AUCKLAND Priests throughout the country are being asked what they think is appropriate clerical dress for a range of occasions. At their April meeting, the New Zealand Catholic bishops discussed the matter and decided to ask their councils of priests for feedback. The aim is to provide a set of guidelines for how priests would dress on formal occasions, such as weddings and funerals, on a daily basis, and in casual settings.
What a priest wears, two bishops told NZ Catholic, should ensure they are easily identifiable while in public. Bishop Peter Cullinane of Palmerston North, who has initiated the survey of priests, says what clerics wear should also mean they can identify with lay people.
The way to do this varies from country to country, Bishop Cullinane said.
That is why the Code of Canon Law leaves it to bishops conferences to determine what clergy dress should consist of.
There is not one universal uniform which bishops merely impose. Church law expects them to decide what is appropriate for their country or region.
