Ash Wed| Should you display ashes at work?

Rah

Last year I had a co-worker tell me that it "weirded them out" to see people with the "sign of the cross" on their foreheads at work.

Do you think it's appropriate to have at work? In the past, I personally have had ashes on my head at work - I never thought of it as offending.

What do you think?

fiona21408

I'am acutally getting ashes today at work I do not think it's offending !!

Toosdai

If you work in the private sector, I don't see why not. Now if you work in the public sector, No you should not.

It wouldn't offend me, but I would probably be a little confused until I figured out what it was.

Dobie_Mama

I think its fine.  I don't see how its any different from wearing a crucifix necklace or something. 

suh5969

From what I remember you are not suppose to clean them off so it would have to be there! It actually starts just looking like a smudge anyway.  Freedom of religion.  You can do what you want. 

rlthomas7

I grew up in a circle of friends who were not catholic or not practicing catholics. So when I went to college, I had no idea why people had smudges on their foreheads on this day (I know that it's a cross, but after awhile, it doesn't look like a cross anymore). Then I met DH who is a practicing catholic and he does the ashes. It's not my practice and I suggested that it's distracting at work because it's certainly distracting for me at home. He's an attorney and I can just see him questioning a witness with a cross on his head. But he doesn't care - it's his belief and that outweighs everything for him I guess.

Rah

rlthomas7:

I grew up in a circle of friends who were not catholic or not practicing catholics. So when I went to college, I had no idea why people had smudges on their foreheads on this day (I know that it's a cross, but after awhile, it doesn't look like a cross anymore). Then I met DH who is a practicing catholic and he does the ashes. It's not my practice and I suggested that it's distracting at work because it's certainly distracting for me at home. He's an attorney and I can just see him questioning a witness with a cross on his head. But he doesn't care - it's his belief and that outweighs everything for him I guess.

I can totally understand what you're saying - and I work for the court so I'm kind of in the same situation as your husband. I don't want to be center of attention but if it is your belief - it is what it is. And yeah, it looks like a smudge from the get go! lol

LoriFalce

Toosdai:

If you work in the private sector, I don't see why not. Now if you work in the public sector, No you should not.

It wouldn't offend me, but I would probably be a little confused until I figured out what it was.

I believe you are entirely wrong.

Someone's faith is entirely their own. To say they can't wear their ashes after receiving them is to restrict their ability to be who they are. By the same token, people working in the public sector should not be allowed to wear crosses or crucifixes, Stars of David, head coverings or bindi or other symbols of faith.

The Supreme Court has disagreed with you. Only where the religious expression interferes with the practice of the job (for instance, wearing a yashmak makes it very hard to be an ER nurse) can it be prohibited.

renee143

when i worked, i went at lunch and wore them all day. ?i did have one guy in a grocery store tell me i had something on my head. ?i think he genuinely thought it was dirt. ?lol

Tess12

LoriFalce:

Toosdai:

If you work in the private sector, I don't see why not. Now if you work in the public sector, No you should not.

It wouldn't offend me, but I would probably be a little confused until I figured out what it was.

I believe you are entirely wrong.

Someone's faith is entirely their own. To say they can't wear their ashes after receiving them is to restrict their ability to be who they are. By the same token, people working in the public sector should not be allowed to wear crosses or crucifixes, Stars of David, head coverings or bindi or other symbols of faith.

The Supreme Court has disagreed with you. Only where the religious expression interferes with the practice of the job (for instance, wearing a yashmak makes it very hard to be an ER nurse) can it be prohibited.

Thank you for saving me the trouble of saying this.

ETA: Oh crap.  I forgot what today was.  And not only did I not get ashes, but I ate meat.