MODEST SWIMSUITS AT LAST!

February 22, 2007 by Father Joe

Traditional Catholics and Homeschooling parents are always lamenting the fact that they cannot find modest swimsuits for the young women in the family. Everything is designed these days to show ballooning cleavage and legs extended past the waistline, or so it seems. It is all a very scary business, especially if there are young men and teenage boys on the beaches too. Remember, the most dangerous thing for a teenage girl is a teenage boy! Many of us have not visited beaches in years so as to preserve the custody of the eyes. Well, if you are tired of parading your young daughters to the ravenous beach wolves, there is hope in sight. It comes from a highly unlikely place, the Muslims.

Less willing to go naked as many so-called Catholics and other Christians these days, these girls also want fun in the sun, laying on the beach, and swimming in the surf. But, they do not want to forfeit their virginity or be prey to voyeurs in doing it. It is here that we can take a lesson from their book.

SPLASHGEAR MODEST SWIMWEAR has been designed with loose-fitting swim shirts (yes, even that pretty neck is covered!), swim pants (legs, what legs?) and hair covers (which she can use at Mass, too!). Why these girls look almost like boys they are covered so effectively. Fathers will no longer have to worry, indeed, they can get modest swim-gear for their wives too (they come even in jumbo sizes!).

An article about these wonderful swimsuits ran in an AP (Feb 18, 2007) article by Peter Prengaman that you can read in full at the Splash Gear site:

“America is predominantly coed, and increasingly the norm is skimpy swimsuits. Enter the new-and-improved all-body suit. The suits are also increasingly stylish, with aqua to purple to hot pink colors, intricate sequin designs and miniskirts that go over long pants. ‘We want to be modest, but we also want to be fashionable,’ said Shereen Sabet, who last year founded Splashgear, an online swimwear store for Muslim women based in Huntington Beach.”

The flipside to all this is that it will help us save our young Catholic boys from corruption, too. No matter how we raise them, let us be honest, when it comes to the flesh, the male of the species is weak. Girls flirt and shamelessly show themselves off to boys, arguing that it is okay as long as they do not get the boys’ engines running. Silly silly girls, boys are born with their motors running. Sexual morality will always be what young women want it to be. If most girls set limits and said “NO!” more often, boys would accept it and be better off. These swimsuits will help…out of sight, out of mind. All the bumpy parts are covered, even down to the ankles. Strategic scarves cover necks and chins and the headgear on other outfits goes all around the chin. Some might regard the hair-guard as optional, but don’t you chance it! Who knows what a pretty neck or a rosy cheek might do to a hormonal crazy boy! The Bible talks about the allure of a woman’s hair, best to keep that under cover as well.

The Church should start its own line, and we could sell to “good” Catholics and Muslims alike. But until then, the Muslims have online and mail-order catalogues! If our kids are afraid that others might make fun of them, we can start groups that will go to pools and beaches together. Catholic homeschoolers and Muslim girls can swim together and urge authorities to force those nasty boys to go somewhere else! With strength of numbers, our families and girls can admonish the other so-called Catholic females on the beach: “Have you no shame for exposing yourselves in underwear? Protestants, I mean Prostitutes wear more clothes than you! Why don’t you save money and just wear a couple pieces of cotton thread instead of that $500 string-bikini! Your butt is fat! My newborn baby sees you and all he wants to do is nurse!” You’ll have those immodest sirens running from the beaches in tears.

Compare this girl to the ones shown in modest-wear above! It is no comparison! This girl is nothing but temptation and sin looking for trouble. Look at her with that “come-hither” stare–disgusting!

Let us make a revolution for purity and modesty today!

If everyone starts wearing these new outfits, we will finally be able to take our clergy on beach vacations and not have to be embarrassed by the local sights. Take back the pools and beaches for the Lord and for us modest believers. We can make a difference! Finally we have found something worthwhile we can do with our Muslim neighbors!

On the Net:

Splashgear: http://www.splashgearusa.com/

Primo Moda http://www.primomoda.com/

Ahiida: http://www.ahiida.com/

Posted in Asides, Humor, Interesting Sites, Oddities, Politics, Religion, Schools, Sexuality, Uncategorized | 96 Comments

96 Responses

on February 22, 2007 at 5:01 pm Rose

Isn’t it a “come-hither” look? You need to visit us in West “by God” Virginia more often!
on February 22, 2007 at 5:24 pm Father Joe

Thanks Rose, I will make the correction and change the “come here” look to “come-hither”. I am not so well versed on such things…and now you’ve got me afraid to visit West Virginia–hehehe!
on February 22, 2007 at 11:14 pm Priscilla Prunewell

Thanks for the links, but my girls and I make our own swimwear and it is very much like what the Islamic women wear. Here are some more links, Christians and others are already beginning to cater to this untapped market:

http://www.liliesapparel.com/
These clothes remind me of the LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRARIE TV show! I loved that show!

http://www.stitchintimes.com/
The swimwear are more than dresses!

http://www.modest-swimwear.net/
A Christian version of the Muslim swimwear, minus the veil!

http://www.modestapparelchristianclothinglydiaofpurpledressescustomsewing.com/
Unbelievable! These people reproduce clothes from 1901 or so!

http://www.wholesomewear.com/skirted-b.html
Almost Muslim swimwear, but I wonder if it is easy to swim in long dresses? I have tried and get fatigued pretty quickly.

You have to fight some of the administrators at pools about modest swimwear. They argue that we wear more clothes for swimming than other females do with their day-to-day clothing! One time we had to go to court because of a rule against public dress clothes in pools. They did not believe that what we wore was for swiming. We go for the fun and exercise, not to burn ourselves or to offer cheap strip shows at the community center.
on February 22, 2007 at 11:28 pm Father Joe

I do not know what to say?

Apologies are offered if my tongue-in-cheek style offended anyone.

I certainly support modest swimwear, but I thought that most would regard the styles offered as a tad much. Maybe I am wrong?

Christian families are already buying into swimwear styles not dissimilar from that worn by Muslims. I did not know about this.

God bless them and their efforts.
on February 23, 2007 at 8:39 am 4HisChurch

Modest swim wear is difficult to find (in mainstream stores). Since few, if any women have model-perfect bodies, never mind the need for dressing modestly, there are many “of a certain age” who just skip the idea of bathing suits altogether. I am glad there are some companies who manufacture “regular” swim wear with such features as shorts/skirts and tank-top like straps. I applaud any efforts in this area.
on February 23, 2007 at 11:14 pm JaneC

Father, I agree with you and think the Muslim swimsuits are a little much. Like many young women I know, I managed to find a high-necked swimsuit and I wear shorts with it on the rare occasion when I visit a public pool or beach, but being covered to the wrists and ankles is, I think, over-the-top. Additionally, the baggier pants shown in one of those photos seem like they could be dangerous, hampering a swimmer’s leg movements underwater.
on February 24, 2007 at 12:13 pm knit_tgz

I suppose you’re joking, aren’t you? (As English is not my first language, I sometimes doubt my understanding of what I read).

To tell you the truth, as a woman and a believer, modesty is a complex issue to me. Sometimes I find believers preach a style of clothing which, instead of being dignified (fit for the daughter of a King), is ugly and seems to preach that there’s something inherently sinful in being woman, as if the fact that I am a woman needs to be hidden. I believe I am responsible for not creating unreasonable occasions of temptation for my brothers. But I do not believe that anything I can do can replace their own care to flee the temptations that rise from their own heart. Clothing that is well-fitting, pretty and flattering, without being indecent or too flashy to make me the center of attentions, glorifies the Lord (every woman, of every shape, is beautiful and should dress like she believes that!). I believe looking nice (not cheap like a harlot, nor flashy like I am a billionnaire showing off, I mean nice and beautiful) would be approved by our Lord who liked eating and drinking, liked everything which is healthily fun and human. He told us to fast interiorly, not showing it. “When you fast, wash your head and perfume yourself, so that no-one knows you are fasting”. Sometimes dressing shapeless long clothing can be a matter of pride, not of modesty.

