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Hey all was just surprised to find out there was clergy of the Catholic faith growing their hair. As i was raised in Ireland i found the priests i was surrounded with where very strict but fair :)
So if you wouldn't mind Deacon M i would love to see a priest growing out his hair. Very cool.
At the moment in Greece the clergy here have hair to their shoulders with full beards. So Longhairs all round. Alot of the islanders here also have wild manes. I feel right at home.
Roaming Celt
Hi R.C.
I was wondering the same thing about Deacon M! The big difference though is that in Greek Orthodox and Eastern Orthodox in general, long hair and beards are expected, not the exception amongst clergy. Much different philosophy than Roman Catholicism.
MB
Exactly not your normal run of the mill priest here me thinks lol...
A Rebel for God.
Far play to him thought. Some Religons can be waaaaay to strict on things. Oh dear i hope this doesn't start a big debate now.
Hi Roaming Celt, Matt,
Yup, I'm a (Roman) Catholic clergyman growing my hair out. I've actually been on the board for several years, on & off; this is my third go at actually growing out my hair. This time I'm a little freer to do so, and have the confidence to see it through.
I think you'd be surprised, though, at the open-mindedness of most people I've talked to about it in Catholic circles. I'm not much of a rebel - fairly conservative really - but this is something in recent years that I've wanted to do. People seem to get that, or at least the ones who take the time to hear me out.
As for seeing a priest with long hair, well, I can't help you just yet: I have yet to be ordained a priest.... but just a couple weeks to go! Too boot, I've got at least a year before I'll have long hair. Day by day, though.
Thanks for the encouragement. I enjoy coming here, reading everyone's own stories and seeing how it goes with you all. I'm impressed by and grateful for a place that helps guys figure all this out!
Peace,
Deacon M.
Hi Deacon M.,
I think it's great that your here and I want to thank you for deciding to do this. Now if we could get some Baptist to start growing! lol.
I do however firmly believe that most hair haters come from a overly strict religious upbringing. It's all about that 1st Corinthians verse. I was wondering what your view is on it?
(Hey, it was only a matter of time before someone asked him about it!)
Paul
Hey Paul,
I come from a Penticostal background myself and have butted heads with some people within the church over my hair over the years. I always have alittle fun with educating about that one verse which is 1 Corinthians 11:14 "Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?" I like to get the naysayer to define nature for me. Obviously if the person defines nature as the natural world, we can look to nature itself to discredit the naysayer. Good examples are the lion(male has mane), peacock, turkey(male has big tail feathers), deer(male has antlers) and so on. However if they define nature as "the nature of man" or "culture", then the argument gets steared towards mans sinful nature and I get to ask why Paul is pointing to mans sinful nature/Corinthian culture for a godly principle. It's fun to watch their faces as they realise the conclusion of that thought process. This is especially fun if I have the opportunity to ask why the women of today don't cover their head as commanded in the previous paragraph and even in the verse just preceeding this one. Of course some people just don't understand because they just believe what they want to believe without knowing why they believe what they do. Such people tend to be always right (in their own mind) even when the facts are obviously stacked against their beliefs. Another fun bit of discussion is just two verses later Paul writes 16"But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God." I like to ask, "Since according to this verse the churches of God have no such custom, what kind of churches do have that kind of custom?"
Daniel
Hi DanielR,
Very good my friend! That sounds a lot like my own argument against that vague verse which is often misquoted. I also like to give examples of animals (nature as a literal translation) which sport manes; horses, lions, various birds, zebras, camels, etc. to say that maybe Paul didn't get out much. lol.
I am so glad to talk to someone else you has continued reading on down to "But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God." which is my personal ace in the hole. It sounds to me like there is no rule about hair length.
The whole conversation with Paul and the Corinthians started about whether or not a woman should cover her head during prayer. Also it says something about a woman's hair being her glory yet there are so many church ladies that hack it off and then label us as doing something wrong by growing ours. I don't judge them, how can they judge me?
