You can attend an Episcopalian church as an observer but not as a participant. You absolutely cannot receive Communion there. It does not fulfill your Sunday obligation. If you really have **no way of getting to **a Catholic Mass on Sunday or Saturday evening, your obligation would be excused.So, I’m Catholic but I recently had to move to a place where the only available church is an Episcopalian one. I was wondering if it would be alright to attend it until I am able to find a Catholic one that is reasonable to get to. They said it would be fine with them, so I was checking here. I heard they are “partly Catholic” anyways.
Thanks!!
Not a sin to attend Protestant Services.It is sinful to attend Protestant services. Even if there is no Catholic church, you shouldn’t attend a non-Catholic one.
Also, there’s a lot of doctrinal weirdness in the Episcopal church.So, I’m Catholic but I recently had to move to a place where the only available church is an Episcopalian one. I was wondering if it would be alright to attend it until I am able to find a Catholic one that is reasonable to get to. They said it would be fine with them, so I was checking here. I heard they are “partly Catholic” anyways.
Thanks!!
In all of the examination of consciences that I have read in prayer books, the attendance of a Protestant service is listed as a sin against the first Commandment. Not hearing Mass on Sunday is a separate sin listed on the third Commandment. There’s no point in attending Protestant services since it doesn’t have any value. It may be allowed to attend Protestant funerals or weddings, but that is outside of the original question.Not a sin to attend Protestant Services.
It would only be a sin to attend a Protestant Service instead of attending Mass on Sunday or a holy day of obligation, when a Catholic church is available.
If not available, you may attend a Protestant Service instead, but can not receive communion there.
Jim
ewtn.com/vexperts/showmessage.asp?number=441348In all of the examination of consciences that I have read in prayer books, the attendance of a Protestant service is listed as a sin against the first Commandment. Not hearing Mass on Sunday is a separate sin listed on the third Commandment. There’s no point in attending Protestant services since it doesn’t have any value. It may be allowed to attend Protestant funerals or weddings, but that is outside of the original question.
This from a Catholic Answers apologist might provide a guideline…So, I’m Catholic but I recently had to move to a place where the only available church is an Episcopalian one. I was wondering if it would be alright to attend it until I am able to find a Catholic one that is reasonable to get to. They said it would be fine with them, so I was checking here. I heard they are “partly Catholic” anyways.
Thanks!!
In the first place a Catholic has no business attending Protestant church services even occasionally. To participate in a heretical worship service and especially a communion service can be sinful for a Catholic because such an act is an affirmation of what we believe to be untrue. To attend an ecumenical service or a wedding or baptism is allowed, but Catholics are not allowed to attend such churches for the main reason of worship. Now if there are no Catholic churches in the vicinity on a Sunday, Catholics are allowed to participate in the Liturgy of Churches whose clergy are validly ordained such as the Eastern Orthodox Churches—including the reception of the Eucharist. Although we consider them to be in schism (not in union with the Pope) with the Catholic Church, such Churches are not heretical and share our basic beliefs.
Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.
A previous poster posted a quote from Fr. Vincent that supports what I was saying. It may be allowed for ecumenical services, but it is immoral to go in the case of the original question because it is going for the sake of worship through heretical services.
Fr Serpa would have an issue with St Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis, all who have attended prayer services with non-Catholics and even non-ChrisitansThis from a Catholic Answers apologist might provide a guideline…
And I gave you the answer from Fr. John Trigilio, who is a Doctor of Theology in Biblical Studies and is at EWTN.A previous poster posted a quote from Fr. Vincent that supports what I was saying. It may be allowed for ecumenical services, but it is immoral to go in the case of the original question because it is going for the sake of worship through heretical services.
Fr. John was talking about the attendance of ecumenical Protestant services, not just every day services. Fr. Vincent notes this in his response, yet he clarifies it by saying the attendance of heretical services for the sake of worship and not for ecumenism is sinful. The Popes are acting ecumenically when they attend any Protestant service.And I gave you the answer from Fr. John Trigilio, who is a Doctor of Theology in Biblical Studies and is at EWTN.
Also as my other post points out, the past two Pope’s and the current one, attended prayer services with non-Catholics and even non-Christians.
Jim
Fr Vincent is referring to worship, i.e. in place of Mass or other Holy Day obligations.Fr. John was talking about the attendance of ecumenical Protestant services, not just every day services. Fr. Vincent notes this in his response, yet he clarifies it by saying the attendance of heretical services for the sake of worship and not for ecumenism is sinful. The Popes are acting ecumenically when they attend any Protestant service.
Here I disagree with you completely. Protestant services have no value? Come on now. “Where ever two or three are gathered in my name, there I am among them.” People pray together, read and reflect on the Word, sing hymns (probably better than most RCs do), and worship God. You have every right to say that your Sacraments are different that the Sacraments of the Anglican church, but please don’t disparage people who gather to Worship the Lord.In all of the examination of consciences that I have read in prayer books, the attendance of a Protestant service is listed as a sin against the first Commandment. Not hearing Mass on Sunday is a separate sin listed on the third Commandment. There’s no point in attending Protestant services since it doesn’t have any value. I.
masstimes.org/So, I’m Catholic but I recently had to move to a place where the only available church