Editing Palmarian Catholic Church (section)

===''The Norms of Christian Decency''===
{{Main|Catholic moral theology}}

{{See also|Occasion of sin|Mortification of the flesh|Penance}}
[[File:The Spanish lady (1878), by John Bagnold Burgess.jpg|thumb|right|220px|A 19th century painting of a Spanish lady wearing a ''[[mantilla]]''. Palmarian women are required to wear a similar garment in the Church.]]
In the Palmarian Catholic Church, for members to remain in [[Full communion|good standing]] with the Holy See they are required to adhere to and uphold compulsory moral norms, ranging from standards of dress to media consumption and matters of social interaction, which are laid out in what is called "''The Norms of Palmarian Christian Decency''" (abbreviated as "''The Norms''").<ref name="popedressnorms">Pope Peter III. (2021). [https://www.palmarianchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/22-Apostolic-Letter-PP-Peter-III-English.pdf Twenty-Second Apostolic Letter: Why Does the Palmarian Church Insist So Much on the Dress Code?]. PalmarianChurch.org</ref> Violations of the Norms were initially treated as a [[mortal sin]], but by the early 2000s became an [[Excommunication|excommunicable]] offense, cutting the offender off from the community and depending on severity, required either their confessor or the Pope to lift it. The Norms were first published in 1985 by Pope Gregory XVII, but has expanded over time.{{sfn|Lundberg|2020|p=116}} In their documents, including during the reign of [[Joseph Odermatt|Pope Peter III]], the Palmarians argue that in upholding these Norms, they are only doing what the Catholic Church has always done, with the Supreme Pontiff having the authority in Catholic moral theology of "[[binding and loosing]]" (to pass judgement on matters of Church discipline relating to faith and morals).<ref name="popedressnorms"/> They point to the ''[[Index Librorum Prohibitorum]]'' (Index of Forbidden Books), which was enforced from 1560 to 1966 and claim that modern society is far more corrupt and depraved today, thus requiring even stricter rules to guard morality.<ref name="popedressnorms"/>

In matters of dress, the Palmarians are required to dress [[modestly]], to avoid [[occasions of sin]].<ref name="popedressnorms"/> The standards are laid out in a publicly available document, which even non-Palmarian visitors to the Cathedral-Basilica of Our Crowned Mother of Palmar are required to comply with.<ref name="dressnorms">Holy See at El Palmar de Troya. (2022). [https://www.palmarianchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Normas-Palmarianas-del-Vestir-para-el-Hombre-y-la-Mujer-English-08.2022.pdf The Norms of Christian Decency: Palmarian Dress Norms]. PalmarianChurch.org</ref> Men must wear long [[trousers]] (shorts are not permitted, only boys under 14 years old are permitted to wear short trousers below the knee), shirts must be long-sleeved and completely buttoned up, no designs or lettering are allowed and none of these items may be too close fitting.<ref name="dressnorms"/> [[Denim]] cloth was once completely banned, but is now just banned in Church buildings (the same applies to sports shoes). Women are required to wear dresses or skirts at all times (trousers are categorised as men's clothing and to wear them is considered [[transvestitism]]).{{sfn|Lundberg|2020|p=147}} Dresses have to be long-sleeved down to the wrist and at least up to the base of the neck (no low necklines are allowed and when seated nothing of the knees must be shown, these cannot be close fitting). The same applies to skirts and blouses. Women must wear stockings up to the knee, girls under 14 may wear socks. To enter Church, women must wear a veil (this is commonly in the [[mantilla]]-style).<ref name="dressnorms"/> This dress code must be adhered to regardless of place or temperature.

Among other things, Palmarians may not frequent places categorised as indecent, such as public swimming baths, beaches, discos and night clubs. Voting in elections is banned. Palmarians may not attend any non-Palmarian religious services, including any social functions connected to them.{{sfn|Lundberg|2020|p=147}} Palmarians are discouraged from social interaction with those not dressed according to the Norms and while at work, with non-Palmarians, are encouraged to only discuss matters relating to the job at hand (since 2016, this has been relaxed as social contact by phone or letter with non-Palmarians is permitted).{{sfn|Lundberg|2020|p=147}}{{sfn|Lundberg|2020|p=175}} The only reading material allowed is religious books approved by the Holy See in El Palmar de Troya (in recent times Pope Peter III has permitted a small number of adventure books for light entertainment).<ref name="popedressnorms"/> Apostates from the Palmarian Church may not be contacted at all, all photos of Ex-Palmarian clergymen must be destroyed. It is not permitted to contact persons living in [[adulterous]] relationships (including [[cohabiting]] relationships). [[Sex education]] is not permitted, contraception is banned (including [[natural family planning]]), courtship and marriage must be with another Palmarian only. Men and women must sit separately in Church. During the reign of Pope Peter II, Palmarians were instructed to destroy their TV sets, videos, mobile phones and internet to protect themselves from the "repugnant moral leprosy rampant in the world."{{sfn|Lundberg|2020|p=146}} In more recent times{{when|date=October 2025}}, in a limited fashion, mobile phones and internet are permitted. Having an organ transplant or leaving organs to be transplanted is banned. Birthday candles on cakes, Christmas trees and lights are banned, whereas [[Nativity scene]]s are encouraged. Parents may instead give their children presents on [[Epiphany (holiday)|Epiphany]] (also known as [[Little Christmas]]), on 6 January instead, but they cannot say they are from "[[Santa Claus]]".{{sfn|Lundberg|2020|p=147}}
{{Blockquote|text=Holy Palmarian Norms are practically the same as that ''Index of Forbidden Books'', but as at present faith and good morals are attacked by way of cinema, television, fashions, internet, books, schools, and so on, the Pope, and heads of families, are compelled to forbid more than before, so as thus to safeguard their children’s souls from filth. Let parents remember that their duty to bring their children up well is very grave before God. They cannot allow their souls to be poisoned by instruments of depravity which attack God, sound Doctrine, Catholic Morals – all propagated by international freemasonry.|author=Pope Peter III|source=''Twenty-Second Apostolic Letter'', 8 December 2021.<ref name="popedressnorms"/>}}