On swimsuits, I have a personal pet-peeve with the “modesty” discussion. One-piece swimsuits only fit nicely women whose upper and lower halves have similar sizes. When those halves differ by more than two sizes, the best idea, in my humble opinion, is to try to find a more or less modest bikini/tankini where each piece is sold separately. I am sorry, but that’s the only option for some women. (I am lucky that I can wear some one-piece swimsuits, but not all women can).

And what about men? Do people forget that women also have lustful thoughts? Why is it OK for a man to take off his shirt when doing heavy jobs (if I have a lustful thought, it’s my responsability, he is perfectly justified in taking off his shirt because of his job) and when a women needs to breastfeed a baby everyone is outraged?
on February 26, 2007 at 12:38 am Therese

Personally I like these swimsuits.

http://www.swimmodest.com/

You can swim just fine in them and they are modest too. They are also really cute! I can also testify that they look better in real life than in the pictures. All my five daughters and myself have one. They sell out really fast so order early in the season.

FATHER JOE: You all take me way too seriously. Oh well, I am no expert, but I would tend to agree with you about the suits to which you link, Therese. However, while they might seem fine to us, I suspect they would never pass muster from our Muslim friends–no headgear and too much leg. I wonder what such issues say about our view of the human person and women in particular? Extremes either exploit or condemn God’s handiwork. I suppose the modest middle-ground is where struggling Christians would seek practicality while celebrating the goodness of God in his creation.
on March 2, 2007 at 3:16 pm shereen

reply to janec:

hi, there, and the answer is, no, the straight leg pants do not hinder swimming. i wear my own “resort pants”, which are the straight leg pants (or the ‘baggier’ pants as you referr to them).

i can attest that they don’t ride up in the water, they are very thin and light (a couple of my customers have already told me it feels like they are not wearing anything), and it does not weigh down or hamper the swimmer.

however, i will mention that from a safety point of view, anything that covers the feet can be dangerous and hamper the swimmer. so, if the pant legs are too long, then in the water the pant legs will cover the feet and prevent efficient kicking. that’s why my company, “splashgear”, produces pants that fall at the ankle, but not below it.

again, the straight leg pants do not hamper the swimmer as i and others can attest.

by the way, i was quite surprised to receive an OVERWHELMING response to the AP article. i never realized just how much non-muslims wanted/needed full coverage swimwear. my sales and catalog requests to non-muslims just sky-rocketed after the AP article came out, and i received so many positive and encouraging e-mails from mainstream individuals. …wow…!…

thank you for your time.

–s–

***
Shereen Sabet
SPLASHGEAR
7445 Seastar Dr.
Suite # 8
Huntington Beach
CA, 92648-2271
USA
P: 714.293.2974
F: 866.556.0432
http://www.splashgearusa.com
shereen.sabet@splashgearusa.com
***
on March 5, 2007 at 5:26 pm miss koerner

hello, I am a young woman who was searching the web for a modest bathing suit for my senior trip to florda coming up, and stumbled on to this page. I must say that as a God loving 18 year-old woman i was discused by those suits. They are not the least bit fasionable. I believe that God has called women to be respectful of men, but he did not ask us to look like them! Father, you said that parents wouldn’t have to worry about thier daughters because they would look just like the other boys on the beach, and personally, I am proud God made me a young woman. I don’t want to look like a man. I believe that i can dress modestly without pretending to be something I am not. A modest full peice, or full coverage tankini can be less attention grabbing than a young woman in one of those outfits.

I understand your intensions are possitive, but i think you will find more young women like myself would be more resceptive toward the church’s efforts to promote modisty if we were not made to feel ashamed of the bodies God himself has created. thank you for your time.

FATHER JOE RESPONDS: The post was a bit of a tease, an exaggeration, a satire of a sorts…I thought it was obvious? Finding a modest swimsuit is a real issue, but I am not a prude about such things, even if I do avoid beaches and coed pools. I am glad that you are happy to be a female and you should not be ashamed of how God has fashioned you. Do people really think the Church believes in some of the extreme things I said? Pleeease! I have no opinion about swimsuits other than they should be in good taste, not immodest, and safe to wear. God bless!
on May 27, 2007 at 11:22 pm JAK

hey father joe just wanted to say i absolutly love this site im a young teenage boy and i personally think that most secular bathing suits are immodest and and not fit for wearing in public. I personally feel betrayed when my “christian” freinds wear these immoral clothes on retreats or when just hanging out when we are supposed to have and display much higher values then our non-christian counterparts. Its been a standing debate between me and my friends one that leads to bitterment sometimes but i really appreciate that there are still people out there that do wear modest clothing and bathing suits and that yall make it available and known to us.
on June 12, 2007 at 1:57 pm Jenny

Are you kidding me?
on June 17, 2007 at 2:57 pm Pamela Levenson

Hello, you might consider my swimwear line another alternative. I offer retro/vintage styled one piece bathing suits that have more coverage.

http://www.poppiswim.com
on July 5, 2007 at 8:46 am Rose

Yes, some of these are rather much. I’d recommend L.L. Bean and Land’s End catalogs for more modest style swimsuits and clothing in general. There are a tad expensive … but maybe you are paying for the extra material! Just “google” either name and their website will come up.
on July 5, 2007 at 8:42 pm Father Joe

This seems quite modest but practical:

http://www.poppiswim.com/shirley-brown-floral-swimwear-c-10-p-1-pr-11.html
on July 17, 2007 at 9:55 pm Katrina Ann

I’m sorry, but isn’t one of the main points of being modest not drawing attention to yourself? I find that these Muslim-inspired swimsuits draw a lot more attention than a modest one piece or tankini. The desire to be modest should be an act of humilty, not pride.

GUEST EDITOR: The article is tongue-in-cheek. If a picture was grossly immodest, it would not be posted here. The moslem outfits seem to me as a bit extreme, but I am no real judge of such things. The black-and-white photographs are very old photos from an album. By the way, I thought I had them identified, if I am wrong please let me know. I have already had several cases of false identification. Just email me the approximate date and maybe a photo from the same period to prove the point. If I am wrong then a picture will be removed. God bless! frjoe2000@yahoo.com
on July 18, 2007 at 10:03 am lorilla

I’m a Protestant and I was very offended by your refrence to Protestants as girls in skimpy bikini. I have never worn a bikini in my life, …..

GUEST EDITOR: Huh? Where did it say that? By the way, you have the same IP number as Katrina Ann in Texas.
on July 29, 2007 at 11:45 am SW

You should all try a topfree or nudist beach for a day or two and get over it. Christians use the word modesty or indecency when they really mean body shame.

FATHER JOE RESPONDS: And obviously you know no shame. Christians are well aware of fallen human nature.

Clothing does not make you superior to someone who is naked.

FATHER JOE RESPONDS: “Superior” is a strange word to use. I would prefer the phrase, “more decent”.

This is nothing but Puritanism and has little to do with Christianity, Islam or Judaism.

FATHER JOE RESPONDS: You obviously have little knowledge and/or respect for the Bible which speaks in many places about being clothed and modest, both in the Old and New Testaments. The Koran and the Islamic faith give their adherents many rules about dress. You really do not know what you are talking about!

What is a real shame is that you have to spend the rest of your lives hating your bodies.

FATHER JOE RESPONDS: This is a big assumption on your part. It may be that Christians so reverence the body as an expression of the person and as God’s great masterpiece that we clothe it out of respect and to protect it from degradation.

Why do males get to take off their shirts at the beach and females do not?

FATHER JOE RESPONDS: My mother used to fret with my father to keep a shirt on outside. I suppose it is somewhat cultural. Certain places of the world, as in parts of Africa, women may indeed go topless without Church condemnation. However, such is not the way with Western culture. Here we are not talking about a mother nursing her child but a provocative use of nudity.

To dominate and make money off of females.

FATHER JOE: Women are wrongly exploited that is true. But rampant nudity would enhance such exploitation. The tragic truth in some cases is that women allow themselves to be abused and treated as meat instead of as persons with sacred dignity and immeasurable value.

