Word from the Cardinal

In the eyes of Manuel Cardinal Arteaga y Betancourt, the skintight, low-cut gowns worn at Cuban church weddings are a scandal. "The fashion of impudent undressing," he thundered last week, "has become more prevalent and more indecent among the women . . . not only on the beaches, at dances, and in other profane diversions, but even in such a sacred ceremony as the sacrament of marriage."

To end the impudence, the cardinal-archbishop ordered that henceforth marrying couples must promise that no one taking part in the wedding would wear "a low-necked dress, short dress, or sleeveless dress." If any did, "the priest in charge will suspend the ceremony." Cuba's young women, 95% of whom are Roman Catholics, bowed to the edict.

Havana's dressmakers also fell in line. Said Ismael Bernabeu, Havana's fashion king: "We're going to be using more cloth." For establishments that rent wedding clothes, conversion would be harder. Their racks were lined with low-cut gowns (rental: $60). Mourned one wedding costumer: "It will cost us a lot of money, but what the Church says goes."

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