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Msgr. Charles Pope Addresses Scandalous Clothing!

Does How We Dress Affect How We Worship?

Picture taken in 1969 at St. John the Evangelist Parish in Canton, Massachusetts

Msgr. Charles Pope gives us some background issues and principles before he gives us his dress code.

1. Scripture – There is very little in Scripture that seems to spell out the proper way to dress for sacred worship. There is the general directive to Adore the Lord in holy attire (Psalm 96:9; Ps 29:2)

2. Church norms and rules – There are no official and specific Church norms or requirement for lay persons who attend Mass mentioned in Canon Law or the Sacramentary. Surely for priests and other clergy there are many rules and norms but I am unaware of any currently binding norms for the laity. Although the veils were once required for women, the 1917 Code of Canon Law was abrogated and the current code is silent on any requirement.

3. Hence it seems that Culture supplies most of the norms regarding what is considered appropriate attire for Church. And, alas our culture is currently quite unhelpful to us in this regard. Here in America we have become extremely casual about the way we dress for just about everything. It seems we almost never dress up anymore. This has changed somewhat dramatically in my own life time of just less than 50 years. “Sneakers” or “tennis shoes” as we called them were for sports or running around and playing in the neighborhood. But we would never even think of wearing them to school and certainly not to Church. I remember having a special set of shoes just for church. In the 1960s, it was also expected that I would go to Church in formal, pressed trousers, a button down shirt, and, except in the hottest months, a tie and even a suit jacket in winter. My sister and mother always wore a dress. Pants would not even have been considered for them. For the younger girls a skirt and a blouse might be OK but preferably a dress with a hat or veil.

But things changed dramatically around 1970. The photo above right was taken in 1969 at St. John the Evangelist Parish in Canton, Massachusetts. It was the end of an era. Within five years neckties were lost and jeans and a t-shirts came to be the norm. Most of the women as we discussed lost the veil, and dresses gave way to more casual pants suits and then also to other more casual things like jeans etc. Shorts for men and women, unthinkable in previous years also began to appear in church as did tank tops and other beach attire. Within ten years the culture of dressing up for Church was almost wholly abandoned. Now  wearing a tie to Church would seem stuffy and formal.

4. Hence at the cost of seeming old and stuffy I might like to suggest a few norms and I hope you’ll supply your own as well:

1. Men should wear formal shoes to Church. We used to call these hard shoes (because they were) but today many formal shoes are actually quite comfortable.
2. Men should wear trousers (not jeans).
3. Men should never wear shorts to Church.
4. Men should wear a decent shirt, preferably a button down shirt. If it is a pullover shirt it should include a collar. Wearing a plain t-shirt without a collar is too informal.
5. Men should consider wearing a tie to Church and in cooler weather, a suit coat. Some may consider this a bit too stuffy and formal but who knows, you might be a trend setter!
6. Now as I talk about women I know I’ll get in some trouble!
7. Women should wear decent shoes to Church. Flip flops, beach sandals etc. seem inappropriate.
8. Women should not wear shorts to Church.
9. Women, if they wear pants, should never wear jeans to Church. Some nice slacks that are not too tight can be fine.
10. Women should consider wearing a dress or at least a skirt in preference to pants. It just looks a bit more formal than pants.
11. Women should wear a nice blouse (if they are not wearing a full dress). The blouse or shirt they wear should not be too tight.
12. Sleeveless garments are pushing it a bit but can be acceptable.
13. Women should never wear tank tops, tube tops, spaghetti straps, or bare midriffs to Church.  Editor’s Note: How about adding low-cut or tight shirts and blouses.
14. Well, you may have at this list. Add or subtract as you will.

A final thought: Clothes say something about what we think, what we value. They also influence how we behave and feel. That our culture has become so casual about everything says something about us. I cannot exactly articulate it but it seems to say, “nothing is really all that important.” But that is not true. Going to God’s house IS  important. Being ministered to by the King of Kings and Lord of Lords is astounding. Casual attire in these circumstances is simply inappropriate if we really think about what we are doing, where we are going and who it is we will meet. It does not necessarily follow that we must wear tuxedos and formal gowns. But decent semi-formal attire seems wholly appropriate. Sunday is special, God’s House is special. Somethings really ARE important and our clothing and demeanor ought to reflect this truth.

Edited for length.  Full article here:

Sound off!  What do you think?

Mass Attendance Dress Code – Msgr. Charles Pope « Courageous Priest

I have a semi-formal comming up although it just changed to a semi today and I already had my dress made. It’s not completely formal but they suggested a nice top and dress pants or a nice casual dress. How could I make a short satin dress apropriate for semi?

How can you make a Satin Dress look more casual?

alright i have an idea of what im going to wear but im not sure how it will look..1. black dress pants.2.black long sleeve plain collar shit.now i was wondering if a sweatervest and and a tie would look good.. and what colorsim a darkish tan complexion thanks.

Senior interview dress up fashion mens.?

Without going into too much detail about my new job (I think it’s going to be great, though!!), I have a few things to say about my first day of work:

#1 – When I got there, the very first thing to happen to me was that I went to go in through the main door, and the door, as I was entering, CLOSED ON ME. The person who mans the front desk had to GET UP and SAVE me from the door as I stood, dressed in some super nice dress pants and heels, squished between door frame and extremely heavy door. I distinctly remember saying, “What is going ON right now?” while being rescued, and he was all, “Uh, the door closed on you.”

#2 – While being introduced to everyone, I shook one girl’s hand so hard that her coffee FLEW out of her (non-shaking) hand and all over some paperwork she had prepared for a meeting that she was headed to (omg)

And also her clothing. I might as well have purposely dumped a coffee all over her as a form of greeting instead of bothering with the formalities of a handshake. Because that is how things ended up anyway.

#3 – I got a parking ticket. I discovered this when I went to move my car into the staff parking area so that I didn’t

My Life is Awkward