With the recent buzz that made the headlines in the newspapers and online media on matters arising from my parish, I am saddened by how things have turned out.
The dress code issue have been the hot topic of late. People (who do not know better) react quickly when they read headlines that says, 'Woman Told She'll be Banned from Church if she Turned Up in this outfit again'. Opinions are quickly formed and judgement is made on how terrible this church must be to stop someone from entering. Was the word 'banned' really used? Were they first time visitors to the parish? Do you have the full story?
There are so many areas to address, on so many levels.
1. Why did it have to be implemented in the first place? Do church-goers not know how to dress when they attend the Eucharistic Celebration (also known as Mass) of our Lord? Apparently not. Hence the campaign to dress appropriately kicked in because there were people coming in shorts and slippers, sunglasses on their heads as well as very sexy clothes, mostly aligned with the trends of the world. Sure, these clothes may be branded and cost a lot of money, so do you then wear your branded hot pants to a wedding dinner? Or maybe you had been invited to a royal event, do you go in slippers and shorts? So it is rather sad that people (of today) need to be told or reminded to dress appropriately.
2. The Implementation. I shall not go into details here but all I want to say about this is that it was not implemented very well at all. More thought (and soft skills required by wardens) should have been put into how this can be done to avoid crushing the spirit of a person whose intention was to attend Mass. To be denied entry into church is harsh. I thought only God can judge us, and He will. In the meantime, there should be clear and simple guidelines on a dresscode, those who know about it and still fail to adhere to it will be dealt with the big guy himself. Those who really don't know about the guidelines are probably visitors to the parish (imagine being turned away if they are visiting for the first time!) and can't be faulted.
Just abit of background, this was not implemented overnight. People have been informed for more than a year to dress appropriately that this going to happen if there was no improvement. A year on, letters were then given to those who still fail to dress appropriately, asking them to take note, for future reference.
3. The Reaction. I mean, I do get how upset one must be to be denied into the church for Mass. Trust me, I would be too if I was stopped, as it is I disliked how the wardens 'check me out' each time I walk in ;) hahaha. But you have a choice to react in a Christ-like manner (good time to practise obedience, humility and lots of patience for that moment of anger) or behave like a hooligan.
Last November, I was right there when a man yelled at Father because his wife was not permitted into the church. The anger that was expressed in his loud booming voice resounded through the church foyer. Even people seated inside the church turned back to see what the commotion was about. Visibly upset, he stormed off with his wife, after calling for his two young teenage boys out of church both looking very confused at what just happened, and the family of four walked away. That sight stayed with me till this day. What were the kids going to think about the church?
I wish people would just stop to think before reacting so massively such as posting on a tabloid online website and in the papers too.
Did you stop to think about the repercussions of what you have done?
