Guitarhero
New Member
My church is not elitist, we save no seats, we are simply obedient to it. One comes to the church through a conversion process. Again, there is no altar call or any such thing in my church so I am beginning to see what the differences are in this discussion between us. I wish other observant catholics/orthodox would chime in. They are often largely silent for fear of being ostracized but it needn't be true nor expected.
From the protestant end with altar calls, people are concerned that a person who was previously outside the church might be turned away. I understand that. I am catholic. With us, all people are welcomed. You could be sitting beside an abortionist and never know it. However, the true Presence of Christ is there and there is a decorum of dress. One cannot enter a buddhist temple dressed provocatively, neither a synagogue. Visitors to a Hindu wedding are instructed to cover up appropriately. Over-exposure is a no-no and should be respected. One might be asked to leave at an orthodox or Coptic church although most will just look twice and then smile and treat you kindly. But, it's akin to walking in naked.
I believe that our traditions are more in line with our middle-eastern origins and cultural climate, hence the modesty (we used to be required to wear mantillas for respect much like the orthodox synagogue). Well, like I explained before, a priest or two have gently given word in their homilies on abiding by modest dress in order to not be a stumbling block to another. Humans are so complex, we do cause others to sin. We need to be careful of that because G-d will hold us accountable. We can cause our kids to develop anger problems by frustrating them, so we're off the hook in our dress to cause lust in another? No. It's evident in scripture. But I do comprehend the take that no one should be turned away because they are not appropriately dressed. They are not. That does not let us off the hook to be decent and respectful and respect the gentle rebuke of the priests. Most of the guilty are members, not the "lost" looking for salvation who just happened to wonder in.
Most are teens or younger 20-somethings looking for attention and they are consistent with showing too much flesh, weekly. 
What about Jesus at that altar? Him...just Him? We have more respect for a president or a senator than for Him.But if one were in Iraq or Armenia etc., it would be a different story and someone might ask you to make things right before entering the sanctuary. It's not hatred against women, it applies to men as well. Remember, the Temple in Israel only allowed women in the outer court.
There are reasons for that but it's decorum and the first example given.
But just as one would not wear a tee-shirt with the ***-bomb on it into the church, others should be careful to respect the holy Presence of the L-rd. We have Him in Spirit and in physical Body, right there in the tabernacle or the "ark."
I think that things are returning more in line with the past in certain aspects and that might be a good thing. Thing is, we do have instruction, from the priests, from the catechism, from the scriptures. People are so lost with some of the fashions of today, they either don't realize it or don't care. Of course, I agree, we worship. I do. But we are a unified community. It's Our Father, not me, mine and only I to the Father.
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not at all. The ones you may be speaking of have 'virtue', priced far above rubies. 
These extremes have been witnessed and on a regular basis. Funny enough, the dress code for visiting sacred places in other catholic countries means no tanks or shoulderlessness. It's a major sign of disrepect. Save your clubbing clothing for the .....CLUB.
Again, we don't have these emotional outburts of repentance and whatnot. It's from birth with the family and we're highly ordered. Our mass here is the exact same mass in Papua New Guinea, Rome or the North Pole. Cultures may differ, songs may differ, but the words of the mass, the prayers, the substance is the exact same, ordered and united based upon church law. Even drug addicts and prostitutes who come back to the church...dress appropriately. I hope to continue to refer to the specific examples I provided for what's happening on our end. I cannot believe anyone would find it respectful. You don't wear Jesse J's bodysuit to church...although I know someone who did, minus the holes, though.
Just sharing... a thought ;yep:
Hugs to you, hubby and family... 
