Am I bound by parish boundaries?

[naptalarico]

There is a very orthodox parish that is loyal to Rome about 30 minutes from my home. Is it wrong to be a member there? There are four parishes much closer to home in my zip code. In one, the pastor has referred to God as “she” and supports a Centering Prayer group. In another, I have actually walked out in the middle of a sermon because it was so “off,” and the parish has yoga classes. In another, some of the Masses are in multiple languages at the same time and the pastor spends his sermon telling us about his own personal faith struggles and the way things “kinda seem to me.” In the last, they are questionably liberal in social and lifestyle “welcoming.” What do I do? I am 61 years old and need a parish home where I wouldn’t be embarrassed to invite someone. Not a perfect parish, but a faithful parish. The parish 30 minutes distant is both. Imperfect, but faithful.

 

[Michelle_Arnold]

You are free to register at any Catholic parish that is recognized to be a Catholic parish by the Catholic diocese in which it is located. I use this phrasing with the intention to make clear that Eastern Catholic parishes are okay, but SSPX chapels are not. If you are in doubt as to the status of the parish in question, call the local diocese and ask.