It never used to be like this. Both sexes wore little or no clothing through out 98-99% of human history.

FATHER JOE RESPONDS: You know this for a fact? Given that modern man emerged as predominate after the ice ages, I doubt that our ancesters ran around naked. Clothing is not just for style, but for protection, too.

The Church and State make a lot of money off of your shame. The Church uses nudity as a device to lay guilt on everyone about sex.

FATHER JOE RESPONDS: And how precisely does the Church make money off of this? If anything, hedonists get angry and leave the Church, taking their wallets and purses with them…although without pockets where does one place a wallet? As for guilt, it has to do with God’s commandments and the natural law. Your argument is with the Creator, not the Church. If people have sex outside of marriage, they should feel guilty, because they are guilty.

The State gets large sums of revenue from the the sale of pornography, while saying that they have passed laws to fight it.

FATHER JOE RESPONDS: Yes, so does the telephone company and, oops, so do the owners of nude beaches. What, you thought men went to such beaches for the fishing? There is enough hypocrisy to go around.

The worst thing that females could do to combat pornography would be to go nude at the beach. Nudity is the major draw for pornography.

FATHER JOE RESPONDS: Is there a contradiction here? In any case, nude beaches are indeed exploited by the culprits of pornography. Heck, today anyone with a digital camera or picture-taking phone becomes part of the problem.

Females should at least go topfree. Just like males do. I’ll bet that if you did for 10 or 15 minutes you would probably do for the rest of your life.

FATHER JOE RESPONDS: I do not think that most women would even want to do such an outrageous thing. Given their sensitivity about appearance, most women like the way that clothes make them look.

Turn back the clock to way it used to be. Start asking the males around you why their chests are considered normal and decent and yours is not.

FATHER JOE RESPONDS: Could it have something to do with the difference in how men perceive and respond to women’s breasts over how women generally react to most men’s chests?

It would be great if every State would encourage females to go one summer topfree. Most would never put that top or one-
piece back on.

FATHER JOE RESPONDS: Pleeeease! Do not make me laugh! You would have states mandate nudity? You are like the Taliban in reverse. They would require women to cover up and you would urge them to strip. Is this comment a joke? Is this really a male poster? You cannot be serious!
on August 15, 2007 at 11:09 pm Michelle

Wonder why we aren’t born naked, god hates it so much. OH WAIT! WE ARE BORN NAKED! GO FIGURE….once your “BUMPY” parts show you become indecent hahaha you people are fools.

BTW This is NOT a male posting. Father Joe, I think your a [deleted] reading your post made my stomach turn.

FATHER JOE: What God creates is good and most Catholics are not prudes. The post was done partially in humor, although the issue of modesty is important– not because the human body is bad but because of the effects from original sin and concupiscence .
on August 18, 2007 at 10:04 pm Melissa

Question: Are bumpy parts prohibited on just females or males too???? I think it should go both ways, don’t you? Therefore, I must recommend that all overweight men wear bras… It’s just fair.. And all men must also wear swimsuits to their ankles.. Cuz we all might get turned on by the “bumpy part” in an ankle, right? What happened to the freedom that Jesus offers us? I’m sorry, this just is not a clear representation of what Jesus came to proclaim. I believe in modesty, but not legalism. Good luck.
on August 20, 2007 at 12:05 pm Anon

Check out http://www.modest-swimwear.net
on August 21, 2007 at 11:19 am St. Timonious

who told them they were catholic? have they be eating of the tree of knowledge of which God had forbidden?
on August 30, 2007 at 5:21 pm Ms. D

As someone mentioned, those clotings are grossly unfashionable. I don’t think it is necessary to go to the extreme to be considered modest. Also, I don’t think anyone needs to purchase your clothing to appear modest. A tank top and shorts can be purchased at any store. And not every one of them reveals cleavage or are unbearably tight. If you are really concerned about what girls wear, and consider yourself a practical person, rather then choosing the styles you prefer consider taking the time to listen to the girls that might consider wearing them. I hope whoever looks at your website knows that they don’t have to look like that to be modest.
on September 13, 2007 at 6:25 pm lorilla

does your wife wear these swimsuits? or is she too embarressed?

FATHER JOE RESPONDS: Whose wife???
on September 15, 2007 at 3:16 am Henry

What some regard as modest, others find titillating or even fetishistic.

The simplest way to eliminate eroticism of this kind is 100% nudity, Scandinavian style. What is familiar will not excite.

As a Catholic myself, I thought Catholicism was primarily concerned about bringing love to the world through the Risen Christ.

FATHER JOE RESPONDS: I would still make the case for Christian modesty.
on October 13, 2007 at 9:59 pm Al

Joe, that’s sick. If you can’t handle swim attire, don’t go to the beach.

FATHER JOE RESPONDS: Who is Joe?
on November 24, 2007 at 9:01 pm ACQUAGYM

Acquagym manufactures highest quality swimwear and its collection is an innovation for many muslim women.
Please acess http://www.acquagymbrazil.com and don´t hesitate to contact us !
on January 27, 2008 at 12:50 am barbara

(God) forbid – just stay out of the sun and off the beach. Did not God design the human body? Are we to be ashamed and deny the beautiful creation called the human body? I think those people extolling the ‘virtues’ of modest swimwear must have their minds in the gutter. Methinks one doth protesteth too much !
on January 27, 2008 at 12:54 am barbara

muslim shmuslim. Please women, WHY would you want to propell us backward ? This has NOTHING to do with religion – when will you realize this is about male dominance – stupid old men who want to feel powerful and seek to do this through the subjugation of women. Burn the burkha !
on February 7, 2008 at 10:43 am Jezzabelle

If you want to save your young catholic boys from temptation send them with a priest for 5 minutes! I bet they wont want anything to do with sex for years! maybe if you werent a dirty old man “bumpy parts” wouldnt bother you so much.

immodestwhore@carolina.rr.com

FATHER JOE: Am I supposed to take seriously a girl who calls herself Jezzebelle and Immodest Whore? Please get help and healing. I will pray for you.
on February 7, 2008 at 8:57 pm Jezzebelle

why not? you take your crack pot beliefs seriously. The body is beautiful, the baggy crap used to cover gods beautiful creation is not. The more you cover, the farther away we are from where god wanted us to be before adam and eve found the fruit of the tree of knowledge. Basically your telling women that because men are tempted they need to cover up. It doesnt sound like my problem if i want to wear a bikini, im not going to go to hell so save your prayers for someone who agrees with everything you say.

FATHER JOE: Jezze, the post was written somewhat tongue-in-cheek. I am surprised so many people read it as being totally serious. In otherwords, I think the baggy full-body suits are a bit much, even as they remind us of the importance of modesty. The body is beautiful. It is a marvel of design and shows the masterful hand of the creator who fashioned it. Women should be concerned about how they dress, and willing to help men to be chaste, as they should also be. But there are swimsuits that both reveal a woman’s beauty and form while not catering to the pornographic. However, I am no expert in such things and would be the last person to catalogue what fashions are or are not acceptable. I never said you were going to hell. God bless and keep you in his love.
on February 7, 2008 at 9:05 pm Jezzebelle

and by the way my mom gave me when i came out of what your so concerned about covering efficiently.

FATHER JOE: Are you a kid? The post about modesty had a point, but the comparisons to Islamic “baggy” dress and the like was tainted by parody. In otherwords, you may have taken it too seriously. I would not condemn the human body. It is God’s creation and whatever God creates is good. Modesty is simply a way to show respect to persons, particularly given the effects of original sin. Jezze, you should not label yourself as a whore. Demand respect for yourself and show it to others. Thank God for your health and beauty. Enjoy your youth, but do not allow yourself to be exploited by anyone. God loves you. I will pray for you. If you are troubled, you can email me at frjoe2000@yahoo.com.
on March 3, 2008 at 5:57 pm Michael

They’re too revealing
on March 23, 2008 at 10:59 pm Father Joe

HERE IS A NEW LINK ON THE SUBJECT:

http://saintjosephslilies.wordpress.com/2008/03/12/focus-on-fashion-modest-bathing-suits/
on March 27, 2008 at 11:47 pm Raeleigh (16)

Raeleigh of Texas
juicydiorcouture@hotmail.com

“With strength of numbers, our families and girls can admonish the other so-called Catholic females on the beach: “Have you no shame for exposing yourselves in underwear? Protestants, I mean Prostitutes wear more clothes than you!’

