11 yr. old Pentecostal friend is inviting my 11 yr old Catholic- Christian to his church

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Your conception of Christ’s body and Christ’s Church is not how Catholics or Orthodox view it. Protestant denominations may have some good to them, but they are not fully united to the Church or Body of Christ the way the Catholic Church or even the Orthodox Church are.
 
ChunkMonk,

Then do as the bible says and “test the spirits” to see if they are of God!’ 1st. John 4:1-3 before you so quickly call someone a heretic. Go ahead…
 
It is not your call to say we are not fully united to the Church or body of Christ. We are the Church and we are united 100 percent. Just because you say we aren’t doesn’t make it so.
 
But nobody is saying, "Filthy protestant’. And to be quite blunt, your insistence that ‘we’ are claiming to be superior is, in fact, a claim on YOUR part that YOU are superior, implying that even our ‘claim’ somehow lessens us while your vast tolerance does not.

But if, as we believe the Holy Spirit Himself has testified to the truth that Catholics DO hold the truth, should we NOT proclaim it?

IOW, have you considered that the Church is not ‘making up a claim’ but is simply repeating what God Himself has taught regarding completeness of His teaching?

If He has, then we MUST testify to what He states.
 
It’s Christ’s Church that says it, not simply me. It is only his Church that can speak on such matters. What you or I say has no bearing on it.
Catechism of the Catholic Church

837 “Fully incorporated into the society of the Church are those who, possessing the Spirit of Christ, accept all the means of salvation given to the Church together with her entire organization, and who - by the bonds constituted by the profession of faith, the sacraments, ecclesiastical government, and communion - are joined in the visible structure of the Church of Christ, who rules her through the Supreme Pontiff and the bishops. Even though incorporated into the Church, one who does not however persevere in charity is not saved. He remains indeed in the bosom of the Church, but ‘in body’ not ‘in heart.’”

838 “The Church knows that she is joined in many ways to the baptized who are honored by the name of Christian, but do not profess the Catholic faith in its entirety or have not preserved unity or communion under the successor of Peter.” Those “who believe in Christ and have been properly baptized are put in a certain, although imperfect, communion with the Catholic Church.” With the Orthodox Churches, this communion is so profound “that it lacks little to attain the fullness that would permit a common celebration of the Lord’s Eucharist.”
Click to expand...
 
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@tgGodsway:
Sorry. Not buying that.
The Catholic Church was instituted by Christ HImself.
That’s a fact. That’s history, that’s the truth.
The child can study comparative religions as a Senior in High school when he knows more about his OWN faith and views errors for himself.
We make PROMISES at Baptism that you or anyone else should encourage parents to abandon.

NO to church, OK to basketball
 
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I regret using that particular statement about filthy protestants, but I was in the moment when I said it. However, the overall flavor of each comment made on this site is glaring. And even now you say we hold to the truth MORE than protestants. But you also said, "but if, as we believe the holy Spirit himself has testified to the truth that Catholics Do hold the truth, should we not proclaim it. YES YOU SHOULD, AS I SHOULD.

But when did the Holy Spirit make such a claim? I would like to hear it. What has God taught regarding completeness of His teachings?
 
You’re on a Catholic forum here, brother. You ain’t gonna get much play out of whining that we don’t accept a false equivalence between Protestantism and Catholicism.
 
Jesus left the world in His Church’s hands. He did not leave a book. Are you willing to accept the testimony from the Church’s tradition? Patristics?
 
pianistclare, I’m not sure what it is you don’t buy. I know the Catholic Church was instituted by Christ Himself. This universal body, however, was build upon the foundation of “apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.” Eph. 2:20
This apostolic foundation is the structure we were commanded to build upon, “For no other foundation can anyone lay…” 1st. Cor. 3:11.

This universal body had only one head, it is Christ. His body is all over the world in many flavors and customs. Rome is just one of them.
 
OK, can you show me where “Rome is just one of them” comes from? Give me a quick overview of Christian history where Christian faith taught the kind of universality that you are claiming, and how long it taught the same.
 
Well, I’ve graduated to brother. Thank you. Since we are brothers can we agree that Jesus Christ is God come in flesh?
Can we agree that our God is revealed in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Co-equal, co-eternal, yet different persons sharing one nature and substance? Can we agree Christ will come again and judge the saved and lost? Can we agree in the teachings of the Apostolic Church, meaning the founders and framers of the New Testament? can we agree on this much?
 
