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2nd November 06, 06:15 AM
#20
Since this thread has been getting a lot of interest, I wanted to further clarify some of my thoughts.
Martin writes:
If something is right six days a week, how can it be wrong or sinful or unlawful on Sunday?
This is not a question of the kilt being right or wrong, lawful or unlawful, and certainly not sinful! In fact, I addressed this in my blog entry, when I wrote:
This is certainly not about asserting my "right" to wear a kilt. I'm not out to prove a point here. Frankly, my regular wearing of the kilt has never been about proving a point. I have the right to wear a kilt, and I have the right to choose not to wear one. And I also have the duty to prudently choose when and when Highland attire is appropriate.
This is not a question about the kilt being "right" or "wrong" but rather, "is it prudent to wear the kilt in this given situation?"
And people will answer that question in different ways. A lot of variables apply. One may be your religious sect. The sacramental theology of the Eucharist in the Catholic Church (of which I am a member) gives rise to certain considerations on my part when I attend Mass that a Presbyterian or a Pentecostal, or a Baptist may not have.
Another variable may be location. As McClef indicated in his post, he has a different reaction to his kilt when he wears it to church in Wales than one might expect in, say Alabama for instance.
A lot of people have been focusing in on my desire not to be a distraction for other people -- which is a good desire, of course, but you can take it to extremes. But the other side of the coin has been largely ignored, and that is that I, myself, don't want to be distracted from the Mass.
As I said in my blog post on Easter, I know, from experience, that I will attract a lot of comments and questions when I wear my kilt -- mostly all positive, mind you! But this will be a distraction for me. We all know that when you wear your kilt out, you attract a certain amount of attention -- its part of the charm of wearing the kilt. And in most contexts that is perfectly fine. But in this particular context, it is attention I would rather not have. So I choose to "blend in" more. So there is a selfish motivation, as well!
I also have another perspective, I suppose, in that I deal with kilts on a daily basis as a part of my job. So having people ask questions about my kilt on Sunday morning is a bit like grabbing your doctor when you see him at church to ask him about a rash on your arm. Most people don't want to "talk shop" on their days off, let alone when they are worshipping on a Sunday morning.
So this gives me a different perspective from other kilt wearers, and another consideration.
Also, I failed to mention that I serve as a cantor at my parish, and the way our church is laid out, I am right up front where everyone can see me. In a lot of Catholic Churches the chior or cantor is unseen, in a chior loft. But I'm right next to the sanctuary. And it's a constant concern of mine to try, as much as I can, to fade into the background so people stay focused on the altar and it doesn't turn into the "Matt Newsome" variety hour. How I dress is a part of that.
This is what I mean when I say we all have different considerations.
In the end, though, it is a matter of prudential judgement. In your church, in your location, given your situation, is wearing a kilt prudent or not? That you have the "right" to wear the kilt is unquestioned. But you also have the right to choose not to wear it if, in your judgement, other attire would be more appropriate.
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