The following is a transcript of a Raised Catholic podcast episode.

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Today is episode 166: Church Clothes

Hi friends. Recently I did something that I do not recommend, actually, and that is to engage with a contrary opinion on an Instagram post. This creator was well-meaning, but her take on this topic struck a nerve with me in a way that I found hard to ignore. In a nutshell, she was encouraging people to be more mindful about the clothing that they wear to mass. Seems pretty innocuous, right? Apparently, not for me.

In this age of clericalism in the Catholic Church, it is unsurprising to hear a faith leader emphasize what we wear versus what we do.  Back in episode 148: The Gospel vs. Clericalism and Outside the Cup Catholicism, I detail this shift toward the externals of our faith – how we appear versus how we actually are, an emphasis on the aesthetics of a church service over service to our brothers and sisters, and the faith practices that others can readily observe versus the ones that happen in the silence of our hearts. And I’ll link that episode for you in today’s show notes in case you missed that one, but if you have been in an American Catholic Church or consumed Catholic media in the last ten years ago, you have probably seen this shift for yourself in the content of the homilies you’ve heard or the ‘dress code’ notices in church bulletins or social media posts that you’ve read. Posts like the one that I couldn’t help but remark on. 

My comment was simple and straight-forward, or so I thought. I wrote:

“Jesus does not care what we wear but wants to tend to the state of our souls because he loves us. Let’s stop judging each other based on outer appearance.”

And then I included a reference to Matthew 23:25-29, which does contain some stern warnings from Jesus to tend to the inside of us versus the outside, and in particular here, He sets His sights on the teachers of the law and the Pharisees who are leading the faithful astray in this area. Jesus is way harsher than me in His comments. He says, 

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.

Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.”

Now, about 160 people agreed with my comment, but it was the arguments that came next that honestly just floored me. Because this idea – that Jesus does not care what we wear, to mass or anywhere else, really – well, it turns out that that obviously Biblically-based idea that I drew directly from the life of Jesus in the Gospels and the kinds of things that He actually said and did – well, this was something with which a not insignificant number of people strongly disagreed. And they made sure to let me know that.

Many people made a point of saying how, if we really cared about God, that our clothing at mass would represent that care, and they talked a lot about how dressing up at church has gone downhill over time. Lots of people misusing that Scripture about Jesus throwing people out from a wedding banquet who weren’t properly dressed. Plenty of comments about giving God our best effort – something that ‘they’ always do, but which they are pretty sure that some other people, the ones they’re spending all that time looking at during mass, I guess – well, they definitely don’t. 

And, like I said, it floored me. 

Because anyone who’s read the Gospels would know that Jesus was no fan of us judging each other, right? That He expressly forbid us to judge each other, actually?

In Matthew, chapter 7, Jesus says, 

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?”

And, well, it was honestly so surprising to me that there wasn’t general understanding that the ‘wedding clothes’ that Jesus refers to in Matthew, chapter 22 are not woven garments at all, but they represent the ‘righteousness of Christ’ that we ‘put on’ so that when God looks at us, He sees the sacrifice of Jesus ‘covering’ our sins. And at the end of the day, I honestly couldn’t imagine anyone reading about Jesus and His many interactions with outcasts and lepers and tax collectors and the woman at the well, and all those people who were looked down upon, and then thinking that Jesus would get mad because someone wasn’t dressed up enough at church.

I don’t get it. It is just not the Jesus I know.

And maybe that’s the problem. 

I think there are several things happening here all at the same time. I believe that there is a general lack of Biblical literacy in the Catholic Church – and that’s unsurprising as many Catholics are not encouraged to read the Bible on their own, but instead to take in only the readings at mass and the interpretations of whomever is in the pulpit that day. But even if we do read the Gospels on our own, it is scarily possible to make what we read fit into a narrative of the Gospel that we ourselves would like to preach to the masses. In this case, that ‘other people’ better get right with God and get rid of their yoga pants or whatever.

As I asked one of the commenters, “Is looking around in judgment of others at mass appropriate? Is it what God wants of us? Is it prayer?” Focusing on the specks in our brother’s eye while ignoring the glaring planks in our own is so very dangerous, and also so very prevalent in this age of clericalism and Christian nationalism.

I’ve heard homilies and read bulletin blurbs on this topic of ‘appropriate clothing’ at mass, and every time I do, I just wonder why we as Catholics insist on making it harder for people to encounter Jesus in the Eucharist and the Church as the Body of Christ, rather than making it easier for them to do that. And I wonder just who it is we think we are to stand in judgment over one another, when Jesus has forbidden us to do that very thing?

