I am of two minds about this. As for the kid wearing the skull shirt, yes, it seems inappropriate, but on the other hand at least he is THERE, in church. I think you should dress respectfully and modestly. What I would wear or let my kids wear to Saturday evening Mass would not be the same thing I would wear/have them wear on Sunday AM. I am also opposed to mandating women to wear a dress or skirt. One can look perfectly elegant and dressed up in pants, and I do not see the need for it to be skirt. One can exalt form over substance with regard to dress for church, and IMO that is wrong.
One can exalt form over substance with regard to dress for church,
I don't think there is any disagreement between the three of us. My prayer is that I will exalt the Lord and if I see someone dressed inappropriately (as defined by me), my prayer is that I will gain God's viewpoint and not be judgmental. I find I am often confessing a judgmental and, alas, a condemning attitude. Please be patient with me. God isn't through with me yet.
FWIW, I know this is a "catholic" thread. However, I am a protestant. This topic is often discussed in "our" churches, too.
Just try visiting churches, synagogues or mosques in the Holy Land amd not exalting both form and substance
They won’t let men in without long slacks, women with arms and heads covered
I believe they remember the days when people dressed in such a way as to show modesty and respect for the Almighty before entering His sanctuaries. Even Moses had to take off his shoes to approach the burning Bush. It was not a suggestion.
I’m with you. I hated fighting with my kids about what they were wearing right before we went off to worship together. I consoled myself with the fact that they were still attending.
I don’t really think it matters what we wear, as long as it is clean, modest, in good repair, and looks good on us.
It can go bad the other way just as easily: I remember women wearing their new minks to Mass or their finest shoes. It was self-agrandizing. And distracting!