WHEN Rev. Fr. Godwin Tatlonghari, Assistant Minister at the Manila Archdiocese’s Ministry of Liturgical Affairs, wrote all parish priests, chaplains and rectors of Manila about “proper attire in church” last June, he couldn’t have been more surprised at the instant attention it generated. His circular was both praised and attacked. It also became the butt of jokes to some.

          A tabloid screamed “Bawal ang seksi sa simbahan” while charges of being “conservative” and all its negative connotations were hurled, once again, at the Catholic Church. Jokers had a field day: “E si Kristo nga nakahubad nang ipako sa krus” went one repartee. Although even Fr. Godwin smiled – in a wincing sort of way – when he himself shared it with ONE PHILIPPINES, the humorless will point out that Jesus Christ was stripped, his torn to shreds to punish and humiliate Him. Would we dress (or undress) in Church to repeat or elevate the original humiliation?

          It’s not what you think

          The guidelines on properly dressing for church are nothing new. According to Fr. Tatlonghari, the Archdiocese of Manila simply responded to a growing clamor. Evidently, more and more people saw that the decent Sunday Best has become too bold, too casual, and almost contemptuous of the unspoken requisites of the House of God.

          Fr. Tatlonghari says that other dioceses in Greater Metro Manila have issued their own guidelines long before the archdiocese took action. This meant that the diocese itself was free to create its own poster illustrating the guidelines. Today the archdiocese itself has issued an official omnibus poster.

          The 33-year old priest said they describe church attire as “proper and improper,” or angkop at hindi angkop. The dress code does not suggest that churchgoers are good or bad depending on which side of appropriate dress they fall under. But, as Father Tatlonghari puts it, “You don’t wear swimming trunks to attend a formal party, for instance, nor do you wear formal clothes when the invitation clearly says casual will do.”

          The “proper attire,” he explains, is in accordance with “our dignity as baptized children of God” and because the “sacredness of the Eucharistic celebration urges all participants to dress, manifest the importance of what they are doing.” Fr. Tatlonghari says. In short, the devotion we feel inside has to be reflected on the outside too.

What’s in and what’s out

          As such the Ministry of Liturgical Affairs anoints collared shirts or T-shirts, jeans or slack pants, polo shirts or long-sleeves polo, long sleeves or collared blouses, corporate attire or office or school uniforms and dresses or long gowns as proper attire inside the church.

          Deemed improper are caps, sports jerseys, sandos, sports shorts or pants, strapless or backless tank tops, short shorts or mini skirts and sleeveless blouses or dresses with plunging necklines. Translucent to transparent dresses and shirts with vulgar words or swearwords printed on it are also considered improper church attire.

          The attire guideline doesn’t even require the churchgoers to come to church dressed to the nines, as some critics had implied. The Manila Archdiocese also didn’t specify what’s supposed to be proper footwear.

Generally positive

          Fr. Tatlonghari says the churchgoers’ responses to the guide are “generally positive,” since they themselves had requested for the guide in the first place. The resulting uproar he attributes to the Filipinos’ tendency to make fun of everything.

          “It’s not as if the church will turn you away if you came to hear the mass dressed improperly,” Fr. Tatlonghari clarifies. “The church is always welcoming, it’s for everybody. You can still hear the mass and receive communion, but maybe someone will talk to you in private about your attire.”

          The country’s tropical heat is also not an excuse. “You can wear proper clothes and still be comfortable,” said Fr. Tatlonghari. You also don’t have to be rich to afford proper church attire

          In addition, the Church, he says, “isn’t just a house of God, it’s also a public place, so it makes sense to go there in a way that (doesn’t) call attention to yourself or made fun of.”

A “proper” wedding

          While the new initiative of the archdiocese may seem quite lax compared to the stricter dress codes applied by other denominations (the Iglesia ni Kristo dictates that women can only wear dresses and not pants, and men can only wear formal attire, and not T-shirts and jeans.)

          But if the loud opposition of some people to the Catholic Church’s new dress guide is any indication, the Manila Archbishop may well find itself a target of criticism once again, as Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales just announced that church wedding attire should also be “proper.”

          As much as possible, brides should refrain from wearing anything too revealing such as backless, strapless and see-through gowns. The Church isn’t too keen either on bridal dresses in colors other than the traditional white.

          But before designers and assorted fashionistas raise a howl in protest, Fr. Tatlonghari did say the church is welcoming to everybody. And the Ministry of Liturgical Affairs says it has no plans of creating another poster showing the do’s and don’ts of what, in the eyes if the Church, is matrimonially correct.