new thread
Hey guys,
I'm a Catholic priest. Do you think priests should have long hair?
Raymond
If you want it, you should grow it. That passage in I Corinthians about nature teaching that it is a shame for a man to have long hair -- well, it doesn't apply now. "Nature" means nature of the times, and these times are different.
Of course, you should consult the people in your parish, and see how they feel about it. I've seen very devout Catholic men with long hair -- If the parishioners can grow it, why not their priest?
Hey Pat,
Thanks for responding to my post.
I don't find any conflict with the passage in I Corinthians about long hair on a man being an abomination. St. Paul was saying that all people should groom themselves to be modest and orderly. The particular style of the place and time will vary and should be taken into consideration when making such decisions about grooming oneself. I would keep my long hair neat and clean.
I think that hair is an acrutement which God gave us. To chop it off is an absense of a good which should be there. Throughout the scriptures when a man cut his hair it was a sign of sorrow. For a man to have long hair was a sign of the Nazarite vow; a special consecration to God.
I like long hair for myself. It is a part of my identity. I had let my hair grow out to about nine (9) in. last year. I really liked the feel of my hair beginning to touch my back. I really liked combing through my hair with my fingers. I really liked the feel of my hair "slapping me" on my cheeks when I turned my head quickly.
Pat, are you a longhair? Can you identify with these feelings?
God bless you!
Raymond
I really liked the feel of my hair beginning to touch my back. I really liked combing through my hair with my fingers. I really liked the feel of my hair "slapping me" on my cheeks when I turned my head quickly.
Pat, are you a longhair? Can you identify with these feelings?
I am a longhair. Click on my avatar. I can identify with those feelings, but I keep my hair braided most of the time since it tangles easily. So instead of combing with my fingers, I play with the braid.
hey there,
Sure! if you think long hair is something you want, then go for it! Don't let the fact that you're a priest hold you back, especially if there are no rules against it!
I actually think it would be really cool to see a priest that had long hair, kind of like a breath of fresh air!
-Kif
Hey Kif,
Thanks for the encouraging word, bro. I would like to grow my hair out. I think that I'm going to do it. I actually had eighteen months of growth last year. It was about nine (9) in. in length. I really liked my hair. It was beginning to touch my back. I liked to comb it through with my fingers. I would like to let it grow out as long as it will grow; even if it grows longer than my body. I'm 5 ft. 8 1/2 in. tall.
Are you a long hair?
God bless you!
Raymond
Hey Raymond,
Yeah I am a longhair! I currently am just about at shoulder-blade length and have a goal of mid0back in mind.
I also enjoy the process of combing and brushing my hair, it can be very relaxing after a long night at work.
I wish you the best of luck in your growing!
-Kif
I have no problem with it. In fact, I know a number of priests (including myself) with long hair. Though my "terminal length" is hardly impressive. I don't think I Corinthians was about moral laws but order within the community. Again, in the Orthodox Church, strict priests and monks don't cut their hair, it was considered vanity. Most priests don't because we are public figures, and there's a lot of people who have problems with long hair for males. Hopefully, though, it can lead to more tolerance for men who like long hair.
Hey Darius41,
First of all, I would like to greet you as my brother. We are brother ministerial priests of Jesus Christ. We are also brother longhairs (at least I want to be).
I have no problem with I Corinthians either. I think that most scripture scholars would agree that St. Paul was giving instructions about good order in the community and that the followers of Christ in Corinth should not be identified with sexual promescuity and prostitution. The grooming of a Christian should be reverential.
I had long hair (@ 9 in.) up until Sept., 2010. I cut it in obedience to my pastor. However, I really enjoyed it when I had it. It is part of my identity. Ican sacrifice it if it causes scandal, however, most of the comments I received were positive. It seems to me that the cutting of hair in the Scriptures usually was associated with sorrow and mourning. Having long hair was a sign of special dedication to God, the Nazarite vow.
I wonder how many other priests are perusing this site.
Let's keep in touch, bro.
Ecce qua bonum et quanducumdum, habitare fratres in unnm!
Raymond
I would love tokeep in touch, but joining the board is not easy. Let's keep trying!
Darius41
Hi Raymond,
Why not have long hair as a priest? In Eastern Orthodoxy, long hair is actually traditional and encouraged for priests. The two denominations of Western and Eastern Christianity were once the same.
Curious, why you chose Catholicism though compared to other faiths? I was once looking to join Eastern Orthodox Christianity but then veered away as I saw too many conflicts with the church.
I believe the original church was authentic but then correct observance and practices were changed by opposing groups within the church and now we have a lot of heresies that permeate the Christian religion. What happened is so bad that I actually am more close to Judaism than I was before, despite how much I tend to dislike the ways of the Jews, who also are practicing heresies against G-d and their faith He entrusted them with.
You know, truth is such a conversation is so controversial that I would rather not discuss the details here.
Sincerely,
Jeffrey
Good instinct. Best to save that for an O/T (off-topic) thread.
In the Roman rite of the Catholic Church, there are no universal restrictions in canon law with regards to hair. The key would be your bishop. If he doesn't have a problem with it - or doesn't raise the issue if you have long hair - then you're in the clear.
