was wearing a cassock, the traditional black robe he wore last year without problem before the new...