While I'm not Catholic...

...I have to agree with the various posts discussing the subject of the way some nuns dress. Call me old-fashioned, but nuns should wear habits -- they should look like nuns. I mean, isn't part of being a nun the fact that you are "set apart" from laypeople by special vows that you make? Shouldn't your clothing reflect that?

Even in my Lutheran church, the Pastor, when he is doing his ministerial duties, wears a pastor's collar. Those serving at the altar during services wear vestments.

I would say that God believes that this "setting apart" is important. After all, in the Bible, the Levite priests had very special clothing that they had to wear when serving in the temple.

I think the importance of this "setting apart" is pretty starkly illustrated by this post pointed out by Kathy Shaidle. All the nuns I've seen "in person" look like those in the top pictures. I would have never known they were nuns had someone not told me. (Or if I had not overheard a conversation mentioning it, as I did one time.) When I see nuns in regular clothes, I can't help but find it disappointing and a little sad. I think the reason why the orders that still dress in the traditional habits are younger and more vibrant is that the habits reflect being set apart for God, which I think is what would inspire someone to become a nun in the first place.

And as an aside, since I was on hiatus when this was in the news...I was very pleased and excited that Ratzinger was chosen as the new Pope. I remember hearing from work that morning that the smoke was black and I thought, "Well, I guess it won't be today." Then I came home for lunch and turned on the TV just as Pope Benedict XVI was being introduced to the world. When I saw him throw up his arms to greet the crowds, I couldn't help but smile!