I disagree with the idea that your parishioners have a say. You should consider whether or not it is something that will adversely affect your ministry to them, but this isn't their call.
In short, if it doesn't violate your promise of obedience and you aren't pursuing long hair for immoral reasons, you don't have a problem Church-wise.
Peace,
Father M.
Hey Father M.
First of all, I want to say "Peace, my brother!". We are brother priests of Jesus. Are we also brothers by virtue of being longhairs?
Thank you for your encouraging words. As far as my bishop goes; he keeps his head shaved. When I had my hair longer last year most of the comments I received were positive. My hair was about nine (9) in. long. I got it cut in obedience to my pastor who told me that I was going to get it cut. However, I have let the back grow longer. Having long hair is part of my identity. I can sacrifice it if it adversly affects my ministry or causes scandal. However, if it doesn't then having long hair seems to me that I'm allowing for a good which God intended to be there. Good grooming and neatness being taken for granted, of course.
Father M., please feel free to continue to contact me either by way of the hyperboard or by chat. I enjoy our exchanges.
God bless you!
Raymond
Yes - why ever not?
Hello Father Raymond,
God's peace and all Good!
I don't see a problem with it at all as long as your pastor doesn't find it distracting. I'm a Secular Franciscan (third order) and I have decided to begin growing my hair out for the new year. I'm currently at just over an inch in lenght! Pray for rapid, healthy growth for us all!
In Christ,
Kevin
Hey Kevin,
Thanks for the encouraging words.
I will pray for you and that the Lord will grant your abundant growth.
Let your hair be a sign of your commitment and consecration to the Lord of all beautiful creation.
Pax et Bonum!
Raymond
Sure, if you like. There again, I think you should ditch the vow of celibacy too, but that's probably one more opinion than you wanted. My mother's family from Ireland were Catholics, but I'm not. I'm an atheist, so probably not the go-to guy on theological matters.
Alun
Hey Elektros,
Thanks for responding to my post.
I do disagree with you about celibacy and about the existance of God. Nevertheless, I always appreciate a vigorous and lively exchange of opinions, so long as mutual respect is maintained.
We can both agree on this issue; we both appreciate long hair and the right of individuals to decide for themselves how and at what length he should wear his hair.
Your longhaired bro.,
Raymond
Hi, Raymond!
Ubetcha! Grow that hair out! I'm not a Catholic, so I don't know the official position of the church on this, but I would find a long-haired priest more approachable. If you have a heart for the youth of your flock, this would go a long way toward reaching out to them. A clean-shaven, short-haired, buttoned-down and ironed priest presents a nice picture, but a long-haired, bearded priest in a t-shirt and jeans (or a kilt, as I would prefer) is one with which young people can identify. In these troubled times, there are so many bad messages out there, a good one can get lost in the noise. A messenger that doesn't appear to be ready to judge would be far more accepted. There is a priest here in Tucson, Father Harry, who wears his hair long and a Guy Fawkes-like beard. Everybody loves Father Harry! He's usually the one they ask to do the Invocation for the St. Patrick's Day festivities.
Like I said, I'm not a Catholic, but I am a Christian and a father of 3 young men. My boys (17, 22 and 27) are men of honor and active in the Methodist church. I am proud of them, and they seem to be most dran to the church leaders with a more casual appearance and manner.
Welcome from a kilted, long-haired brother in Christ!
That pic is just me getting silly at the AZ Rennaisance Fesival! :)
They do in the Orthodox Churches. The RCC is mixed bag, as it depends on the bishop for diocesan priests and the superiors for those in religious communities. Many have dress and grooming codes for priests, and unfortunately hair length may be restricted.
When I lived in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, the priests were not allowed to have any facial hair, and hair length below the shoulders was frowned upon, the preference was to keep it above collar length, though I knew one priest who flaunted the rules somewhat, and kept his at just above his shoulders. The Baltimore Diocese that I just moved out of has rules similar to the ones I remember in Philadelphia.
The Franciscan Friars of the Renewal allow the priests to wear long ponytails (Google pics of Father Stan Fortuna), there is even a house of friars that consists of all long hairs in New England. Their seminarians attend the seminary at Mount Saint Mary's University in Emmitsburg, MD, where I recently lived. I recall encountering two bearded and ponytailed young friars from the order, who were away from the seminary and making purchases in the local grocer. Father Stan himself has a very popular youth ministry and comes yearly to the Mount to minister to youth.
I think the young people find the priests with longer hair to be more approachable. The one I knew who skirted the rules was quite popular among the youth and young adults. Some bishops and religious order superiors are relaxing the rules, sometimes on an individual basis. A priest who is an assistant pastor may be bound by the authority of the senior pastor, and that senior pastor may request that the assistant observe a certain length as well. The one I knew did have the permission of the pastor, though he was warned he was skirting the bishops rules. I think the pastor saw the positive side of the young assistant having the longer hair, young adults were becoming more involved, and youth were not leaving. There was a time that the tonsure was required of priests and religious, that is no longer; I expect the day will come when hair length will no longer be regulated by individual bishops, superiors and pastors. To quote Bob Dylan, "The times they are a change-in."