Why do all Catholic priests(and some Protestant ministers)wear only black outfits with white collars?

Answer 1

It was the clothing required of teachers in the period Christianity came into existence. Priests were unique among most of the world's religions in that they needed to be able to read. Some could also write. Generally, that was restricted to professional scribes and teacher/professors. The black clothing with the white collar was the clothing of the teacher.

Bishops, priests and deacons needed to be able to read the various books and letters used during the service. Most people had only one set of clothing. So, by the nature of the obligations upon them, that clothing was what is now called clerical garb.

Until quite recently it was true that most people who could read were in the clergy. Still, most people in the world cannot read or cannot read sufficiently to read a bible. Fewer still, even today, have the training to put scripture into the proper context or understand the controversies surrounding particular passages or even to understand what early Christians felt about particular passages.

All clerical vestments have strange historical elements to them. For example, the stole is a judge's article of clothing. The Roman government was considered corrupt so they would go to the Catholic clergy to act as arbiters or judges, whether they were Christian or not. So, the Roman government, in order to bring the process back under their control, appointed all Catholic bishops automatically as judges and required they wear them. The particular stole is based upon their authority. When the empire collapsed, no one remembered the judicial element but they did know a priest is supposed to use a particular stole, a deacon another and a bishop another.

The dalmatic is the used by all the clergy and is simply the clothing of the people of Dalmatia. It happened to be in fashion when Christianity emerged. If Christianity emerged today, there would be a serious risk that all clergy forever would have wore blue jeans.

Christianity has the backward looking element because of the concept of apostolic tradition. The idea is that it really doesn't matter how we interpret things, it only matters how the apostles would have done so. Anyone can find a passage that means something in particular and someone who will disagree on that passage. So Catholicism and Orthodoxy use what scripture describes as paradosis or apostolic tradition in English to determine which doctrines are the fancies of men and which would have been acceptable to the apostles. A side effect of holding the first and early second century as your standard is that all kinds of things get frozen in place. Clothing is not part of the apostolic tradition yet you can go to India or Egypt or America and find the early centuries alive and well in the clothing of the ancient Churches and their daughter Churches.

Answer 2

What "cloth"? My brother and brother-in-law are both ministers and neither feel the need to dress up in a costume to prove it. If their actions as humans do not show them for who they are then what good are they to hide behind a "cloth".

In the Old Testament the priests were given specifications for clothing to be worn during worship. That was the Old Law. Where in the New Law is there any mention at all of priestly garb?

I think that they wear it just to show off.

Answer 3

It is a sign to show that they have given there life to the Lord. Black is a symbol of death. It shows that they have died to themselves so that they can live in Christ and thus Shepherd his people. The White collar symbolizes Christ's love in that there is no end, just like a collar has no points.

Answer 4

Tradition. It used to have meaning before the dark ages, but now they do it just because their mentor did, and want to be easily identified as "a man of the cloth".

Answer 5

Because they serve the Prince of Darkness.

Answer 6

Black to them is a power color they want that power or hold over people.

Answer 7

So they can sneak up on alter boys in the dark

Answer 8

So they are recognised as "men of the cloth" = clergymen.

Answer 9

That first comment was hillarious! But really, I don't know.