HA HA HA You are so highly amusing…not. That comment is extremely offensive and not the least bit amusing. You are a [deleted] who claims to be under the direction of God. Your attempt at humor [deleted] and I hope that [deleted] with all this [deleted] you are spreading.

FATHER JOE: Put some clothes on and stop being so rude and vulgar. Immodesty is a problem that needs to be highlighted.
on April 2, 2008 at 9:52 am Yenni

I love the range of muslim swim suites from ZEHBA.

I have chosen one of their floral designs, which i believe to be a better choice for a moderate women. I have bought it from Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

You can see many designs at their website.

http://www.zehba.com
on April 3, 2008 at 11:27 pm C. P. C.

A More Practical Alternative.

My brother dresses his daughters in long board shorts. Yes, the kind male surfers wear and manage to find a way to do so very low slung and immodestly. Not so with these girls, tough. For a top they again where the surfers rash guard or ’skin’.

These outfits look ‘cool’ in s surfer kind of way, allow the girls to be very active in and out of the water, protect them from the sun and lewd glances.
on April 22, 2008 at 10:45 pm SlightlyConfused

Dear Fr. Joe,

As a young woman desiring to be modest to aid her brothers in Christ, is the best option to forego public co-ed swimming?

Why should I reveal parts of myself at the beach I never reveal elsewhere in public?

Seeking the help of a father,
Slightly Confused

FATHER JOE: A nice modest swimsuit, yes even with legs and arms exposed, would probably suffice. But really, I am no authority to tell girls what to wear. Your intention is to enjoy the beach and to go swimming. Mingling with nice guys and gals is also okay. A few young women I trust on this matter have some good suggestions and links. Here is their blog page:

http://saintjosephslilies.wordpress.com/2008/03/12/focus-on-fashion-modest-bathing-suits/
on April 25, 2008 at 9:52 pm SparklingSnowBaby

Hi Father Joe,

I found your article when looking online for modest swimwear for myself and my little girls.

It took me a moment to realize your article was tounge in cheek, but after that it really tickled me. I felt sad when I saw some of the vitriolic replies you received. Some people truly cannot take a joke. I just wanted to say thank you for trying to address a sensitive topic in a humorous way, and for the caring manner in which you answered the obviously wounded people who responded with those posts.

One thing that I don’t recall anyone mentioning in a post is the freedom modesty brings. When I wear modest clothes, I’m more comfortable and can jump and play with my kids without thinking “gee, what’s hanging out now?” I want my girls to have the same freedom. And I don’t think my mind is “in the gutter”!

For those worried about fashion, I would suggest they try asking their kids. My husband wants our girls to be modest, but he laughed at me when I suggested we purchase suits for them from a modesty site. He then showed the pictures to our oldest, age 9, expecting her to loudly refuse. (She is quite vocal and opinionated.)
Imagine his surprise when she became really excited, and asked us to buy her one right away.

Honestly, our little ones have a sense of what is right. They don’t want to feel exposed and naked in front of strangers.

Get a clue, people!

God bless you Father Joe!

A Protestant :)
on May 5, 2008 at 6:04 pm adriennesarmoire

My name is Grace and I have recently designed and made a modest bathing suit. I am currently working on the pattern and will soon get that published. The one on my site is just one type of suit, and I have designed a suit with a covered back and higher neckline. The skirt I have also made so you can choose the length of knee-length or mid-thigh. The pattern will come out soon.

Please feel free to look at my site and find out!

http://www.adriennesarmoire.wordpress.com/

Thanks and God Bless!
on May 5, 2008 at 6:05 pm adriennesarmoire

oh, and I am making visible shorts to go underneath too!
on May 16, 2008 at 3:36 pm swimsuits

classic pics and classic swimsuit style.
I like the 3rd pics.
on June 26, 2008 at 10:26 am grace

I agree. That’s why I don’t bother with what is in the stores, because I know I’m just waisting a trip. I make my OWN bathing suits, modest. It’s so simple a child could do it!
on July 4, 2008 at 7:43 am Sherrie Young

You didn’t mention another option in modest swimwear for women: HydroChic. I bought a top and a bottom from HydroChic, and I love it! It is modest and comfortable and it looks very chic! And my family keeps reminding me that it’s sun-protective, too! Now when I go swimming with my family, I don’t feel like I’m showing off – or showing too much! Thank you, HydroChic!

http://www.hydrochic.com/

Sherrie Young,
Omaha, NE
on July 7, 2008 at 10:18 am andrea

Check out Shade Clothing for some great swimsuits – fashionable and covers! http://www.shadeclothing.com/~ps~mau23780

Use Personal Shopper Coupon Code MAU23780 for 10% off your first order and 5% off each additional order! Shade’s best kept secret!
on July 22, 2008 at 5:39 pm Grace

I’m just wondering why people care so much what another person wears?

If you want to go to a topless beach…isn’t that your prerogative?

If you want to attract attention (purposely) at a beach or pool by wearing a revealing bathing suit…isn’t that your prerogative?

If you just want to look cute in a bathing suit that is flattering, etc…isn’t that your prerogative?

If you don’t want someone eyes attached to your a@# while you try to enjoy some time in the water…isn’t that your prerogative?

Why does everyone think that only their opinion is correct or that it needs to be imposed on others? WHO CARES that much?

If you don’t like the cover all suits, don’t wear them. If you’re not into topless, keep your top on. Life will only be pleasant for everyone if we can learn to live OUR OWN lives.

And that’s my two cents.

Grace

FATHER JOE: The trouble is that we have to share the public beaches and immodesty is still a sin. Leading others to sin is also wrong. Christians must exhibit a custody of they eyes and we must help one another to be pure. Beaches should be family friendly.
on August 22, 2008 at 1:13 am Chris Morales

Hi Fr. Joe. A chastity speaker on our speakers bureau at The Goretti Group, http://www.thegorettigroup.org, has started a modest swimwear line at http://reyswimwear.com/index2.php. She is a Hollywood actress. Please post us on your blog as a resource for talks on marriage, chastity, modesty, and dating. We have spoken at a number of diocese across the United States and would welcome your support.
on October 19, 2008 at 3:20 am RichardVine

Fr and get your mind on higher things.

This article does pretty well at making a laughing stock of catholics, in that it reads like an outrageous parody which even the most savvy satirist would struggle to better.
on November 18, 2008 at 1:59 pm Henry Law

I thought this was a parody at first but there is an interesting background. I live in Brighton, England, where sea bathing was first popularised in the middle of the eighteenth century. There were separate ladies’ and gentlemen’s beaches. In the early nineteenth century, sea bathing looked like this, with people clad in loose-fitting garments changing in wheeled bathing machines close to the water’s edge and being plunged in the waves by licensed “dippers”.
http://henry-local.blogspot.com/2008/04/sea-bathing-iconic-of-brighton.html

Before World War 1, it was also the practice to permit naked bathing from the beaches before 8.00am, which resulted in complaints from sea front residents who were offended by what they could see through their telescopes.

In Scandinavia it is sometimes considered indecent to bathe with clothing on, so these things are a matter of convention. Covering up can be suggestive and erotic, so it may not achieve the desired result.
on December 5, 2008 at 9:16 am Vera

If you want stylish and modest swimsuits you better check out http://www.modestkini.com/

And this one is my girls’ favorite:
http://www.modestkini.com/?m=detay&urun=150

V.
on December 5, 2008 at 10:14 am Lady Godless

Gee — I dunno, Vera… You’d go swimming in this?

http://www.modestkini.com/dir_urun/modestkini_supersize_muslim_swimsuit_5595.jpg

Looks like a biohazard suit. All you need are boots, gloves, and a respirator, and you’re ready to start mopping up toxic spills.

