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Holland
Guest
Is it OK to participate in activities in a non catholic church? This would be in addition to attending Catholic Mass on Sunday. How about non Catholic Bible study?
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peary1
Guest
You could, but please remember that a non-Catholic Bible study is a totally different approach to the Bible than what the Church has always understood about its own scriptures. For one, most non-Catholic denominations are based on “Scripture alone” which negates the Catholic Church authority to interpret its own scriptures. Second, this leads to interpretations far from what the Church understands and accepts. I personally attended protestant bible studies at one time but found the emphasis to be in the wrong places when understanding scripture. If your parish offers a bible study, please attend there.
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RobHom
Guest
Frankly and bluntly put: I would do neither. Oh, its possible that I might attend a wedding of a friend…but then I possess the ability to completely “tune out” everything around me…but I would never attend another non-Catholic service. I did once…and had some choice words with the “man of god” afterwards…I’ll leave it at that.
Bible study…not a chance. Simply put, why would I want to have anything to do with bible study with people whose theology is in contravention with my own beliefs and those of the Catholic Church?
I can’t think of a single reason…
Bible study…not a chance. Simply put, why would I want to have anything to do with bible study with people whose theology is in contravention with my own beliefs and those of the Catholic Church?
I can’t think of a single reason…
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KathleenElsie
Guest
If you want to attend a bible study why not a Catholic one? The non-catholic study only uses part of the bible and does not follow the Magesterium in its teachings.
If your parish does not offer one I am sure you could find one in a near by parish. There is nothing better then to share your Catholic faith and our complete bible with others that believe as we do.
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Dale_M
Guest
Attending other church services is fine so long as you don’t participate in their sacraments. As for non-Catholic Bible study, I would advise against it. Their interpretations of the Bible are likely to differ from the Church’s interpretations at several points and you would be stuck with defending the Church as one person against many persons. This doesn’t sound very comfortable to me, or very enriching.
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RB2
Guest
You dont seem to be a very strong,well versed Catholic.
Unless your a strong catholic , well versed in understanding the bible from both the Catholic understanding versus the ‘Sola Scriptura’ understanding,(and you can get this very well off the interent) then your just going to be misled.
Afterall, the Jehovahs Witnesses, Mormons, Baptists,Lutherans et al, all make strong and convincing arguments from the Bible, and can be very seducing and certainly convince you that they have all truth. But its just that the Bible is so immense that anyone can string some arguments/verses together to make their case
for their own understanding and start their own
‘Jims on the Corner Church’.
Some more convincing than others. But their ‘trick’
or fault for the most part is that they ignore some of important bible verses that deal with the contrarian(different or exact opposite) points that they are making, yet focus on those that support their points , and even these may not be totally in context. You really have to be a sharp cookie before you expose yourself to these things.
You seem to need to ask alot of questions.
I hope you seriously take the advice to stay
away from these other churches, you dont
seem equipped to fend for yourselve just yet.
Perhaps internet research on ‘Sola Scriptura’ would
enable you to learn both more about Catholicism and Protestant differences through the highlighting
of Bible verse, and this will increase your knowledge of the bible, Catholic understanding and the differences between typical protestants and us.
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strngrnrth
Guest
My priest said no participation in liturgical or actual worship or doctrine-affriming activity. You can go to hear music if you act just like at a concert and you can socialize afterward, that’s all. That’s what he told me about a church I wanted to visit.
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rwoehmke
Guest
I agree strongly with most of the advice given. I dipped briefly into interfaith Bible Studies and they really are more inter-protestant. Definitely little or no room for Catholic interpretations and the sheer weight of numbers makes it difficult to win any disagreement. You are better off, if your parish or one near you doesn’t have a group to use Cathoolic on-line studies.
Not a few interfaith Bible studies are thinly disguised evangelization programs to get you saved and into a “real Christian” church.
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Not a few interfaith Bible studies are thinly disguised evangelization programs to get you saved and into a “real Christian” church.
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Dark_Warrior
Guest
If I were a full pledged Catholic, I’d probably not. While some Protestants are respectful, most of the encounters I have are quite anti-Catholic and may try to pull you into their realm.
