SRI LANKA Calls For Women To Cover Up At Cathedral

- Union of Catholic Asian News - http://www.ucanews.com -
On 2009-1-12

COLOMBO (UCAN) -- The clothing some young women wear to Mass at Colombo's main Catholic Church is attracting attention, judging by the messages on the notice board asking them to dress more modestly.
Women cover their heads during while receiving communion at St. Lucia’s Cathedral in Colombo on Dec. 28, after priests called for more modest attire for Massgoers.


Father Tony Martyn, appointed parish priest of St. Lucia's Cathedral in 2006, says Sunday Mass there has become something of a women's fashion parade. This may have silent admirers, but it definitely has others frowning.

"Modesty is a virtue not limited to conduct, gestures, language, reading and thought, but also to clothing," Father Martyn told UCA News at the end of December.

"Here they (people) meet God," the priest said.

Three priests at the cathedral and some parishioners complain that some young women come to church in revealing short skirts, halter tops and low-cut blouses. This creates an unpleasant atmosphere, sets a bad example for youngsters and distracts many people, especially young men, they maintain. They also say little was done about the situation in the past.

Since November, however, some parishioners have distributed head veils free of charge to women, especially the young, to be worn during church services. Women traditionally wore a head covering to church, but the practice has slipped.

Meanwhile, the cathedral notice board shows pictures of modest dress as well as signs parishioners have put up calling on women to dress modestly and all parishioners not to dress extravagantly. Some signs appeal to parents to educate children about this. "Begin early," one said.

"Though it is not an alarming situation, I am embarrassed by the harsh criticism from parishioners about the growing immodest dress in the church," Father Martyn said.

According to Father Anthony Joseph, an assistant priest at the cathedral, the slipping dress standards have prompted people to compare Catholics with Buddhists, Hindus, and Muslims, who tend to dress more modestly for worship.
Women cover their heads during while receiving communion at St. Lucia’s Cathedral in Colombo on Dec. 28, after priests called for more modest attire for Massgoers.


Father Joseph cited Saint Paul's admonition against extravagant dress in his First Letter to Timothy.

A retired school principal, who gave her name as Rasamma, said she believes many women are ready to listen to what is being suggested, that the way some dress is making it hard for others to concentrate on praying. Still, she emphasized that the church is leaving women free to dress as they wish.

Father Joseph too sees at least some success with the unofficial cover-up campaign.

He estimates that now about 90 percent of Tamil women cover their heads with a veil or the cloth of their sari when they receive Communion, instead of 20 percent earlier, while women attending the Sinhalese and English Masses have yet to follow suit. Besides the veils distributed free for Mass use, stacks of black and white veils are available for purchase at a rosary stall for 150 rupees (US$1.50) each.

More than 5,000 catholics attend the five Sunday Masses at the cathedral -- three in English and one each in Sinhalese and Tamil.


Article printed from Union of Catholic Asian News: http://www.ucanews.com