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		<title>Readers weigh in on Mass dress code issue</title>
		<description>Discuss Readers weigh in on Mass dress code issue</description>
		<link>http://www.catholicnews.sg/index.php?option=com_content&amp;view=article&amp;id=5570:readers-weigh-in-on-mass-dress-code-issue&amp;catid=263:february-13-2011-vol-61-no-3&amp;Itemid=79</link>
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			<title>Comments Closed for this topic</title>
			<link>http://www.catholicnews.sg/index.php?option=com_content&amp;view=article&amp;id=5570:readers-weigh-in-on-mass-dress-code-issue&amp;catid=263:february-13-2011-vol-61-no-3&amp;Itemid=79#comment-739</link>
			<description><![CDATA[We are concluding this topic with the latest announcement from Church of St Anthony's Church: "St Anthony's stops implementing dress code" published in the CatholicNews, (26th February 2012, issue No. 4, page 8). We would like to thank our readers and all who have contributed to this discussion.]]></description>
			<dc:creator>Webmaster</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Thu, 16 Feb 2012 11:17:59 +0800</pubDate>
			<guid>http://www.catholicnews.sg/index.php?option=com_content&amp;view=article&amp;id=5570:readers-weigh-in-on-mass-dress-code-issue&amp;catid=263:february-13-2011-vol-61-no-3&amp;Itemid=79#comment-739</guid>
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			<title>Ref Article 912 post</title>
			<link>http://www.catholicnews.sg/index.php?option=com_content&amp;view=article&amp;id=5570:readers-weigh-in-on-mass-dress-code-issue&amp;catid=263:february-13-2011-vol-61-no-3&amp;Itemid=79#comment-736</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Dear all, First allow me to correct a typo in my earlier post. The word "wittingly" should have been "unwittingly". I am sorry because the former suggests something negative and that is not what I meant to convey. The parish only had the best intentions when it mooted the idea of enforcing the dress code. I personally had my reservations but if we stop and look at the bigger picture, isn't it about time someone said and did something about it? This whole episode has had a tremendous effect on many people. Ultimately, it is about the reverence for God! My take on article 912 is my personal understanding of it. I am no expert on Canon Law, and unless one is, we should refrain on making judgement calls on what we think is right. Another sad thing which has transpired is the unwarranted attacks on Fr. Terence. I think it is uncalled for and totally out of line. It is ok to disagree but to publicly attack our priest, that is another thing. So, we should check ourselves. Anyone who knows Fr. Terence will realise that he is a very direct person and not one for many words. It must not be construed as being arrogant. He is definitely not. That is why the decision to publish personal correspondence between him and someone else is something very sad and unfortunate. It created a situation where the door was opened to attack him. I pray that this matter be resolved but more importantly, I pray that this matter arouses our spirit to take the serious matter of reverence for Our God into our respective parishes. Maybe, it's not a bad thing after all? I applaud my parish for being brave to raise the awareness of other fellow Catholics on this very serious matter of reverence for God. I stand behind my parish priest too. I also pray for reconciliation and forgiveness. God bless. Raymund Francis]]></description>
			<dc:creator>Raymund Francis</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Tue, 14 Feb 2012 21:43:16 +0800</pubDate>
			<guid>http://www.catholicnews.sg/index.php?option=com_content&amp;view=article&amp;id=5570:readers-weigh-in-on-mass-dress-code-issue&amp;catid=263:february-13-2011-vol-61-no-3&amp;Itemid=79#comment-736</guid>
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			<title>RE: Readers weigh in on Mass dress code issue</title>
			<link>http://www.catholicnews.sg/index.php?option=com_content&amp;view=article&amp;id=5570:readers-weigh-in-on-mass-dress-code-issue&amp;catid=263:february-13-2011-vol-61-no-3&amp;Itemid=79#comment-735</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Simon, you do sound most authoritative and highhanded. It will be most disturbing if you happen to be another warden "serving the church". I would imagine you bsare another warden, you probably would have bolting the church doors and keeping salvation to your goodself. Pray you are not sitting on any parish council. I would certainly think I have arrived at the wrong church founded by Jesus Christ. Hope the devil has not gotten into you though you sound so righteous]]></description>
