Priests must wear distinctive garb.The Vatican has re-emphasized that priests must wear ecclesiastical garb and said bishops should make sure the rule is followed. The statement came in response to a query by a Brazilian bishop, who questioned the legal weight of the norm on clerical dress contained in the 1994 Directory on the Ministry and Life of Priests. The directory's norm is not merely an encouragement but is also "juridically ju·rid·i·cal also ju·rid·ic adj. Of or relating to the law and its administration. [From Latin i binding," said a several-point clarification issued by the Pontifical Council Pontifical Council may refer to:
The directory published by the Congregation for Clergy, had repeated an article of canon law canon law, in the Roman Catholic Church, the body of law based on the legislation of the councils (both ecumenical and local) and the popes, as well as the bishops (for diocesan matters). and expanded on it. Church law states simply that clerics are to wear suitable ecclesiastical garb in accord with norms of the Bishops' Conference and local customs. The Directory went further, saying that when this garb is not the priestly priest·ly adj. priest·li·er, priest·li·est 1. Of or relating to a priest or the priesthood. 2. Characteristic of or suitable for a priest. cassock, it must be different from lay dress and must conform to Verb 1. conform to - satisfy a condition or restriction; "Does this paper meet the requirements for the degree?" fit, meet coordinate - be co-ordinated; "These activities coordinate well" the "dignity and sacredness" of the priest's ministry. "The style and colour should be established by the Bishops' Conference, always in agreement with the dispositions of the universal law," it said. "The resulting dress should make the priest immediately identifiable as such, both to Catholics and non-Catholics." (B.C. Catholic, Dec. 3, 1995) |
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