Must a priest wear a collar at all times?

johnnyjones · #1 Jun 2, '12, 1:37 pm

Is a Catholic priest obligated to wear a collar during all the times he is active? For example must he wear it at leisurely times such as a ball game? What is the protocol on that.

In a side note I was told priests in Mexico are forbidden from wearing their collar in public. If that's true I was wondering the origin of that ordinance?

ConstantineTG · #2 Jun 2, '12, 1:39 pm

No they are not. I've went on a picnic with our preist and he's wearing what I was wearing. On the other hand I've had coffee with another priest and he's wearing the usual Orthodox priest garb (forgot what its called). And this is at a local restaurant.

CatholicTrekkie · #3 Jun 2, '12, 1:46 pm

No, he does not have to wear it at all times. There have been times when my priest wore regular clothes for parish picnics and such. At some times, for more formal occasions (such as a gala) he does wear the collar.

I think the basic rule is that you wear it when serving in a priestly or liturgical function. The rules are different for priests that are part of an order, and those vary from order to order.

benjammin · #4 Jun 2, '12, 3:25 pm

Not at all times. My priest in college was an avid runner, and it would have been silly to run in that. Usually though he wore it all the time

maryjk · #5 Jun 2, '12, 4:38 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by ConstantineTG

No they are not. I've went on a picnic with our preist and he's wearing what I was wearing. On the other hand I've had coffee with another priest and he's wearing the usual Orthodox priest garb (forgot what its called). And this is at a local restaurant.

I have a picture of my husband and our priest playing volleyball. Both are in shorts and a t-shirt.

We've had lunch with him a couple of times. Sometimes he is wearing his collar and sometimes he isn't. It all depends on where he is coming from and where he is going.

piouswoman · #6 Jun 2, '12, 4:47 pm

He should be wearing it at all times, in my opinion.

**thistle** · #7 Jun 2, '12, 4:48 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by piouswoman

He should be wearing it at all times, in my opinion.

What is permitted by the Church trumps your opinion.

piouswoman · #8 Jun 2, '12, 4:55 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by thistle

What is permitted by the Church trumps your opinion.

That all depends on where the "church" is these days..

**thistle** · #9 Jun 2, '12, 4:58 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by piouswoman

That all depends on where the "church" is these days..

Is that a riddle? What does that mean?

Aelred Minor · #10 Jun 2, '12, 5:07 pm

Ordinarily a priest is required to wear clerical attire, but exceptions are made in certain cases, such as when engaged in physical activities which would make clerical attire impractical.

For example, the Catholic school at which my mother teaches has a priest (not the pastor of the parish, but another priest there) who also is the gym teacher. He's a very "traditional" young priest who ordinarily wears a cassock, but for the gym classes he often wears shorts and a t-shirt.

andrewstx · #11 Jun 2, '12, 5:11 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by ConstantineTG

No they are not. I've went on a picnic with our preist and he's wearing what I was wearing. On the other hand I've had coffee with another priest and he's wearing the usual Orthodox priest garb (forgot what its called). And this is at a local restaurant.

The greek word is Rassa.

surritter · #12 Jun 2, '12, 6:54 pm

A lot of these posts simply say "My priest often doesn't wear one." So what? That doesn't answer the question of what is required.

Somebody help find the actual source (canon law? or a USCCB guideline?) but I believe they (Latin-rite priests) are to be identifiable as priests at all times when in public. The exception is for participating in sports or other obvious times when it might be obtrusive.
I think Aelred Minor said it right; I'm just stumped on the source document.

Aelred Minor · #13 Jun 2, '12, 7:12 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by surritter

A lot of these posts simply say "My priest often doesn't wear one." So what? That doesn't answer the question of what is required.

Somebody help find the actual source (canon law? or a USCCB guideline?) but I believe they (Latin-rite priests) are to be identifiable as priests at all times when in public. The exception is for participating in sports or other obvious times when it might be obtrusive.
I think Aelred Minor said it right; I'm just stumped on the source document.

The Code of Canon Law simply states:

Can. 284 Clerics are to wear suitable ecclesiastical garb according to the norms issued by the conference of bishops and according to legitimate local customs.

http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/_PY.HTM

The norms of the USCCB don't make mention of exceptions as far as I can find.

The best I can find right now is therefore this:

66. Obligation of Ecclesiastical Attire.

In a secularised and materialistic society, where the external signs of sacred and supernatural realities tend to disappear, it is particularly important that the community be able to recognise the priest, man of God and dispenser of his mysteries, by his attire as well, which is an unequivocal sign of his dedication and his identity as a public minister.(211) The priest should be identifiable primarily through his conduct, but also by his manner of dressing, which makes visible to all the faithful, indeed and to all men,(212) his identity and his belonging to God and the Church.

For this reason, the clergy should wear "suitable ecclesiastical dress, in accordance with the norms established by the Episcopal Conference and the legitimate local custom''.(213) This means that the attire, when it is not the cassock, must be different from the manner in which the laity dress, and conform to the dignity and sacredness of his ministry. The style and colour should be established by the Episcopal Conference, always in agreement with the dispositions of the universal law.

Because of their incoherence with the spirit of this discipline, contrary practices cannot be considered legitimate customs; and should be removed by the competent authority.(214)

Outside of entirely exceptional cases, a cleric's failure to use this proper ecclesiastical attire could manifest a weak sense of his identity as one consecrated to God.(215)

http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/co...ectory_en.html

Obviously the emphasis here is on the requirement and the purpose seems to be that of calling priests back to observance of the requirement, but even in that context it does allude to the possibility of "entirely exceptional cases" in which not wearing ecclesiastical attire would seemingly be appropriate.

TimothyH · #14 Jun 2, '12, 7:22 pm

I sometimes wonder if priests nowadays might wear ordinary street clothes for safety reasons.

Our pastor told the story of how he walked into a hospital and upon seeing him exit the elevator, a mother quickly huddled her kids close as if the priest were some kind of rapist or pedophile. He was clearly very hurt by the episode.

I wonder if some priests aren't concerned that some whacko is going to key their car while they are in the grocery store, or spit in their sandwich at the sandwich shop, or much worse. I wouldn't blame them if it was a concern and if it caused some priests in certain areas of the country to think twice about wearing clerical garb in public when they are not official church business.

-Tim-

piouswoman · #15 Jun 2, '12, 7:27 pm

http://wdtprs.com/blog/2011/02/winon...t-hockey-game/