Show up at the beach in a “modestkini” that resembles hazmat gear, and watch as mass panic ensues.

But on the plus side, it’s OSHA approved, just in case you do encounter any hazardous waste.
on December 5, 2008 at 5:13 pm Vera

Nope Lady Godless, I would not swim in that one which is for the fundamentalist muslim women. Sometimes I see them wearing that kind of suits here on the beaches and believe me no panic ensues as people here are used to them and respect their beliefs.

Anyway, as I said it is (and the full covered ones of course) for the muslim women. That’s why I gave the link to one of the semi covered ones that my daughters like to wear; http://www.modestkini.com/?m=r&cat=12

V.
on December 10, 2008 at 11:25 pm Mary Finch

I think you are a [deleted].

FATHER JOE: Girls and women who use such language are precisely part of the problem today. You bring disgrace upon yourself, and a Texas girl no less!
on January 18, 2009 at 11:30 pm Michigander

What can I say, that has not already been said. Since I no longer, young or skinny, most folks would beg me to keep my clothes, on year round, clear to my ankles. Ever since the doctor took out my Gall Bladder, I’ve gained weight. Gall in the Gall Bladder breaks down fat. Since, that’s not occurring in my Digestive System, I now look like I’m 9 or 10 months pregnant, year round. A dude that works in a Shell Gas Station, and who also has had alot of surgeries, said, he gained wt. in the mid-section after his Gall Bladder was taken out. No the public is not ready to see this, anymore. People would pay us, to keep our clothes on. I’m being facious, here folks, don’t get yer danders up. I’m putting myself down, no one else. I haven’t the time to go check out those websites. Maybe tomorrow. But, actually, it’s been fun reading all your comments. God must like the Pregnant Look on me. God made me big, but, in my case, I helped Him a wee bit. I used to be a long distance runner, so being fat, now, is a kick in the butt, butttt, I cannot do that to myself either. Ah, old age. Suposedly wiser, nope, just more “accident prone.” Actually, doctors get so hopeful when I come into their offices. I’ve had more broken bones, than Humpty Dumpty, who had a “Great Fall.” Yet, when doctors, take a Look at my Insurance—which is Medicare & Medicaid—they just Pass their Hands, over me, like FAKE FAITH HEALERS, and send me on my way. Bless their hearts. Cynicism, even my own, though, doesn’t please God, so I’ll stop while I am ahead. Been fun, reading you all’s comments. Let God’s Mom, be your guiding example. She didn’t tempt St. Joseph, her Most Chaste Spouse. How’d she manage that? Well, has anyone ever looked to His Mother, on how to dress modestly. At Fatima, Our Lord’s MOM, came dressed in a Bride’s White gown, and full length opague veil, with a Rosary in her hands. She told the kids she appeared to in 1917, “Certain Fashions, will offend God very much.” That was before immodest clothes, were invented. So,….HIS MOM’s words, must be the last words. I think Our Lord’s MOM flattered the Muslim Women’s Attire, when She appeared in a town named after a Muslim Princess, who used to live in the town called Fatima. Fatima, is in Portugal. It’s a small country next to Spain, by the Atlantic Ocean. I hope to get a modest swim suit, so I can swim at a theraputic pool, and loose the weight I gained after that surgery. It’s the only way to do it, when your as accident prone as me. It’s probably the weight. If this helps anyone, great. If I didn’t help you, then let me offer you my very own “mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa!” Hopefully I spelled maxima right. It’s been a while since I dusted off the Latin. I never had any schooling in it, it’s just I heard it at Mass, until 1966, give or take a year. My memory might not be serving me well on this historical trivia. Or, I’m having a “Senior Moment.” I’m 54, gaining on 55, and Senior Moment’s have been coming on with more regularity. It’s pretty bad, when you see your Family Doctor, more than you see your Family! Oh well, se la vie. (I hope I spelled that French, correctly too.) I never took a class in that either. That’s enough “Catholicism 101″ for me for one night’s work on the Internet. Goodnight. And, God bless U All. I’m from the north, but I’m just now getting started sounding like a “southerner” too. I guess I’ve just about insulted every ethnicity, so I better get off the web, before I get further intangle in this mess. I have a Southern Name, and no insult was intended to Southerners. It’s just I’ve never “fit” my given name. I had goofey parents, who ran out of names for their daughters, once that they had so many of them. So, they stopped being creative, and grabbed any ole name for me. Please, what ever you do, don’t name your kids, goofey names. Trust me, they won’t like it, when they grow up. Name them Christian Names, after some saint. Perhaps, I’ll plow through, and be the first Saint What-cha-call-it, in the US. It’s now 2009, but the swimming season is coming up. Be moderate, and modest, and have fun. Build Sand Castles, and don’t try to offend each other, or tempt someone else’s husband, or wife. Be good to each other. God would want that, most of all. Take Care. Adieu!
on February 21, 2009 at 9:06 pm teenage girl

you people are fricken ridiculous. I am a 15 year old baptist homeschooled teenage girl, and i wear a bikini…oh wow i guess im gonna go to hell! there is more to a person than what they wear to the beach. If a child wore those huge suits to the beach, and it got caught on something and they couldnt get it off, they would drown. whats more important. safety? or values? I think safety. because without safety, there wouldnt even be values. think about it. you are drowning your children! a womans body should not be something to be ashamed of. fr joe, you are a man. you dont know what it is like to have to cover up. all you care about is your selfish feelings. and calling someone a whore on the internet? try saying it to her face! you shouldnt even be preaching. you are a hypocrite!

FATHER JOE: The article is done “tongue-in-cheek” so look up what that means. When is it warm enough in Minnesota to wear swimsuits, anyway? Having said this, you should be modest as a sign of self-respect and to help young men to be holy in regards to the desires of the flesh. Zoe, if you are really Baptist, talk to your minister. He will tell you the same. As for the body suits, they are regarded as quite safe and protect the wearer from cancer causing solar rays. Given your other post where you support sex outside of marriage, I must offer you the strongest caution. You are only 15 years old. Dress modestly and please stop having sex with boys! God bless you, Zoe.
on February 21, 2009 at 9:11 pm teenage girl

and no.. there is nothing in the bible about having to be modest.. maybe you should read it? and there is no verse in the bible that says you cant have sex before marriage..it just says to respect what your parents say. so if your parents dont care…who’s stopping you? its your choice..its just a matter of opinion..not a religious issue.

FATHER JOE: You are a poor girl ignorant of her Bible. The Bible does so require modesty in dress:

“I will that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands without wrath and doubting. In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; but (which becometh women professing
godliness) with good works” (1 Timothy 2:8-10).

“Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; while they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands” (1 Peter 3:1-5).

The Bible does so speak against sex before marriage. It is called the sin of fornication. Look at what St. paul writes! The Christians at Thessalonica were commanded by him to abstain from fornication (I Thessalonians 4:3). In his epistle to the churches of Galatia, he classified fornication as one of the works of the flesh that can prevent one from entering into the kingdom of God (Galatians 5:19-21). In the book of Romans he reflects upon the status of many Gentiles of the long ago when he stated,

“Wherefore God gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves…For this cause God gave them up to vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. Even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness…” (Romans 1:24, 26-29a).
on February 22, 2009 at 10:36 am Michael

There’s such a thing as self respect.
Yes, God created man and women beautifully and in His image and likeness. Our bodies belong to God. The body is the temple of God and is not something that we should use as objects of pleasure. We can’t live according to the lust of our flesh and still be in good standing with God. The body and the spirit militate against each other. Ask your pastor about that. It’s in Romans chapter 7.

Also, pre-marital sex is wrong too. That’s in the sixth and nineth commandments which is also very Biblical. Adultery is sex between two unmarried people.

If I were a woman, I would want a man to love me for myself and not for my body. Good looks are nice, but age and illness remove them. What’s left? The person.