Just my simple words.
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Joe_5859
Guest
If there’s no Bible study at your local Catholic parish, then start one and go to that one instead. 
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FRATER_PAVLVS
Guest
Is there no other way to study the Bible?
Bible, Church Fathers’ comments, d’Aquin’s comments - not enough?
Bible, Church Fathers’ comments, d’Aquin’s comments - not enough?
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Dale_M
Guest
I can see the appeal of Bible study as a group activity. Of course we can do it solo, but sometimes it is more enjoyable to things with other people.
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La-Petite-Fleur
Guest
This is what I think… If it is the will of God for you to attend a non-Catholic Bible study in order to teach the truth of the Catholic faith to non-Catholic Christians, then do it (make sure it is His will, though). There are a few concerns I have about a non-Catholic Bible Study. 1- Interpretations. The Bible is correctly understood with the guidance of the Catholic Church, as she is guided by the Holy Spirit and was the one, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit to assemble the cannon of the Bible. There is no need to go outside the faith to understand the Bible. 2- Understanding. How does this group understand the Bible outside of the faith of the Catholic Church? And if they do understand the scriptures, then why is it not a Catholic Bible study? 3- You. (These aren’t in any order, btw.) It can be good to study and worship with non-Catholics. But at the same time, you must be watchful, you must be careful, and you must be well grounded in the Catholic faith. There are so many scriptures that are interpreted differently (for instance, the ones about the Eucharist!). You really have to be careful, and that’s why I suggest that unless it is God’s will for you to be a teacher to them, then be wary. I love our protestant brothers and sisters, yet unfortunately one reason why there are so many protestant groups is because each had their interpretation of scripture. So to attend a Bible study, outside the Catholic Church, may not always be a good idea.
You also mentioned activities. It really depends on what those activities are. Worshiping God together with music? That’s good (as long as the lyrics don’t contradict the Catholic faith). Watching a movie together such as The Passion? That’s wonderful. Don’t receive their communion. And if any activity contradicts Church teaching, don’t attend. Be careful, be careful, be careful. And pray about it…
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KathleenElsie
Guest
IMHO the number one reason not to go to activities in a non Catholic Church is that they are NON-CATHOLIC.
When you go to these studies and fellowships they are just that non-Catholic study and non-Catholic fellowship. Instead of strengthening your faith in the Catholic Church it at the best might do nothing to weaken it and at its worst weaken it.
Most of us Catholics can find many opportunities to strengthen our faith and study the bible and Catachism not far from us. We just need to make the effort. LOL my family and I prayed about this a few years ago and not we have sooooo many opportunities that we now need to pick and choose because of time constraints. You just need to look and a good place to start is your Diocese paper and the local “whats happening” in you town newspaper section.
When you go to these studies and fellowships they are just that non-Catholic study and non-Catholic fellowship. Instead of strengthening your faith in the Catholic Church it at the best might do nothing to weaken it and at its worst weaken it.
Most of us Catholics can find many opportunities to strengthen our faith and study the bible and Catachism not far from us. We just need to make the effort. LOL my family and I prayed about this a few years ago and not we have sooooo many opportunities that we now need to pick and choose because of time constraints. You just need to look and a good place to start is your Diocese paper and the local “whats happening” in you town newspaper section.
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FRATER_PAVLVS
Guest
I understand.
Then go convert them. Or learn what their stumbling blocks are in order, again, to convert them.
P.S. A Scripture-Only approach was one of the things that helped me accept the Catholic faith. It removed some obstacles, not altogether but by giving me confidence, or so… it is difficult to explain… but two years of Protestant lifestyle (not in any denomination but alone) bordering on Judaism were, as I now see fruitful, though I consider myself lucky to finally embrace RC. Looking back I see what darkness living outside the Church is, but fortunately in that darkness I was not lost altogether and left it almost unscathed. Also, for some people Protestantism is their first Christian experience and, albeit they are heretics theologically, they are our brethren.
I know not what benefit it is for you to go except communication but it will be good for them to have a Catholic among.
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