CATHOLIC MORAL DRESS CODE

There are many different ways in which we can sin or cause others to sin such as: our words, actions, neglects and immorality; however, in this day and age the most frequent way we cause ourselves to sin is by our immorality by being immodestly dressed.

Sexual self-consciousness, shame and the covering up of the body follow the Fall in the Garden of Eden (Gn 2:25; 3:7; 3:10-11). The wisdom of biblical literature warns against the snares of feminine shamelessness (Prov.2:16;5:3; 7:5-27). In the New Testament modesty in looks, words and general behavior is inculcated (Matt. 5:28; Eph. 5:3-20; 2 Peter 2:14). General sexual modesty - "a gentle and quiet spirit" - sshould characterize the Christian woman (1 Tim. 2:9-12; 1 Peter 3:1-6)

Saint Thomas treated modesty (pudicitia) as a part of chastity, not a distinct virtue from it. All kinds of things could be and were considered in St. Thomas' context - words, looks, touches, embraces, kisses, fantasies, the nude in art, dress, reading, bathing, dancing, theatrical shows in recent times, movies and television shows (Before Vatican II, each year we had to stand up in Church and Make a vow to God not to go to indecent movies which consisted of anything that was on the Banned List at the back of the Church which would now be ratings such as PG, R, X, XX, XXX. Are these vows being made in any Church now?)

There is a saying that in proportion to the amount of flesh mortal sin seems to increase. This being the case, one would assume that at least our Catholic women and girls would have the good sense to ALWAYS wear clothes that tend to conceal, rather than reveal or call attention to the body. This moral dress code should be Universal, just as our Church is Universal or Catholic. There should be no excuse for moral dress codes being different just because a person lives in a different country; either a person is dressed decently or he is not! True Roman Catholics should wear decent clothes that would show they are conscious to the fact their bodies are "temples of the Holy Ghost".

Women often deny that their semi-nude attire is the source of numerous and serious temptations to the opposite sex. Some reject any responsibility for leading others into sin. Others try to cover their own guilt by such statements as: "He must have a dirty mind. Scanty attire in men doesn't affect me at all. Why should men be tempted by the scanty attire of women?" When a woman is dressed immodestly, she becomes the temptress for men. Remember Our Lord's words to men who fall prey to such allurements: "Whoever shall look on a woman to lust after her hath already committed adultery with her in his heart." (Matt. 5:28) Indirectly, immodest woman are included in this indictment, being cooperators with the sins of men. God has made woman beautiful and attractive to men so as to fit with His plan for procreation in lawful wedlock. As a result of Original sin, mankind must constantly struggle to regulate this attraction. Unless both men and women fortify themselves by prayer, sin quickly enters their immortal souls.

Many women will say they wear the modern fashions because they are more comfortable, and the weather is hot (Remember, it is very hot in Hell). This brings us to the area of sports. Regretably, all too many sports are taboo for us Catholics, not that they are in themselves a sin or a near occasion of sin, but because of the skimpy attire that such sports "require". Think of these sports and the clothes people usually wear when playing the following sports or activities: swimming, baton twirling, tennis, basketball, dancing (disco dancing and little girls who take dancing lessons) and gymnastics. Let us tak swimming for an example, since people usually wear less clothes when swimming than any other sport. Swimsuits have no sleeves, have very low necklines, no coverings for the legs and usually has the whole back exposed. When we think of the saying, "in proportion to the amount of flesh exposed mortal sin seems to increase", shouldn't we avoid the bathing suits like the plaque? Do you think this suggestion is crazy? You say yes, then let us ask another question. Do you prefer to have the mortal sin of immodesty on your soul and the untold number of mortal sins of your being a temptress or tempter and causing others to sin?

One might say that our little girls can't do anything. You are wrong, because, if you modify the costumes and attire that the girls wear, in most cases they can still participate if you are Catholic enough to stand up for the proper moral dress code. In addition to the modifications, our girls can go bicycle riding and horse back riding if they have a full skirt and the skirt reaches at least to the middle of the calf; and, of course, skating can be done in a skirt. Our girls should be pursuing lady-like activities and hobbies which will prepare them for marriage and their proper role as mother and wife. They should be learning to sew, embroider, knit, crochet, cook, make rosaries, sing good Catholic songs and other decent, patriotic songs, play musical instruments (we'll need an organ player eventually for our chapel), paint and draw. Above all they should be learning to talk, dress, sit, walk, stand, kneel, stoop and act like a lady at all times. Our girls have many options open to them, if they will only pursue them in a moral decent manner.

Our Sorrowful and Immaculate Mother, whom God has presented to us as the Perfect Model of Modesty and Purity, is being terribly saddened by the immodest and the impure. However, it has not all happened by accident. Satan planned it this way. As he has done with such evil movements as Feemasonry, Atheistic Communism, Socialism, Modernism and Liberalism, so also has he planned out a program of gradual, not sudden, destruction of the sense of modesty and purity. A mere look at the past 50 years or more shows us very plainly how gradually it was all done, first by apparently innocent abbreviations of garments and by slight revelations of bare flesh and by subtle little displays of the figure, and then, as protests died down, by more and more abbreviations and displays until the crude immodesty of our day became a shocking reality.

Many living today have seen it all happen before their very eyes. They have lived through it and, if they have managed to retain their God-given moral sense, they find the barbarian immodesty of this day intolerable and they look upon it as a sin crying to Heaven for the vengeance that must inevitably come if sinners continue to refuse to amend their ways.

Several Popes have spoken out with authority on the subject of modesty. Pope Benedict XV (1914-1922) and his two successors, Popes Pius XI and Pius XII, have promoted modesty in dress. These are a few words of Pope Benedict XV: "One cannot sufficiently deplore the blindess of so many women of every age and station. Made foolish by a desire to please, they do not see to what degree the indecency of their clothing shocks every honest man and offends God. Most of them would formerly have blushed for such apparel as for a grave fault aginst Christian modesty. Now it does not suffice to exhibit themselves on public thoroughfares; they do not fear to cross the threshold of churches, to assist at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and even to bear the seducing food of shameful passions to the Holy Altar, where one receives the Heavenly Author of Purity."

It is necessary for us to promote standards of attire for Catholic women and girls, standards such as Pope Pius XI had in mind when he said: "A dress cannot be decent which is cut deeper than two fingers breath under the pit of the throat; which does not cover the arms at least to the elbows; and scarecely reaches a bit beyond the knees. Furthermore, dresses of transparent materials are improper." Ladies, men, girls and boys should always wear underwear and no beige material (it leaves the impression at a distance of having no clothes). If a skirt is snug, it should reach well below the knees; no shorts, no bathing suits, and no pants (for females).

Christ's words are very clear. His teachings about wearing about wearing apparel leave no doubt as to what He meant ("A woman shall not be clothed with man's apparel neither shall a man use woman's apparel: for he that doeth these things is abominable before God.") If Christ said that the sexes should not wear each others clothes and they understood Him, it stands to reason that there was a distinct difference in the men and women's clothes. If the people of Jeus' day could tell a distinction in the clothes, how much more so can we tell a distinction in the pants and dresses of the men and women of today? Many people lament the terrible state of immorality that is prevalent in our society, wondering what can be done about it. Among other things such as praying the rosary daily and reading the Holy Bible and the lives of the saints we can promote modesty by burning bathing suits and shorts and converting pants into decent skirts. Let us always keep in mind that the ultimate success is gaining heaven and nothing else really matters.