			<dc:creator>lawrence ho</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Tue, 14 Feb 2012 18:32:35 +0800</pubDate>
			<guid>http://www.catholicnews.sg/index.php?option=com_content&amp;view=article&amp;id=5570:readers-weigh-in-on-mass-dress-code-issue&amp;catid=263:february-13-2011-vol-61-no-3&amp;Itemid=79#comment-735</guid>
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			<title>RE: Readers weigh in on Mass dress code issue</title>
			<link>http://www.catholicnews.sg/index.php?option=com_content&amp;view=article&amp;id=5570:readers-weigh-in-on-mass-dress-code-issue&amp;catid=263:february-13-2011-vol-61-no-3&amp;Itemid=79#comment-734</link>
			<description><![CDATA[The guidelines on dressing has been printed in the parish's bulletin for many weeks now. Regardless of what the rationales were for making the distinction that the Parish Pastoral Council and Priests did, the parish has made its determination on what it feels, in its context, is approrpiate attire for Holy Mass. If dressing otherwise is determined to cause offense to your brothers and sisters, why insist on your right to wear whatever you feel is appropriate (unless it is for a medical reason)? If the guidelines are not appropriate, the parishoners can bring the matter up to the Priests and Council - that is their right - and the Priests and Parish Council should consider the matter carefully. But as long as the guidelines are in place, if you choose to wear what is considered offensive and is shown the door, I can only say, you deserved it. In such a case, no one denied you Holy Communion; you had been denied entry into church and hence logically cannot receive Holy Communion. I don't think Canon 912 applies in the matter where someone is not allowed to enter a church.]]></description>
			<dc:creator>Simon</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Mon, 13 Feb 2012 21:56:07 +0800</pubDate>
			<guid>http://www.catholicnews.sg/index.php?option=com_content&amp;view=article&amp;id=5570:readers-weigh-in-on-mass-dress-code-issue&amp;catid=263:february-13-2011-vol-61-no-3&amp;Itemid=79#comment-734</guid>
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			<title>RE: Readers weigh in on Mass dress code issue</title>
			<link>http://www.catholicnews.sg/index.php?option=com_content&amp;view=article&amp;id=5570:readers-weigh-in-on-mass-dress-code-issue&amp;catid=263:february-13-2011-vol-61-no-3&amp;Itemid=79#comment-733</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Indeed, this matter has been overblown to an argument about what to wear or not to wear in church. Let us not detrack from the real issue in this case - the church needs to preach humility and have it practised especially by those who speak from the pulpit. How many also would likely agree that some wardens actually behave like they have the mandate from God and alienate parishioners with their own interpretation of what is right and wring behaviours/dressing. Putting the warden sash and tie seems to transfer arrogance to them...they forget they are in church to serve God. I know the priest is most glad to have the support of wardens around him but remember, every caring church goer is as valuable. Be conscious of those wardens who are hurting the church. He should realise why some fail to come forth and render any official service often because those holding such appointments are just plain ugly in their conduct and motive. Sadly to say, Fr Terence's behaviour reflected poorly on his leadership and lack of EQ. He should know what to do next - and win back respect not only for himself but for his other fellow priests. Maybe he can learn a lesson or two from his precedessor who has held the helm at St Anthony since the days at ulu Mandai]]></description>
			<dc:creator>lawrence ho</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Mon, 13 Feb 2012 14:30:52 +0800</pubDate>
			<guid>http://www.catholicnews.sg/index.php?option=com_content&amp;view=article&amp;id=5570:readers-weigh-in-on-mass-dress-code-issue&amp;catid=263:february-13-2011-vol-61-no-3&amp;Itemid=79#comment-733</guid>
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			<title>RE: Readers weigh in on Mass dress code issue</title>
			<link>http://www.catholicnews.sg/index.php?option=com_content&amp;view=article&amp;id=5570:readers-weigh-in-on-mass-dress-code-issue&amp;catid=263:february-13-2011-vol-61-no-3&amp;Itemid=79#comment-731</link>
