Letters

Dress code (letter)

Raymond de Souza

Contents - Apr 2001 - Buy a copy now Editorial: 'If Christ is not risen, then your faith is in vain' - Peter Westmore John Paul II Institute for Marriage and Family to open in July 2001 - AD2000 Report News: The Church Around the World Former Townsville Bishop's admissions on liturgy practices - Bishop Raymond Benjamin Is Townsville the model for Ballarat's priest shortage? - Michael Gilchrist Archbishop Curtiss on implementing the theology 'mandatum' - Archbishop Elden Curtiss US parishioners more outspoken about church "renovations" - Zenit News Service Thomas More Centre Summer School 2001: "Building a Culture of Life" - Michael Daniel How to avoid banal, superficial liturgies - Bishop Kevin Manning Rights of unborn are inalienable - Archbishop Barry J. Hickey Tanzania's Father Winfried makes return visit to Australia - Martin Sheehan Letters: Melbourne RE texts (letter) - Barbara Chigwidden Letters: Sponsorship (letter) - Barry O'Brien Letters: Legal action (letter) - Chris Joseph Letters: Inaccuracy (letter) - Fr Michael Kalka PP Letters: Ambiguities (letter) - Valentine Gallagher Letters: ACU Syllabus (letter) - John Kelly Letters: Stations of the Cross (letter) - Charles Bignold Letters: Good responses (letter) - Hyacinth Morel Letters: Dress code (letter) - Raymond de Souza Review Article: A 'silly book' from ACU professor of theology - Frank Mobbs Books: Keeping The Faith: Making a Difference by Wilson D. Miscamble - Michael Daniel (reviewer) JESUS - Jubilee Edition Video - Johanna O'Farrell (reviewer) Books: 'Contraception: The Hidden Truth' by Christine de Stoop - Katie Forster (reviewer) Books: The Apostles' Creed, Defend the Faith and other apologetics topics - Michael Daniel (reviewer) Books: 'The Atonement Child' by Francine Rivers - Mary-Jane Donnellan (reviewer) Books: The Seven Cities of the Apocalypse, by Roland J. Worth - Michael Daniel (reviewer) Reflection: Giving witness to the Gospel of Life - Rebecca van Rensburg

The Perth Cathedral parish bulletin published this week a very interesting announcement about the Australian-Irish Heritage Association of WA holding their annual service of thanksgiving at the Perth Synagogue.

Probably aware of the ways in which many Catholics dress to attend Mass on Sundays, the writer of the announcement added a very diplomatic paragraph on the required dress code for the Synagogue.

It read: "Please note that men should have their heads covered (skull caps will be available at the Synagogue at a nominal cost) and appropriate dress for women could include a skirt which falls below the knee and a top with sleeves. Shorts should not be worn".

It was very diplomatic, yet very firm, allowing it to be read between the lines that anyone dressed in an inappropriate manner - let alone immodestly - would not be allowed in.

While I congratulate the Jewish organisers of the event for not succumbing to the temptation of human respect, and standing by their dress code - Catholic visitors could take it or leave it - I wonder about the magnitude of the furore that any parish priest would cause if he dared suggest a similar dress code for his parishioners!

Can you imagine the reaction of some - if not many - churchgoers if the parish bulletin had dared suggest something like the Jewish dress code mentioned above, adapted of course to Catholic worship?

Moreover, it would be seen as sheer madness if the parish priest - a sure candidate for martyrdom - were to announce: "Please note that women should have their heads covered. Veils will be available at the church porch at a nominal cost."

Perhaps, just perhaps, at the beginning of the third millennium, we could learn from the Jews a few hints about how to dress in church, and do away with the T-shirts, bermudas, mini-skirts, tight pants, shorts, and the like.

Modesty and chastity are still listed as virtues in the Catechism, just in case someone may have forgotten.

So, thumbs up for the Jewish dress code and, above all, to their courage in standing up for their principles of respect in a house of prayer.

RAYMOND DE SOUZA
Perth, WA

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 14 No 3 (April 2001), p. 14