Anglican Services

[Mustard]

What is the official Church position on Catholics attending non-Catholic – specifically, Church of England – services? My wife, who was christened Anglican, often attends mass with me, and occasionally (about once a year) I attend choral evensong with her. Anglicanism holds no attraction for me, but I will admit that I consider a well practiced choir in one of the great cathedrals of rural England on a glorious summer evening is a hard pleasure to beat, and since it’s not a communion service, I see no harm in it. Does the Church think differently?

 

[Rosebud77]

What is the official Church position on Catholics attending non-Catholic – specifically, Church of England – services? My wife, who was christened Anglican, often attends mass with me, and occasionally (about once a year) I attend choral evensong with her. Anglicanism holds no attraction for me, but I will admit that I consider a well practiced choir in one of the great cathedrals of rural England on a glorious summer evening is a hard pleasure to beat, and since it’s not a communion service, I see no harm in it. Does the Church think differently?

WHen I was about to enter the Catholic Church ,here in Ireland,as an Anglican, I asked the parish priest about this. I asked more than you are doing in that I sought to still take Communion with my Anglican friends

This priest was a theologian, serving in a parish as he was needed.

His reply was unequivocal. That I needed only to say to the Bishop that I found it “burdensome” not to take communion in an Anglican church and permission would be given

My circumstances etc changed and I never put it to the test.

 

[Mustard]

Thanks. That’s interesting. I never knew Church law allowed taking Anglican communion under certain circumstances. Since I’m not interested in taking communion, it seems I was right – no harm, no foul.

 

[Rosebud77]

Thanks. That’s interesting. I never knew Church law allowed taking Anglican communion under certain circumstances. Since I’m not interested in taking communion, it seems I was right – no harm, no foul.

Please ask others though; Ireland is very liberal . I was given communion even before I started re entering, the words being " It doesn;t matter" But then they knew me and the work I do.

But i have a distinct feeling others here will think differently

But i honestly see no harm in attending a service and I know what you mean re a choral evensong … Chester Cathedral was my spiritual home… Never heard the equal

 

[KS_Housewife]

No, there is no problem as a Catholic for you to attend the Anglican evensong service.

 

[liturgyluver]

What is the official Church position on Catholics attending non-Catholic – specifically, Church of England – services? My wife, who was christened Anglican, often attends mass with me, and occasionally (about once a year) I attend choral evensong with her. Anglicanism holds no attraction for me, but I will admit that I consider a well practiced choir in one of the great cathedrals of rural England on a glorious summer evening is a hard pleasure to beat, and since it’s not a communion service, I see no harm in it. Does the Church think differently?

We have a joint service with one of our Anglican church neighbours 3 times a year so there is no problem with this. Their church is much more beautiful than ours, and they have a great and wonderful music programme, with a fine voluntary robed choir and much nicer hymns. They end mass and devotions with the Salve Regina.

 

[newcalling]

During our “Week of Christian Unity” every year, started by a local Catholic nun, we have ecumenical services at all kinds of different churches, including an Episcopalian (Anglican in America) church. As long as you attend a Catholic mass every week, there’s no problem going to an Anglican service. This year we went to 2 Catholic parishes, 2 Lutheran parishes, a Presbyterian church, an Episcopalian church, and a Pentecostal church, and it was advertised in our parish bulletin and highly encouraged for us to attend by our priests. So, I definitely don’t see a problem with you enjoying uplifting spiritual music at one with your wife, and I doubt anyone else would either.

 

[twf]

The Catholic and Anglican bishops of my province have jointly celebrated vespers in the local Anglican cathedral.

 

[Padres1969]

San Diego’s Catholic bishop recently attended a non-Eucharistic prayer service at the Episcopal Cathedral with the Episcopal bishop.

 

[Peter_J]

During our “Week of Christian Unity” every year, started by a local Catholic nun, we have ecumenical services at all kinds of different churches, including an Episcopalian (Anglican in America) church.

Nice. There’s something similar where I live, except the timing is different: it’s one church each Thursday in Lent (except the first Thursday and Holy Thursday).

 

[twf]

Nice. There’s something similar where I live, except the timing is different: it’s one church each Thursday in Lent (except the first Thursday and Holy Thursday).

Just curious… does this include the very non-liturgical groups that don’t observe Lent at all? (Pentecostals come to mind).

 

[Peter_J]

Just curious… does this include the very non-liturgical groups that don’t observe Lent at all? (Pentecostals come to mind).

It can. That is to say, the list of churches changes slightly over time, and there isn’t a requirement for a church to be liturgical.

 

[camkutz]

Just don’t go to their “Masses” as they aren’t in Communion nor they have valid holy orders - however if you do don’t under any circumstances receive their communion and remember you have your obligation in the Catholic Church for Sundays.

That being said there isn’t a problem with evensong or matins or other services they have