DRESS AND BEHAVIOUR

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 1, 1 July 1925, Page 7

DRESS AND BEHAVIOUR

POPK'PIUS AUD THE MODERN WOMAN,

Princes of the Rgman Catholic Church and the Pope himself are expressing disapproval of the modern tendencies of women's thought, clothes, and behaviour, says the Rome correspondent of the "Chicago Tribune." Although Pope Pius has never issued a formal statement oh the matter, he continues to express regret at the way modern women are dressing and behaving, and he leaves it to the Prince Bishops to issue pastoral letters decrying the growth of immodesty and immorality.

All movements, from women's suffrage, women's equal rights, to such things as discarding silk stockings, and news which comos from abroad regarding fashions in deeper decollete or backless gowns, have echoed through tho ruling palaces of the Roman Catholic Church. The Vatican has heartily approved Prince Bishop Bertram's pastoral letter to the Dioceso of Silesia, Eastern fiermanyj that marriage- rites or other Catholic ceremonies will not be permitted for a woman immodest enough to go bare-legged or without sufficient covering on the upper part of her body. The North-Eastern Diocese of Italy has received a similar pastoral letter dealing with women who participate in sports.

It is the belief of Cardinal La Fontaine that tennis, swimming, golf, and other masculine sports in which women engage has led them to wear less and less clothes, until now stockingless feet have arrived. ."Under the presidency of Cardinal La Fontains, the bishops of the whole diocese have met at Venice, and have passed the following resolution: "Invading paganism is reaching an nppalling excess in regard to Christian imodesty. We see women and girls hecoming addicted to sports which are utterly incompatible with the dignity or honour of women. This excessivo fondness for sports exposes women to moral dangers, to habits of conduct wholly at variance with the mission of woman >n family and society. Likewise scandalous fashions, despite the teachings of the Gospels regarding natural morality, and the exhortations of the Church, arc becoming daily more popular. We appeal to fathers and mothers to stop this spread of paganism."

Tho ■diocese has resolved that henceforth women who do not wimr slot-kings nnd who expose themselves through scanty dress shall be excluded from Church services. Naked lugs and necks are mentioned especially.