Well, almost too distracted. I say go for the collar and take the verbal abuse. (If it comes to physical, then call every cop in town.) For many years priests accepted unearned respect and honour. (In this corner of the world they got free movie tickets, in order to vet potentially offencive or immoral films, a practise my wife and I are trying to see restarted…not for morality’s sake, but because we’re dirt poor.) We still do, in many quarters, get better treatment than secular professionals. Overall, though, it’s our lot to be priests in a time when respect for the church is low. Sometimes the church deserves low respect, even if we don’t. Sucks to be us, but that’s the reality.

Plus, I find that the collar has been a signal to people in trouble or pain. I’ve had more spontaneous counselling, prayers and genuine connection wearing it than I ever had with a naked neck. If it means getting a snide comment as I pass the pub or a suspicious look from parents with small children (really, people, we’re not ALL paedophiles and the ones who are don’t snatch children off the street in broad daylight in front of their parents) that’s a small price to pay.

All of this is moot, of course, if the attacks are threatening and there’s a real chance of you getting a thrashing.

http://www.ship-of-fools.com/mystery/2008/1554.html

You are quite right that we are not to worry about what we wear. But I think we are allowed to laugh about it, and at ourselves in the midst of daily decisions.

I feel safer wearing my habit in the very diverse multi-cultural multi- faith environment in which I’m currently living than I did in the three years I lived in Glasgow. The nuances of which brand of Christianity I belong to matter little here, and what most people I’ve spoken to like is the fact they know I’m a person who takes my faith seriously, and will also respect their faith.