I usually end that discussion up with "if god hated long hair then he would not have ever made that vow of the Nazarites about not cutting your hair." Sounds to me like He's on our side. Lol.
Paul
(n/t)
...Cease and Desist
CEE, I do get the feeling that you've had a very easy life. It must be so wonderful! Gee! (jk)
Seriously though, down here in Alabamy, I have seen and met a lot of practicing Christians with longhair. At first I thought it was odd but I've got used to it and accepted it as fact.
But, there are some who hate it and are not afraid to let you know it.
The other night me, my wife and 5 kids went out to eat. We were having a good ol time, joking with the waitress and nods and smiles at other families around us. I did have my hair down as I normally wear it when I'm not working.
Close to the end of our meal 3 young guys came in all wearing shirts with a cross on them that said, "shining for the son" or something like that. I thought it was a nice play on words although I'm not religious.
We continued our meal until I glanced up and noticed two of those yahoos glaring at me. Mean mugging the hell out of me. I don't know, maybe they didn't like my green shirt.
Of course this didn't hamper my mood, I just said loud enough for them to hear, "If I had that big a problem with someone I'd go over and say something about it." I stood up and my wife grabbed my arm. I told her I was only going to the rest room. Again, loud enough for them to hear. None of them followed me in to have a little pow wow. Chicken S***s. However, they did stop staring.
As we left, a bald guy sitting close by with his family motioned for me then commented on what a nice family we have and how well mannered my kids are. I know why he went out of his way to tell me this.
In the minivan, me and my family was discussing this as we drove away. I told them, "I know why they did that." they looked at me nodding their heads, "It's cause I'm black!"
Well, it was funny then.
This kind of thing happens to me about twice a month or so. This particular incident was a little more intense than usual as they did get to me enough that I really wanted to go to their table. It's good my wife has better sense than I do.
I just wanted to share this with someone like you CEE, who seems never to experience any harsh judgments, comments or even dirty looks. When are you gonna' lend me those rose colored glasses man?
Paul
Hey Paul/Deacon,
In light of this thread, I figured I'd mention my background.
I've had long hair on and off since I was 10 (I'm 25) and I went to Catholic school, come from a practicing Catholic family, and my Dad, who's a director in an NJ pharma company even had long hair when he was younger. In light of this thread, i figured I'd mention that my family is an exception to this. I've had almost no negativity from anyone regarding my long hair which is kind of cool.
It's a shame that even with Christianity's teachings of tolerance and acceptance, that some religious people are haters. Hair is completely irrelivant to Christian religions.
-Phil
Hi Paul,
Thanks - I'm glad to be part of this group!
I've found most people to be fairly accepting - or at least not judgmental. We'll see how that goes as the hair gets longer.
I'm hesitant to try to interpret 1 Cor. 11:14. However, I don't think it is the blanket condemnation of long hair that so many seem to think it is. The Nazarite vow of the Old Testament is something that St. Paul would have been very familiar with (as a devout Jew). Too boot, many, many, MANY male saints of old had long hair. I've seen one depiction of St. Paul himself with long hair - go figure. I do know that the Roman Catholic Church has made no statements on whether or not men can grow their hair out: its a matter of personal decision.
- Deacon M.
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High!
A long-haired Roman-Catholic priest? Hard to believe... there nowadays are many bearded ones, especially among Franciscan and Dominican friars, but I've never seen long-haired Catholic priests, not even here in liberal Germany!
Yes, that's a good old Orthodox tradition (I wonder how they interpret 1 Kor 11,14...), frequently you see priests and monks with almost waist-long hair!
Also the laymen? On what island are you - could it be Crete?
And I thought that archetypical image of long-haired and black-bearded Greeks was mostly drawn from 60s/70s pop icons Demis Roussos and Vangelis...
See you in Khyberspace!
Yadgar
Praise be!
Of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal. One of the very few Roman Rite priests with long hair. Being an older priest in an order that does not have restrictions helps. Many diocesan priests are bound by rules limiting how long they may wear their hair, and whether they may have beards.