Jesus, who in Matthew, chapter 18 taught that “if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell,” well, this Jesus had literally nothing to say about the shorts or spaghetti straps or sports uniforms that those roaming eyes might perceive while at church. Nor did He have anything to say about what the cultural equivalent of those clothing items might have been in his time and place. No, when it comes to ‘the near occasion of sin,’ Jesus puts the full responsibility on the one who sees and not the one who is seen. He drew near to messy humanity to be one with us, and the Good News of the Gospel is that He ‘put on’ our humanity so that we can ‘put on’ His righteousness.

Since this focus on the externals is certainly coming from a clericalist group of clergy, many here in the U.S., it must be said that Pope Francis has had quite a lot to say about the emphasis of today’s clergy on their owngarments. He recently referred to the “scandal” of young priests going into ecclesiastical tailor shops in Rome “rushing to try on cassocks and hats or albs with lace,” maybe as a focus on their appearance over their vocation. In 2018, he told a group of priests that he doesn’t want to see “grandma’s lace” when Mass is celebrated, saying that although “paying homage” to grandmothers is good, “it is better to celebrate the Holy Mother Church.” In the Book of Matthew, Jesus Himself warned the religious leaders of the day against overly ornate dressing and vying for worldly admiration, saying, “They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others.”

Both Francis and Jesus are trying to lead us in this time away from the externals, worldly and political honor and power, and toward inner encounter with God, toward the kind of sanctification that only happens on the inside, and toward the service to our brothers and sisters that in fact sanctifies us. 

When we as faithful who teach and preach (and also post) wander so far away from what Jesus actually said and did and taught, where does that leave us as a Church, exactly? When we don’t read or understand or allow ourselves to be led by the Gospel as the Good News that it is meant to be, but rather contort it into a cultural or political teaching of our own making, is it any wonder that the people don’t find Jesus in that teaching? And then, is it any wonder when they leave?

This might be one of those weeks where I have very little to offer you in the way of encouragement, friends. Sorry about that. It can be kind of dark out there in the Church these days, I know, but since God is good, we can be sure that there are green shoots growing at the base of even the sickest of trees. After all, He’s the God who makes all things new, who’s preparing an array of springtime colors that we could never create on our own, who clothes us in Himself, and this is the God who runs out to meet we prodigals as we are dressed in servant’s rags fresh from the filth of a pig’s pen. This is Jesus who embraces us as we are, where we are, because He loves us, and that is just Good News to any of His kids who will hear it. 

Thanks so much for being with me today, friend. If you need me, you can find me on Instagram @kerrycampbellwrites, at Substack at kerrycampbellwrites.substack.com, or on my website at kerrycampbell.org. Thanks so much for rating, reviewing, subscribing and most importantly, sharing this podcast with a friend.  That makes a real difference in growing our community, so thanks. If you would like to support this podcast financially, there are a couple of ways for you to do that in the show notes, along with some resources related to today’s episode, so do check all of that out, but before we go, let’s pray together.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, amen.

Oh God, our clothing is not a concern of yours and you teach us not to be so worried about it, either. In Matthew chapter 6, you say, 

“Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?”

Oh God, may we never let clothing or anything else that is quickly passing in this world get in the way of our relationship with you. In the name of Jesus and wrapped in the mantle of our Mother Mary, we pray, amen. 

Thanks so much for listening today, friend. I’ll see you next time.

Show Notes

This week we’re considering Jesus’ take on ‘appropriate clothing’ at mass while I tell the story of my unfortunate engagement on an Instagram post. I hope this episode blesses (and relieves) you!

If you’d like to connect with me, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠find me on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠at my website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you’d like to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠help support this podcast financially⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, there’s a way to do just that ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on my page at buymeacoffee.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Thanks for sharing, subscribing, rating, and reviewing, as this helps our community to grow.

Thanks as always to my friend, Peter Vaughan-Vail, for providing the beautiful harp music you hear in this and every episode.

Here are some resources to help you dig into this week’s topic on your own:

1. Raised Catholic ep. 148: The Gospel vs. Clericalism and Outside the Cup Catholicism ⁠(transcript with link to episode)⁠

2. Article: ⁠Pope Francis reminds us – again – to reject clericalism⁠, from Daniel P. Horan for National Catholic Reporter 

3. Scripture: Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

4. Lyric video: ⁠⁠Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus⁠⁠, by Lauren Daigle