Am I wrong in driving my son, a fallen-away Catholic, to a non-Catholic church?

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My older son does not have a car, so I have been driving him to another church, “Covenant Grace Church”. (I attend Mass every Sunday.) Is it wrong to take him there because it is not Catholic? My thinking is that at least he is going to church on Sunday. I was wondering if this is considered “aiding and abetting” and a sin on my part.
 
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Perhaps you can use the time to ask him questions about why he chooses the Protestant church over the Catholic Church. Listen carefully and don’t argue with him. Discuss why you believe the Catholic Church is the one true church. Keep it calm and loving.
 
I really feel for you. This is so difficult. It used to be considered a mortal sin to even go to a Protestant church. But so much has changed with the ecumenical movement that I wouldn’t know what to do either. It may be better for him to hear about Jesus from a Protestant church than go off with his buddies on Sunday to a movie or a ball game. I think this is another one that only the priest can answer. After all, Protestant churches have to denigrate the Catholic Church to justify their own existence. And they will do that. So please seek out the advice of a priest and share what he tells you with us.

One thing I am sure of, and that is that your son has a heart that is seeking the Lord. In that way you are very, very blessed.

I think the best outcome would be for it to turn out that he just liked a girl at that church, and then the infatuation would wear off and he would come back to the Catholic Church. Not much chance of that, but we live in hope!

@Convert3 has given you great advice.
 
I wouldn’t.

If he’s a big boy to choose his own church, then he’s a big boy to get his butt there.
 
Have you discussed why he has fallen away from the faith? Have you encouraged him to return?

I assume he is an adult? IMHO, it’s time he found his own way to Church. If he’s not an adult, I would absolutely not take him to a non Catholic Church.

Personally, I would not help my adult Catholic child continue and deepen their rupture with the Catholic Church.

But it’s a prudential matter. Talk to your pastor.
 
MaryFrances said:
It used to be considered a mortal sin to even go to a Protestant church. But so much has changed with the ecumenical movement that I wouldn’t know what to do either.
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The Church no longer prohibits Catholics from worshiping with non-Catholics for ecumenical reasons-- weddings, funerals, prayer services, mixed marriage situations— if the Catholic is practicing their faith, isn’t in danger of defecting from the faith, and is fulfilling their obligation regarding Catholic mass.

There is nothing ecumenical about a person leaving the practice of the Catholic Faith and worshiping in a non Catholic Church. Such a person is objectively in grave sin.
 
Thank you for your responses. I did talk to the priest and he said, in so many words, that as long as I am fulfilling my Catholic duties (attending weekly Mass and bringing my up my children in the Faith:(Sacraments, Religious Education, etc.), then what I got out of our conversation was that he doesn’t see this action as a sin. I definitely will talk to my son again though.
God Bless! Jesus, I trust in You!!
 
Thank you for clarifying that for me. Once the charismatic movement started in our parish, many people went to Pentecostal churches as well as this parish. Since the priest didn’t object, I was confused about that aspect.
 
This actually kept me up for a while last night. I think that any mother has certain responsibilities, and that would include knowing where your son is going to church, seeing who comes out of the building to meet him, and making yourself known as a presence to be reckoned with.
In my heart I feel this is a better alternative than having their church van pick him up or another member of that church (which would also lead to more social time with them). You need to know where he is going, what he’s doing, etc., etc., etc. I’m so glad the priest said what he did. God bless you and may he soon return to the Church.
 
Do you think that at a future date he would drive you to a Catholic Church in a reverse situation?
 
Convert3 said:
Perhaps you can use the time to ask him questions about why he chooses the Protestant church over the Catholic Church. Listen carefully and don’t argue with him. Discuss why you believe the Catholic Church is the one true church. Keep it calm and loving.
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(emphasis added by me)

This is an excellent answer.
 
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