Friday, June 29, 2007

Manila Archdiocese in the Philippines Issues Dress Code

Now why can't the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops do this?
In a circular sent to parish priests on Sunday, Father Godwin Tatlonghari, assistant minister of the Archdiocese of Manila's Ministry of Liturgical Affairs, said a new dress code was being imposed following complaints from worshippers that the slack dress sense of some was proving to be disturbing.

Male Catholics should wear "long-sleeved polo shirts, collared shirts, or t-shirts paired with either slacks or jeans", the circular directed, advising against wearing caps, basketball jerseys, tank tops, and shorts to church.


Women were told to stick to dresses, long gowns, or collared blouses as against spaghetti-strap tops, tank tops, short skirts, skimpy shorts and sleeveless shirts with plunging necklines, the MLA stipulated.

This should be common sense but unfortunately too many Catholics wear attire more suited for the beach or worse a nightclub to Mass.

If I were in charge of writing up the guidelines, I would personally consider a nice pair of khaki shorts to be more appropriate than jeans, and I don't have any problem with women wearing modestly cut pants or sleeveless dresses/tops with a modest neckline. But that's quibbling. The important thing is that the Manila archdiocese is actually taking a stand on the issue, and I applaud them for doing so!

[HT: Pattie Curran on the 4Real Learning Yahoo group]

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