KANSAS CITY, KANSAS—In an effort to increase modesty at Sunday Mass, Father Joshua Morgan of St. Timothy’s parish in Kansas City is mandating that all women come to church in burkas. The pastor is mandating that all women follow the guidance or be turned away at the door. “We welcome any and all to the Mass,” Morgan explained, “but we simply cannot have women showing their cleavage anymore, or their shoulders, or their necks, or their faces, or… well, you get the picture.”

With the new dress code being announced this Sunday, many of the parishioners shared their approval or disapproval with The Roman Caller.

“This is obviously humiliating for women,” said parishioner Max Kowlman, “at least let them wear colored burkas based on the liturgical season”

Suzanne Morris, who will be directly affected by the change says that she “actually [likes] the change,” but that she wishes “that it didn’t look so Muslim.”

Among those we spoke to about the change, the most outspoken was choir director John Lewis, who told The Roman Caller, “I hate to speak out against my pastor, but he leaves me no choice. I hate the idea of the burkas. They aren’t modest enough. Really, your wife should be rolled into the church in a barrel that has a small door for extra air and the reception of sacraments. I know it’s not the best thing for me to speak against my pastor, but if he doesn’t like it he can find himself a different organist.

In the lead up to the first Sunday when this policy will be rolled out, the parish has published the following large sign in the narthex, bulletin, and parish Facebook page:

The policy is scheduled to be rolled out on the first Sunday of August.