So if these are the yardsticks/parameters that we use to demonstrate that we want something material and will do what is necessary (i
Of course, I dress modestly and as of an encounter with two older ladies 9yrs ago always in skirts now. As Saul pointed out and you seemed to obviously miss, the problem is most often an inadvertent one on women’s part that they and you don’t seem to realize that dressing immodestly results in. From your previous posts you seem to completely fail to grasp why all people should dress appropriately for Mass so it’s not really surprising you fail to grasp this commentator’s point.
The Church of which all of us belong to is one body – the mystical Body of Christ. Therefore we are bound by one set of rules – one Catechism of the Catholic Church. It also therefore becomes each one’s duty to look out for the other and therefore, if a form of dress is felt to be inappropriate by many, that form of dress ought to be avoided, as a way of helping others who are not as strong, and who may become distracted – this is for those who feel that appropriate dressing is not important to show respect to the Lord. It is true that no dress code has been specifically provided for Church attendees, but that is because the Church hierarchy relies upon our good sense and understanding as to what constitutes proper dress. Obviously underlying the dress sense is “great respect”. I suspect that if we do not demonstrate an ability to correct ourselves, we may have dress codes decided for us, which will be drastic, but deserved. So Dianne, (by the way I am just 10 years younger than you, so am of the same generation), Mgr. They have to be far-reaching, because they have to reach far.. as far as we have all strayed in our sense of propriety that was always necessary when attending Church. Mgr.Pope is tackling an attitude – a reckless disrespect demonstrated by Churchgoers when they enter His Presence; he is not commenting on degrees of recklessness – i.e. a girl who wears clingy dress or (re wjb67’s post) the teenaged girl who showed up wearing a tank top with the word “BITCH” written across it; or “tell the slutty women and not the gents” [re Fred (“Father, stick to telling our slutty women put on decent clothing and leave it at that.”)]
Pope’s suggestions are necessary even if they are “far-reaching”
Wjb67, I would respond to your post thus: If you were out of a job and desperate for one, and had applied for a job, the interview to be held in summer in your seaside community, would you dress casually – shorts and sandals, etc? Or would you dress smartly inorder to impress upon your interviewer that (i) you thank the interviewer for the opportunity; (ii) you take that job offer seriously, (iii) you are a smart person capable of handling the job; and (iv) your external appearance is a reflection of your capability; (v) etc? e. even wear smart apparel to an interview in a seaside community) why won’t we demonstrate at least that much desire to the Lord when 
we attend His House – the Church, by wearing appropriate clothing?
To Daniel: You said “ The symbolism of clothing can too easily shift from a show of respect to simply a “show”. “ True indeed. But how about the symbolism of “no respect” that is directly apparent when people wear inappropriate attire to Church? If people overdress, there is a chance that it may become a show, but if they underdress as in dress badly, there is no question of a chance.. it is already disrespect