If the unmarried would only listen to the voice of truth instead of giving in to their own desires, I’m sure that there would be a lot less unwanted pregnancies and juvenile delinquencies. We’re raising a generation of love children who don’t know who their father’s are. Most of them either end up dead or in jail. Our society is morally corrupt because we have children having children.
It’s better to abstain from sexual activity until marriage. God created marriage in order to bring life into the world and that people would be at peace. Just look at the destruction caused by unwanted pregnancy and single parenthood.
on February 22, 2009 at 1:33 pm Michael

The spirit lives on while the body dies.
It’s a woman’s duty to keep society moral and I don’t think that God will send anyone to hell for wearing a bikini either. I’ve got news for you: God doesn’t send anyone to hell, if fact, He came this earth to destroy hell. People send themselves there by living in constant state of mortal sin. Women are under obligation to keep society moral and they are failing miserably. 80% of the sexual relationships depicted on tv and in the movies are outside of marriage. Would you want your daughter to get pregnant before marriage? If so, then would have to be the one to take care of her baby. Our modern world tells us that the family doesn’t need structure any more. The modern world is terribly wrong.
on February 22, 2009 at 11:41 pm His Girl

Yahshua(Jesus) said that is would once again be as the days of Noah..those with eyes to see, see more than ever. It’s a sick and dying world we live in, and many of these replies reflect that fact. To those who insist on whoring, you are more than free to make that choice, and to suffer the consequences. Women, do you think being “free” is to pimp yourself? You’re in fact falling for what twisted men, and satan want, hook, line and sinker…a little reverse psychology there. The fact is that God’s word is foolishness to them that have not the Spirit..so arguing with them is a waste of time. But for those of you who claim to be believers upon the Son of God, yet have convinced yourself that tromping around half naked is “ok because we were born naked”, you may want to pray on that and re-read some of the verses Joe has listed in various comments. Idolatry at it’s finest is not only worshiping a wooden or golden idol, it’s making up a god that you desire and following Him. Yah(God) says “I am what I am”, and you can discover who He is through prayer, belief upon His Son and seeking Him out in His Word. He definitely isn’t the god of fornication, lude behavior and “free love.” Ask Sodom and Gomorrah..oh wait you can’t, they were destroyed for the very same things! Men, make a covenant with your eyes as Job did..a moment of fleshly satisfaction is not worth an eternity. Women, wake up and see who it is that God desires for you to be!
on February 23, 2009 at 1:20 am Michael

I was 38 years of age and on my honeymoon when I became intimate with a woman for the first time. No, I’m not a freak or from the planet Mars and I’m certainly not bragging about it either. Just to make the point that it’s possible to remain a virgin (pure) in this day and age until marriage, contrary to what your friends tell you to do. I had many girlfriends before I met my wife and YES, I wanted to have sex with some of them, BUT I didn’t. The reason that I didn’t have sex was because of my father. He told me early on that if ever I got a girl in trouble I would have to find another place to live. His life was difficult enough let alone having to raise an someone else’s child.
That was enough warning for me.
Girls think that if they let a man “have his way” then the man will remain close to them. The are VERY DECEIVED. Men who act that way usually take off never to be found again. Where does that leave the girl and her child?
I’m sooo glad that I waited until my wedding night. It was well worth the wait because when I was with my wife, I WAS WITH MY WIFE, and without memories of “partners of pleasure” before her. We’re coming up on our 9th anniversary next month. God’s ways are ALWAYS the best ways and no one will ever out do God. He is the author of man, woman and the rest of creation. Who knows about humanity better than he does? No one.
on March 1, 2009 at 3:49 pm teenage girl

I never said i had sex with boys. And i wont till im at least 20. and yes it gets to a 110 degrees here in the summer. and its not called a minister..its a pastor. Im not from israel..so i dont need to dress in sheets or wear a towel on my head. and maybe guys should control their thoughts. oh wow i have a belly button! and skin! how is that sexy? its not like i have breasts or anything either, so thats why i get away with wearing a bikini. when i am with guys, i wear a tankini. and adultry is sex between two people that are married to someone else, but do it with someone other than their spouse. how is the body something to be ashamed of? if everyone went nude, we would all be used to it…..

FATHER JOE: I have edited your comment because of rudeness and incoherence. Kids should be careful on the Internet. They must also know that nastiness on the Internet is not tolerable. I am sorry that you refuse to understand basic Christian morality about modesty. Look at the Bible verses given so far, and pray over it. Remember, that God knows everything and you cannot hide from him or lie to him. Talk to your Baptist pastor, he will tell you the same thing.

Sex outside of marriage is called FORNICATION. It is condemned by the Bible. St. Paul says that fornicators will have no part in the kingdom of heaven. Do you believe the Bible? Do you believe St. Paul? Is God’s Word inspired for you or not? You seem more worried about me than God, get your priorities straight.

“Wherefore God gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves…For this cause God gave them up to vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. Even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; being filled with all unrighteousness, FORNICATION, wickedness…” (Romans 1:24, 26-29a).
on March 2, 2009 at 12:40 am Michael

Right Fr. Joe. Good answer. However, I don’t think think that your response will be taken to heart. Sexual relation is reserved by God for the married only so that new life may enter into this world. Since God invented sexual relations between male and female, He know’s what He is doing. When a married man and woman come together in that most sacred act, they have something VERY SPECIAL that they don’t have when they’re apart. Any married person in good standing with God will tell you that.

A sensitive conscience is also a great gift of God. So is prudence, modesty, temperance, kindness, maturity, faith and wisdom. Women who dress provocatively don’t think too much of themselves as people. They usually lack self-respect. Their attire, or lack of, can become an occasion of sin for someone else. That can lead to all kinds of evils. There have been women who have been violated because they were improperly dressed. It’s still a woman’s duty to keep society moral. The best way to do that is to dress respectfully.

I love all women and I respect them as I do my own sisters. I don’t think of my wife as an object of my lustful desires either. I love her much more than that. We are not objects to each other and men and women are not animals. We’re higher than animals, but lately it seems as though the animals have more sense than humans do.
on March 3, 2009 at 12:07 pm teenage girl

you are a freak. i dont know who you think you are, …

FATHER JOE: I will pray that you will learn good manners.
on March 5, 2009 at 1:18 am Michael

Fr. Joe, This must be repeated:

“Wherefore God gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves…For this cause God gave them up to vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. Even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; being filled with all unrighteousness, FORNICATION, wickedness…” (Romans 1:24, 26-29a).

When we willfully continue to sin after having received repeated correction, God leaves us to ourselves.

This is the first punishment of hell….
the eternal loss of God. It’s not worth it.
on March 5, 2009 at 10:51 am Michael

“souls fall into hell like snowflakes because of sins of the flesh”

Our Lady to the children of Fatima
on March 5, 2009 at 10:52 am Lady Godless

Michael said: “There have been women who have been violated because they were improperly dressed.”

That’s not really how it happens.
on March 6, 2009 at 1:34 am Michael

Madalen,
I beg to differ. Women are proned to get sexually assaulted if they are scantily clad.
You can ask any law enforcement officer about that.
Why do middle eastern woman cover up everything but their faces when they’re out in public?
They do it out of respect for their husbands and for their male population. Personally, I have to give their culture credit for realizing the importance of not leading others to sin by inappropriate dress.
I respect them enormously for that.
How they dress in the privacy of their own homes is their business.
on March 6, 2009 at 1:36 am Michael

the eye is the window of the soul
on March 6, 2009 at 11:12 am teenage girl

oops i thought you were being serious about that article. i didnt know that it was just being humorous. sorry pardon me.

FATHER JOE: Accepted, Thanks!
on March 6, 2009 at 11:41 am Bob

Hi Fr. -

Wow! Some of these folks REALLY need to develop a sense of humor! I can’t help but wonder if any of the cowards that hurled all those [expletives] at you would dare to do so to your face?
on March 6, 2009 at 4:23 pm Michael

Bob,
There’s always room for humor, but immodest dress is something that should not be tolerated, especially at Mass. Just ask Fr. Joe about that.

People get hurt and offended by immodest dress and some also end up in hell because of the consequences of it.
Isn’t the body sacred?

