Recently while reading a current book on the subject of fashions I got a few surprises. With my having little to nothing knowledge of what devout Catholics believe, I was quite surprised at the author's conservative stance on the subject of modesty. In fact if I had not known differently I would have thought the writing was that of a staunch Pentecostal or other similar conservative group. So far I have found no such writings from those sources, however. I've thought about that with the same question in mind that I often hear youth say in jest: Hello! is anybody out there? Where are their voices on this subject?
Another surprise came as I read several quotes that this author gave from Pope Pius XII—which most people not doubt would consider legalistic—but I considered just good advice. His comments were a reminder that the good of our soul is more important than our body. Now with our me'ism and comforts mentality that is hard to do at times. But that wasn't all. He added another punch—we also need to consider the spiritual welfare of our neighbor over our own comforts. Imagine! Of course that means in relating to our subject of modesty that if a certain kind of attire causes a person to sin, spiritually effecting our soul and others, it is our duty to give it up.
As I said, I was surprised at such a conservative stance. He even suggested that our choices can effect others in ways we often don't think about. In fact, we should even consider the anxieties and motional issues that are caused by it all. Wow! An illustration might be suppressed shame that we prepare for our sons and daughters by allowing them to become accustomed to being scantily dressed. We think they are so cute, yet without even meaning to do so we cause them to lose the sense of modesty—which opens up future problems that we can only imagine. And these are children that Heaven has entrusted to us to be brought up as Christians.
But as this author also illustrated, the sad truth is that tragically some mothers not only enable their young daughters to dress in 'hooker chick' but encourage it. It seems apparent that parents in general have become desensitized to today's fashions. They have been duped by the fashion industry. And the reason for it seems simply that they want their children to be popular. But whatever their reason, another commentator gets right to the point when he said my thoughts exactly. Why should we be surprised by today's tween and teen girls going around dressed like streetwalkers? It's their parents who let them. Let's face it most 10 to 16-year-olds don't have access to a lot of cash unless of course someone gives it to them.... And who is it who most likely drives them to the mall? It's their mother. It is obvious, little girls dress in what their mommies allow. Hello! Is anybody out there?
Children are supposed to be protected and taught to value themselves and their bodies. But as this author asked, what I've also pondered for a long time, what chance does a little girl stand of keeping her childhood or innocense intact when it's her own mother that takes her to the store and pays for the thongs, the itty-bitty skirts, the hipster jeans, the skimpy tops and the plunging necklines?
Yet, in reality when we get right down to it, the real issue comes front-center-clear. It's the fathers who are letting their precious little girls dress like 'ladies of the night'? And whether or not we agree with some conservative legalistic sounding stance on the matter—even one from a Pope...it's fathers, and mothers who will stand ultimately responsible before God for the effect it all is having on the children. What will it take to get our attention? Hello, is anybody out there?
Another surprise came as I read several quotes that this author gave from Pope Pius XII—which most people not doubt would consider legalistic—but I considered just good advice. His comments were a reminder that the good of our soul is more important than our body. Now with our me'ism and comforts mentality that is hard to do at times. But that wasn't all. He added another punch—we also need to consider the spiritual welfare of our neighbor over our own comforts. Imagine! Of course that means in relating to our subject of modesty that if a certain kind of attire causes a person to sin, spiritually effecting our soul and others, it is our duty to give it up.
As I said, I was surprised at such a conservative stance. He even suggested that our choices can effect others in ways we often don't think about. In fact, we should even consider the anxieties and motional issues that are caused by it all. Wow! An illustration might be suppressed shame that we prepare for our sons and daughters by allowing them to become accustomed to being scantily dressed. We think they are so cute, yet without even meaning to do so we cause them to lose the sense of modesty—which opens up future problems that we can only imagine. And these are children that Heaven has entrusted to us to be brought up as Christians.
But as this author also illustrated, the sad truth is that tragically some mothers not only enable their young daughters to dress in 'hooker chick' but encourage it. It seems apparent that parents in general have become desensitized to today's fashions. They have been duped by the fashion industry. And the reason for it seems simply that they want their children to be popular. But whatever their reason, another commentator gets right to the point when he said my thoughts exactly. Why should we be surprised by today's tween and teen girls going around dressed like streetwalkers? It's their parents who let them. Let's face it most 10 to 16-year-olds don't have access to a lot of cash unless of course someone gives it to them.... And who is it who most likely drives them to the mall? It's their mother. It is obvious, little girls dress in what their mommies allow. Hello! Is anybody out there?
Children are supposed to be protected and taught to value themselves and their bodies. But as this author asked, what I've also pondered for a long time, what chance does a little girl stand of keeping her childhood or innocense intact when it's her own mother that takes her to the store and pays for the thongs, the itty-bitty skirts, the hipster jeans, the skimpy tops and the plunging necklines?
Yet, in reality when we get right down to it, the real issue comes front-center-clear. It's the fathers who are letting their precious little girls dress like 'ladies of the night'? And whether or not we agree with some conservative legalistic sounding stance on the matter—even one from a Pope...it's fathers, and mothers who will stand ultimately responsible before God for the effect it all is having on the children. What will it take to get our attention? Hello, is anybody out there?
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