Well for tonight, we can begin with the first 200 plus years of Apostolic rule. These were the eye-witnesses to the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. These were those who were there, or, secondary people who marched forward with New testament writings after the Apostles died. Their word and witness is the foundation for all of Christianity. No other foundational revelation can be accepted IF it contradicts those things seen by the Apostles. “Upon the mouth of two three witness let every word be established.”

The formation of Roman Catholicism (as we know it today) came in an evolutionary type of sequence over long periods of time, building doctrine upon doctrine and tradition upon tradition being much more visible in the 3rd. but really the 4th. 5th. and 6th. century moving forward.

The body of Christ is huge and it is Catholic, meaning universal. Rome is just one flavor, with all of its traditions and customs. Yet Rome shares the very same Apostles and prophets of the faith as those outside of Rome.
 
I am not Catholic, so I would not have a problem with this. However, as a Catholic, you have a duty to raise your child in the Catholic faith. The Catholic church is quite clear on this. Why don’t you just have an honest conversation with the mother of the other child. If she is active in her church she will no doubt understand. At the same time you make that conversation, why not offer to get the boys together so they could enjoy an activity on Sunday afternoon of some sort. Communication is key.
 
I regret anyone taking offence to my comments. I was trying to promote a sense of unity as"one body" in Christ instead of “them v’s us” mindset. Please forgive me for any offense.
 
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As a Pentecostal Christian, I think a good parent cares about the religious upbringing of their child and obviously would want them to carry on the faith of the parents. Your instincts are perfectly normal.

You know nothing about this church (whether it is ecumenically friendly or hostile to Catholicism) and are under no obligation to accept an invitation. If you feel uncomfortable, politely decline and perhaps arrange some other opportunity for your child and his friend to play together that is religiously neutral.

For context, these youth services serve a variety of functions. They allow teenagers in the church to gain experience in taking on responsibilities within the church, they are fun for the church youth, but they are at the core evangelistic events. The ultimate goal is to get unchurched youth involved in church.

In evangelical circles, it’s common for youth from one church to attend another church when they are having a youth-oriented event. Sometimes, whole youth groups will show up at another church’s youth service. There is never an intention to “sheep steal” since in these cases the kid already goes to another church. Obviously, you guys being Catholic perhaps would challenge that assumption that “crossover” would be harmless, depending on what this particular church believes about Catholicism.
 
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So I have a really good apple pie recipe that is my favorite. Whenever I make apple pie I followed this particular recipe because I think I like it that much. My sister has her own apple pie recipe and she makes it every single time. It is a fine apple pie, and there is nothing wrong with it. It is different than mine. I don’t believe mine is better than hers. It is just DIFFERENT. This the way I view the different Christian religions including Catholicism. Why does one always have to be right over the others which are wrong? It is usually the nature of the discussion here at Catholic answers forums. Different does not mean right or wrong. Different is just different. I always have a slice of my sister’s apple pie when she serves it, and I enjoy it immensely even though I don’t like it as much as my own.
 
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I love apple pie and I hear you. This is a good way to make your point. We both know there is a right and wrong to these issues. I would rather wait for the chief apple pie maker to come and offer his judgment rather than presume too much. It’s an attitude of humility we all need on these matters, rather than broad sweeping pronouncements of judgment and throwing around the h word. thanks for the example.
 
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What I don’t buy into is that one Church is the same as another.
God bless you, and I thank you for your (name removed by moderator)ut,
but this family needs to put the brakes on this invitation to another church.
It’s not fair to the child foremost. It’s confusing, and it undermines what the parents need to teach and have taught their child about their own religion.
 
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How did a thread involving Catholic parents seeking advice about how to handle their kid’'s friend inviting him to a Protestant church where (a) the parents were not comfortable sending their child and (b) the child himself was not all that interested in going, apart from perhaps hanging out with his friend and maybe playing basketball, into some Protestant having an ongoing tantrum because 2 Catholic parents are not comfortable sending their 11-year-old to a Protestant church?

This child is 11. The parents have a duty to raise him Catholic and likely also have strong feelings that it’s the right thing to do so, plus the child sounds like he is fine with being Catholic and is not interested in another church right now. There is no requirement here or even any logical basis for insisting that they need to expose their child to some other Christian church. Nor do Catholics believe that since we all worship the same Jesus, it’s okay for a Catholic to just go worship in any Christian church. I have no idea why anyone would have a problem with these basic concepts, especially on a Catholic forum.
 
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