I’m not in favor of women wearing hefty bags to the beach either.
on March 11, 2009 at 3:33 pm Bob

Michael – I couldn’t agree more! I wonder how many of these people, if invited to the White House for a state dinner, would show up dressed the way they do when invited to a Supper given by and in honor of the Lord and Creator of the universe? “What we do in time resonates in Eternity.”
on March 11, 2009 at 11:10 pm Michael

Bob,
You’re exactly right. Even our most smallest sins in some strange way effect the entire order of God’s creation
on March 24, 2009 at 4:10 pm amanda

I cannot believe that someone of the Lord would have so much judgement to pass down. I am a white american women and am appalled that you would say such things about God’s children, no matter what religion. “Finally we have found something worthwhile we can do with our Muslim neighbors!”, and “Protestants, I mean Prostitutes”. What I love most about your article is that you make delightful excuses for boys, as if they have no control over themselves. They have just as much control as women do. Why should we have to cover-up, the lord made us the way we are. NO, I will not be ashamed of the way god made me, and I certainly don’t parade myself around the beaches. I go to sit and enjoy the peaceful sounds of the ocean, and enjoy the beauty of God’s earth. That’s the way HE would want it.

-working thru HIM

FATHER JOE: I thought my “tongue-in-cheek” style was obvious, but again and again critics read this post in a literal or fundamentalist way. Goodness! Having said this, I am appalled that so many women have forgotten basic decency and that modesty is an important “Christian” virtue (for men and women).
on March 24, 2009 at 4:15 pm amanda

and to respond to “michael” in regards to Madalen women in the middle east don’t wear what they wear out of respect for the male population. They do b/c if they don’t the get stoned to death.
on March 26, 2009 at 3:41 pm Michael

Amanda,
They wear what they wear because they RESPECT their common law, which AFFECTS their male population. What do you think would happen if they wore a tank top, mini skirt, or a bikini in public? Right.

It’s a woman’s duty to keep society moral. Think of how our women here in America are failing miserably. That accounts largely for the rapid decline of morality in this country. You’re probably too young to remember that there were times when it was considered immoral for a woman to even show a leg. It was. Communist China has been complaining to us about the amount of immorality and pornography which has been pouring into their country via the internet. Who’s wrong?
Who would ever think that a communist country would ever complain about immorality and be right?

The real tragedy is that America is able to transmit pornography via the internet to China, but the Chinese are unable to receive Fr. Joe’s blog.
This is a fact.
on March 26, 2009 at 5:41 pm Lady Godless

Michael said: “They [Middle Eastern women] wear what they wear because they RESPECT their common law, which AFFECTS their male population. What do you think would happen if they wore a tank top, mini skirt, or a bikini in public?”

They’d get arrested, and possibly whipped as a punishment. They do that there.

In Iran, you can get arrested if any of your hair shows — even just the bangs.

Well, no, actually Michael ~you~ can’t get arrested for that. But I can. Men’s hair is just hair. Women’s hair undermines morality, or whatever.

:rolls eyes:
on March 26, 2009 at 10:41 pm Michael

Madalen,
You’re right and I don’t disagree with you at all about the woman’s hair/head being covered. In certain cultures such as the Amish and Middle Eastern etc., the woman’s hair is to be covered and seen by her husband only.

Remember when our Catholic ladies used to actually wear veils to Mass?
Why did women wear veils at Mass?
The answer comes from St. Paul in his 1st letter to the Corinthians 11: 4-10
“Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head and every woman who prays or prophesies with her head UNcovered dishonors her head. It is just as though she had shaved her head. If a woman does not cover her head she should have her hair cut off…. For this reason, because of the angels, a woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head.”

St.Paul also writes in 1 Corinthians 15
“whereas if a woman has long hair it is her glory, because long hair has been given (her) for a covering?
on March 26, 2009 at 10:47 pm Michael

Madelen,
I wanted to add that a woman with her head covered shows that she is a woman of faith and of prayer. Just think of religious sisters for example, amongst many others.
A woman with her head covered is a true sign of respect.
on April 18, 2009 at 9:03 pm Jen

I’m a traditional Catholic and I don’t think the women in bathing suits from the 40’s look sexual. Nor does that lady have a “come hither” look. Also, covering your head was recommended by the church for in church, you didn’t have to cover outside.

FATHER JOE: Jen, it was a parody, a partial joke, I thought people would see through it. Yes, I support modesty but I am not a prude. Peace!
on April 18, 2009 at 9:05 pm Jen

Wait, you were just being sarcastic?

FATHER JOE: Yes, I suppose that word might apply. I am not for either public nudity nor for dressing women in potato bags from head to foot.
on April 18, 2009 at 9:33 pm Girlie Man

I think he meant everything he said!

A naked body is a dirty body, right Father?
on April 18, 2009 at 9:48 pm Michael

Why do women have to dress sexy to go to a swimming pool or to a beach?
Why can’t they just dress modestly?

Their swimware, or lack of, can be an occasion of sin for someone else.
It’s selfish.

A naked body IS NOT dirty or evil because God created it. Whenever people talk about being naked in public I cannot help but think that they are implying that original sin never happened.
We know how false that really is.

God had to kill a lamb…..an innocent lamb to cover up the shame of our first parents. This is where the word HIDE comes from.
They knew that they were naked didn’t they?
on April 26, 2009 at 6:54 am Anna Maria

Over at the post, Guns, Toys & Children Fr. Joe wrote regarding the Miss California gay marriage flap:

“I missed the whole business. I haven’t watched the Miss USA Pageant since they went to two-piece bathing suits.”

I could absolutely care less about such pageants. I am amazed that anyone pays any attention to them. I did not even know that they did not refer to it anymore as the Miss America pageant. However, I did see the news item a few times regarding Miss California’s statement against gay marriage. When it would be covered on the news, the news station always seemed to include a small portion of Miss California during the silly swimsuit competition. I had heard a while back that they had switched from one-piece bathing suits. I am not a prude, but I was horrified by what I saw. I told my husband to look away. I don’t know a lot about these things, but how that could not qualify as an occasion of sin for a man is beyond me.

Since Miss California’s now well-known response to the gay marriage question became news, she has been widely quoted as being glad she stated her opinion as she did and that she is satisfied to be “Biblically correct rather than politically correct” in her comments. I do not wish to be a wet blanket, because I do applaud her courage in answering the way she did. However, ever since it all hit the news, I could not help thinking that it would be nice to be “Biblically correct” about modesty, too. I could be wrong but I think Scripture addresses modesty in more than a few places. I’m sure Miss California is a very nice, young woman but I could not help noting this inconsistency. It only leads me to believe that we have really become numb to what is impure and immodest. She probably never even gave a thought to how this does not fit with the Christian way of life.

I don’t know if this is true, but a friend told me that the pageant contestants have the option to wear a one piece bathing suit but my friend quickly added,”if she did, though, she would be such an oddball.” Aren’t Christians called to be “oddballs” sometimes?
on April 27, 2009 at 2:16 pm Paula

> Some might regard the hair-guard as optional, but don’t you
>chance it! Who knows what a pretty neck or a rosy cheek
>might do to a hormonal crazy boy!

Why take the chance? Just keep the women cloistered and forbid them from going out, lest they corrupt those pure holy men by inadvertently exposing too much of their heads!

eesh.

There is a point for modesty, and most people seem to be missing it these days, but there is also a point where you end up just going overboard.

FATHER JOE: I agree with you. Did you see my comment about satire?
on April 27, 2009 at 2:18 pm Paula

anna maria many of us are noting the complete inconsistency of Miss California. The whole idea of a beauty pageant is appallingly unbiblical. Checking women out like a piece of horseflesh or a purebred dog.

