Mexican archbishop calls for greater modesty at Mass

Mexico City, Mexico, Jul 26, 2011 / 16:03 pm

The Archbishop of Leon, Mexico is calling on Catholics to dress modestly at Mass.

“If you have any respect for this place (a church), dress appropriately,” Archbishop Jose Guadalupe Martin Rabago told reporters after Mass on July 24.

Criticism of the archbishop’s comments came after local newspapers featured photos of posters at some parishes in Leon that said, “Respect God’s house. Don’t come dressed like this.” The posters said women should not come to church dressed in miniskirts, sleeveless shirts, or low-cut blouses.

According to the newspaper Correo, the archbishop said women ought to know what they should wear and when. 

“They know that for a wedding or a quinceanera they should dress one way, and for a trip to the beach they should dress another.” 

The archbishop also said men need to dress appropriately at Mass as well. “Some men show up at church dressed in way that is undignified, wearing shorts or sandals. The place they are in requires something else,” he said.

Archbishop Martin Rabago said the media should not focus exclusively on what the Catholic Church says about how people should dress, as many evangelical churches require their congregations to come to church in a suit and tie.

He dismissed charges that his comments were misogynistic. 

“This is not a misogynist attitude of any sort. I am simply asking for the dignity and decorum that this place calls for, that is all.”