Episcopal spine specimen

Bishop John Yanta of Amarillo, TX, has gently, charitably but firmly lowered the boom on the allegedly delicate issue of young women dressing like, well, (koff koff) dressing immodestly to Mass.

I, for one, am tired of walking up to Holy Communion when the girl in front of me has on tight sweatpants bearing the word JUICY across her buttocks. And how 'bout them beach flip-flops? Or how about the shapely Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist with the plunging neckline? To make matters more awkward, according to Cardinal Mahoney's Pastoral Letter Gather Faithfully Together, EMs are supposed to look you straight in the eye as they distribute the Host. This often translates in reality as a dew-eyed, quasi-romantic glance -- at the very moment you're expectantly waiting to receive Jesus.

I've heard immodest dress defended here in LA because of the heat. Trust me. Amarillo is more deadly in the summer than low-humidity Los Angeles.

No, I'm not saying people need to wear top hat and tails to Mass, nor even that more casual attire is inappropriate when it's hot out. I am saying that people have generally not been instructed from the pulpit to keep in mind, when choosing what to wear to Mass, Whom it is they meet and consume during the sacred Liturgy.

Far too many young people (especially) dress for Mass in ways they'd never dream of dressing for a job interview. Ironically, if the same people were invited to a Presidential gala, they'd instinctively wear their Sunday best.

Yes, I'm glad they're in church in the first place anyway, blah blah blah. That's not really the point, is it.