			<description><![CDATA[First of all, the Holy Mass is the Same Sacrifice of Calvary, represented in time for us. We were not there at Calvary, but the Holy Mass re-presents Our Lord's Sacrifice here in our Altars. The Holy Mass is Our Lord's Passion and Death. Imagine going to Calvary in a very worldly dress or even indecent dress? Terrible! It's outrageous! What loss of reverence? So, that's why there must be Reverence at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass! We must reject anything that distorts or diminish this idea!]]></description>
			<dc:creator>Daniel</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Mon, 13 Feb 2012 13:37:49 +0800</pubDate>
			<guid>http://www.catholicnews.sg/index.php?option=com_content&amp;view=article&amp;id=5570:readers-weigh-in-on-mass-dress-code-issue&amp;catid=263:february-13-2011-vol-61-no-3&amp;Itemid=79#comment-731</guid>
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			<title>Dress Code</title>
			<link>http://www.catholicnews.sg/index.php?option=com_content&amp;view=article&amp;id=5570:readers-weigh-in-on-mass-dress-code-issue&amp;catid=263:february-13-2011-vol-61-no-3&amp;Itemid=79#comment-730</link>
			<description><![CDATA[I fail to understand why there is so much fuss over the appropriate dress code. One should know how to dress up properly when going to church. I have seen the photo of the samfoo dressed up by a lady,published in the newsapaper. It looks very decent and nothing wrong at all. It takes an over-zealous warden to react unfavourably over this attire resulting in a storm stirred up. If that lady wore a mini skirt, with noddle blouse I would definitely against it. This is because it might distract other worshippers in church. It is fine if such attire is worn at other informal occasions. Let us respect the other decent attires worn by worshippers in the House of the Lord too.]]></description>
			<dc:creator>richard wong</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Sun, 12 Feb 2012 18:58:09 +0800</pubDate>
			<guid>http://www.catholicnews.sg/index.php?option=com_content&amp;view=article&amp;id=5570:readers-weigh-in-on-mass-dress-code-issue&amp;catid=263:february-13-2011-vol-61-no-3&amp;Itemid=79#comment-730</guid>
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			<title>Pls stop further disunity in the church</title>
			<link>http://www.catholicnews.sg/index.php?option=com_content&amp;view=article&amp;id=5570:readers-weigh-in-on-mass-dress-code-issue&amp;catid=263:february-13-2011-vol-61-no-3&amp;Itemid=79#comment-727</link>
			<description><![CDATA[It is most sad that we are letting the evil one sows dissent and division among us in the church. This issue, if you are to have a cool-headed head, is all about some overzeaous warden with no good sense of fashion. I am very disturbed by the way Fr Terence answers the emails sent by the victim's husband. If Fr Terence has been more tactful and not deflecting and making ambiguous statements, he would not have angered whoever reading his mail. His responses definitely come forth as arrogant and uncaring. Besides, allowing the matter (which is all down to an overzeaous warden - how many of those we do get in our churches, sadly!) - to brew into a war between whether we should dress decently or not is destructive. It is clear, we must always dress reverently in the house of God - but I hope we are not goiing back to days when some hair length is acceptable and others not. Who's to judge? By staying silent and letting this matter pits church members between what is dressing right or wrong is frustrating. I pray Fr Terence be an example - be humble, learn to be more tactful and caring. It is an issue of how you are addressing a grievance raised by your parishioner. Don't allow this to deflect as if it is the whole church's battle field of having to dress decently or not and in what petty forms. And please do not let this brings disrespect to your other good fellow priests in the process. Don't allow the evil one to use you to divide God's people. God Bless]]></description>
			<dc:creator>lawrence ho</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Sat, 11 Feb 2012 08:42:32 +0800</pubDate>
			<guid>http://www.catholicnews.sg/index.php?option=com_content&amp;view=article&amp;id=5570:readers-weigh-in-on-mass-dress-code-issue&amp;catid=263:february-13-2011-vol-61-no-3&amp;Itemid=79#comment-727</guid>
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			<title>Come on people, let's have some sanity</title>
			<link>http://www.catholicnews.sg/index.php?option=com_content&amp;view=article&amp;id=5570:readers-weigh-in-on-mass-dress-code-issue&amp;catid=263:february-13-2011-vol-61-no-3&amp;Itemid=79#comment-719</link>