A friend of mind suggested she walk out there with a coverup on and say

“Young women of America, God does not want you to be a sexual object. He wants you to be women of virtue, respectability, modesty, and self-control. I know I will lose this competition, but it is more important to me to honor and glorify Christ with my life–and that includes my body and the apparel I put on it.”

found here:
http://thelawmanchronicles.blogspot.com/2009/04/miss-california-persecution-or.html
on April 27, 2009 at 3:10 pm Paula

I’m totally confused as to where the post was indicated as being humorous? Someone quoted FatherJoe saying that, but above that, there is no indication… hence my confusion.
on May 12, 2009 at 3:45 am Woody

Henry’s comment makes a good point. But to avoid a prudish response such as “It works for the nudists, but… the end does not justify the means,” I’ve a little narrative that shows that such means are probably not inherently wicked:

A fictional evangelist Demetrius Theophilus Philetus (DTP) lived in a fictional desert. Everyone around him was as poor as he — could afford neither clothes nor hut-building materials. No wonder nudism was in their culture; they had no way around it! Furthermore, DTP was a Christian, as were most of those around him.
Had the culture any prudish hang-ups about the human body, poor as the folks are, who could live one day w/o breaking the Matthew commandment “Do not worry what you shall wear…”?
On, now, w/ what Henry was suggesting: the fewest impure arousals, fewest STD’s, & fewest teen pregs known to man! Because all their lives it was never once a stumbling block; what’s the big deal? Not to mention, the fewest lies told known to man! Because they feel they have nothing to hide. Weren’t DTP a Christian, would he premaritally have still been the virgin that he was?

FATHER JOE: Immodesty is a sin. Concupicense from Original sin has not been undone. While there are cultural variations, humanity struggles with this lack of control and the various human appetites. The big deal is not to give scandal, not to tempt others into sin and not to place ourselves into the near occasion of sin.
on May 22, 2009 at 9:35 pm josie

o my are you serious do you honestly expect people to wear these?! i’m pretty sure that my 90 year old grandma wouldn’t even wear this!!

FATHER JOE: Hehehe… thanks for the chuckle… peace!
on May 26, 2009 at 9:04 pm Woody

Yeah, immodesty is certainly a sin! All should be well aware. My post was not about freedom to be immodest. My post was about whether or not poverty & *wearing all that a budget permits* (very little covering for the poor) counts as inherently immodest.
Put simply, is there such a thing as “too poor to be modest”?
If it *is* immodest… is there any way (other than “richcraft”, mind you) that they can repent of their 3rd-world poverty, then?

Only if the answer to point #1 is “They’re not immodest” can point #2 be applied.

Point #2 was not intended to impose raising a child like one of the naturists. Not that so much as it points out that imposing on a child gymnophobia (believed *productive*) often turns out *counterproductive*.
on June 2, 2009 at 10:04 pm Virginia

Oh boy! Just had to write to you Father Joe that _I_ thought it was a great, funny, thought-provoking article! I laughed and chuckled the whole way through. I am not someone who would be called ‘religous’ (though, I loved my religon classes in college and got some of my few A’s in them) but enjoyed reading your article. Hearing or reading information, shared in a way that is neither ‘Holier-than-thou’ nor too dull, will be the way to find common ground as our world grows. I may not be religous but I believe in modesty but good common sense too – both seem to be lacking a little too frequently these days.

Thanks again!
on June 10, 2009 at 9:37 am Dee

WHERE are the MODEST suits for MEN!!!???

FATHER JOE: You mean this….?

http://dallasvintageshop.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/09/im000590.JPG
on June 15, 2009 at 10:05 pm Michael

Those suits are too revealing. LOL
on June 17, 2009 at 11:29 am Tiffany

Hey there is also a great site http://www.modestswimwear.net/top-5-sites-to-find-modest-swimwear/ that can help with modesty needs. There are many modest swimsuits, modest bathing suits, modest cover ups, modest sundresses, and modest clothes on this site that are very appropriate. Most of the swimsuits are very affordable as well. Modest swimsuits are definitely a great investment!
on June 17, 2009 at 7:14 pm Corrine

Seriously?!?!? Muslim women are beaten for showing skin. Wake up. Why are men not supposed to cover up? How about men not being disgusting perverts? I do believe suffrage happened a while ago. It’s always the men having to tell the women to cover up. Why not tell the men to be nasty?

FATHER JOE: I take it that you meant to say, “Why not tell the men NOT to be nasty?” Okay, I will say it again. The post promotes modesty but is largely done tongue-in-cheek. I think there is a site linked that offers swimwear made by a mother who wants to share what she created for her daughters. That is fine. There are also a few Moslem sites. The post is supposed to be humorous and thought provoking. I think we should respect what Islamic women feel is right for them, but I am not “really” arguing that all our Christian gals should be covered from head to foot. Boy, oh boy!
on August 17, 2009 at 3:34 am prism2525

You’re kidding right? By doing so you will do the exact opposite and turn every male in the world into a sex predator. When you tell your kid not to open the jar, what is the first thing on the kid’s mind?

FATHER JOE: Have you read all the comments? Apparently not because if you had you would know the article was done somewhat tongue-in-cheek. However, I take exception that modesty (encouraged by the universal catechism) will turn men into sex fiends. Indeed, given how sexualized everything is in our society, I suspect that quite the opposite is true. Modesty refers to intent, dress, speech, behavior, and the situation.

If you think the naked human body is obscene? Then go to every museum on this planet and cover up all sorts of nude art, starting with Michelangelo’s sculpture of David.

FATHER JOE: I am no prude about such things. But there is a significant difference between art that celebrates the goodness of creation and the erotic or crude which parades vulgarity.

The best idea would be acutally stripping off every stitch of clothing unless, of course, you live in prohibiting weather or you do a perilous job where protective clothing would be perfectly sensible. Swimming, however, does not classify as a dangerous activity requiring ANY sort of clothing. Yes, I am a nudist and proud of it, unashamed to be in the state God himself decided to have me born in.

FATHER JOE: I suspect our views about morality would be in serious variance. Remember, you can sin in thought, word or deed. Such nudity in Western society would create an occasion of sin for many. The human body is beautiful; but that does not mean I want to see everyone’s body. Clothes can be our friends, not simply for protection against the weather, and as a tool to preserve the custody of the eys, but to disguise the imperfections in corporeal form from which so many of us suffer.

Try to think about it for a minute, WHAT is the use of swimsuits? Does it help us in swimming? No, quite the opposite.

FATHER JOE: Actually some suits do help in swimming, that is part of the controversy about Phelps and so many other swimmers today. The new suits are helping too much. In any case, they keep the dangling bits in place.

Does it keep us warm? No. Does it keep us dry? No. (dry swimming?)

FATHER JOE: There is not enough to modern skimpy suits to do either. But up north they do have padded suits against cold water.

Does it make us wetter? No. So just WHY do we wear them?

FATHER JOE: Because many would probably not want to see your body and want to preserve the intimacy of their own flesh for a spouse.

Some do so to hide our own insecurities.

FATHER JOE: Some have a lot to be insecure about.

Some to show off their body and encite others.

FATHER JOE: THis is usually with too little suit, not too much.

Some just because that’s the way they were brought up and never gave it a thought.

FATHER JOE: I suspect that everyone gives it a thought. Nudists are regarded as nut jobs and exhibitionists. Most of the vocal defenders are males… what does that say to women?

Ever tried to swim with nothing on? Skinny dipping is the end of the world for sea lovers and now that I do it myself I can see why.

FATHER JOE: Unless there are gays, the problem is co-ed skinny dipping or doing so in public.

Fr. Joe, I dare you to find anywhere in the Bible where it says that mere nudity is bad.

FATHER JOE: The Bible is not silent.

PROVERBS 11:22: “As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout, so is a lovely woman who lacks discretion.”

I TIMOTHY 2:8-10: “I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting; in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but which is proper for women professing godliness with good works,”

DEUTERONOMY 22:5 “A woman shall not be clothed with man’s apparel, neither shall a man use woman’s apparel: for he that doeth these things is abominable before God.”

I JOHN 2:16-17: “For all that is in the world — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life — is not of the Father but of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”

PS. Did you know that John Paul II himself wrote in that sin is in the act, not the state of undress. Simple nudity in by no means sinful.

FATHER JOE: You do not know what you are talking about. The Theology of the Body would recommend both chastity and modesty.