My latest on LifeSiteNews.
Last week saw the deletion of another Twitter account by someone who aroused the anger of the mob. Fr. Kevin Cusick deleted his account when, after tweeting about the importance of modest attire in church, he was overwhelmed by angry responses. Actually, “angry” was not the right word. It was deranged.
Twitter’s moderators inevitably found that Fr. Cusick has breached their rules.
In explaining why women should cover their shoulders, Fr. Cusick volunteered the suggestion that it was for the benefit of men who are otherwise distracted during Mass. This fits the same pattern of thought expressed by Maryann White, a mother who wrote to a Notre Dame student paper that the leggings worn by some female students in the Notre Dame Basilica distracted her sons. White also suffered a huge social media backlash. The more substantial objection made against both Fr. Cusick and Mrs. White is also that made against the judges or police officers who occasionally make the mistake of warning women that they increase the chance of being raped by wearing practically nothing, late at night, in less salubrious city districts, while under the influence of alcohol.
The world has gone entirely mad.
ReplyDeleteWomen who dress immodestly are guilty of a kind of sexual harassment, and I suspect that they're aware of this on some level (and that's why they get so angry, viz. a corrupted conscience). Immodest clothing in public is uncharitable and moreover *unjust*. It's an unjust offence against the rights of men not to be subject to constant attacks against their integrity and dignity as men.
ReplyDeleteAnd following from my previous comment: a much greater sense of outrage and rebuke against such immodesty is fully justified and I would say morally incumbent upon all Catholic priests and fathers. I think it offends God far more than we, who are so accustomed to it, may realise. Remember that Our Lady herself specifically mentioned this sin, and occasion of sin, at Fatima. However, I think a commenter at onepeterfive made a wise point (though others criticised her for it) which is that these discussions or these moral rebukes belong mainly in the Church and not outside of it. What I mean is that Catholic priests and fathers dhould be rebuking fellow Catholics, and not also all the pagans alongside us like Fr. Cusick on twitter. The reason is precisely that you are only likely to stir up rage in the hardened hearts of the post-Christian new pagans, to put it bluntly, and occasion such attacks against ourselves. But we Christians should be maintaining our morals, and our refusing to correct or rebuke immodest dress among our own people will just be one more thing that our bishops and priests (and parents) will be condemned for on the day of judgment.
ReplyDeleteFr Cusick was talking about modesty in church.
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