			<description><![CDATA[I'm a latecomer to the issue of dress code in the church, for the simple reason that what my fellow parishioners wear has absolutely no impact on my ability to focus on God and the Mass. I think every parish community to be allowed to decide for itself what it considers to be appropriate attire, but I would like to point out that it is a little illogical for knee length skirts to be permitted when pants more than 1 or 2 inches above the ankles is not. Can someone please explain this? I did some research and apparently the roots of this view that women who wear pants are somehow less formally dressed than women who wear skirts lies in the historical belief that only ungodly women would wear man's clothes! So that being the case, if we really want to be serious in advocating that our outward attire must reflect our inward dedication to God when attending mass, then I say we should ban women from wearing pants to church outright! On the other hand, if you are like me, and are not spending your sunday mornings gawking at fashion but instead focusing reverently on the eucharist, then none of this would matter.]]></description>
			<dc:creator>Mark Wong</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:46:27 +0800</pubDate>
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			<title>RE: Readers weigh in on Mass dress code issue</title>
			<link>http://www.catholicnews.sg/index.php?option=com_content&amp;view=article&amp;id=5570:readers-weigh-in-on-mass-dress-code-issue&amp;catid=263:february-13-2011-vol-61-no-3&amp;Itemid=79#comment-476</link>
			<description><![CDATA[I refer to Mr. Ian De Cotta’s assertion of a priest can refuse communion under certain circumstances which he gave as “Whoever eats the bread....in an unworthy manner ...” and on Canon Law 898 where the guiding principle is “hold the Eucharist in highest honour “ and St. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians and the articles of Canon Law spell out the proper adoration for the Eucharist....If a priest has his doubts he must refuse communion to those who present themselves in an unworthy manner...”. The phrases “unworthy manner”, “hold the Eucharist in highest honour”, “proper adoration” and “unworthy manner” are all subjective and open to connotation. In this context, who decides on the interpretation? There are instances in secular law where the meaning of distinctive vocabulary of the law was vital to an understanding of the nature of the law. Mr. De Cotta speaks of a command system . One of the first jurists to break with the Austinian tradition was Salmond who complained the analysis in terms of commands left the notion of a right unprovided with a place. He was right that if laws were merely commands it was inexplicable to speak of legal rights . He, however, it was said, concluded wrongly that rules of a legal system must necessarily be connected with moral rules or principles of justice. The Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis made clear the consequences of semantic incarceration where “....We see and hear and otherwise experience largely as we do because the language habits of our community predispose certain choices of interpretation” . If we add to this the influence of reification and the three elements of meaning and the dimensions they represent which correspond to the affective component of connotative meaning, we have no homogenous interpretation. The phrases which give the priest authority, in the passages he quotes, are all subjective in nature and open to varied interpretation as to their specific meaning. A flesh-coloured spaghetti-strip top or short pants can mean different things to different people depending on the Sapir –Whorf hypothesis and the three elements of meaning. To cut out this meandering interpretation there must be specific meaning in exactness. This must come from ex cathedra to avoid speculation. Our doctrine says those without mortal sin are eligible to receive communion and how can a priest (human) know for certain when a person is not worthy to receive communion? Doubt is not sufficient reason to deny communion because even in secular law doubt must rise to beyond reasonable doubt. This is the sine qua non. A person cannot be denied communion on idiosyncratic grounds which is injustice. Do not use Christ’s name to push your idiosyncrasy because it then becomes prestidigitatio n. Dudley Au 8 Feb 11]]></description>
			<dc:creator>Dudley Au</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Wed, 09 Feb 2011 18:57:17 +0800</pubDate>
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