Are There Any Church Laws Against Hosting A Ecumunical Christian Rock Concert On A Catholic Church Sanctuary?

[centurionguard]

I have never been one to commensurate or equate ecumenical church services as an equal when compared to how the Roman Catholic Church celebrates the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. This is not to say that I am an enemy with my respected ecumenical brothers and sisters from different Faith’s outside the Catholic Church. In less than a decade a number of individual clergy members who affiliate amicable ties with a vast number of Protestant churches are again hosting a Christian Rock Concert in one of our archdiocesan catholic parishes in late spring. The last time this occurred I was the sacristan of my home parish. What I witnessed in the past I did not approve of for several reasons. #1. The Sanctuary is supposed to be holy ground not unlike that of Moses being near the Burning Bush (“Today’s Holy Eucharistic Presence in the Tabernacle”). #2. In the last ecumenical rock concert my parish priest “would not” consider my suggestion of removing the Blessed Sacrament from the Main Tabernacle to the Alter of Repose so as not to take away from the Holy Presence in the Tabernacle amongst unbelievers. #3. The Alter itself is supposed to be a Holy Blessed immovable object in the Sanctuary. It was sad to see it pushed aside against a wall in the Sanctuary with coffee cups and pop cans strewn all over the surface with the Alter cloth covered in multiple stains.

If such ecumenical Christian Rocks concerts are to be hosted inside a Catholic Church which I blatantly disapprove of, is there not a more fitting place than a Holy Sanctuary in a Holy Catholic Church ? I shutter to think that this is going to happen again latter this spring. There are a lot of self-righteous Do-Gooders in the Church (the younger adult generation) who think this kind of ecumenical (Christian Rock) sharing service in our parishes is just fine and dandy. I am not one of them. Worst of all I feel powerless and too broken inside to stop such a service. Obviously the Archbishop knows about it.
I really am at a loss for words as to how this kind of thing can happen in a Catholic Church and be condoned. I would appreciate some feedback on this.

 

[teachccd]

The Church is where Mass is celebrated and any liturgical rites that stem from the Mass. This would include all of the seven sacraments. The sanctuary should not be used for anything that does not promote the faith no more than we would go to a Jewish synagogue and preach the New Testament. Now, granted, we are all the Body of Christ those in or out of communion with Holy Mother Church. But, as you stated, the sanctuary is the Holy of Holies and if we even go back a few years the sanctuary was cordoned off with the altar rail and only the priest and the altar boys could be in the sanctuary.

There should be parish halls or a place outside where ecumenical concerts can be held. The church, in general, should not be used as a hall. I know that there are those times where certain talks are done in the church due to practical space limitations. I have not researched the GIRM or other documents concerning this topic but just a common sense of respect would indicate that your concern is very real and should at least be addressed and discerned. I guess I basically just expounded on your original post but if nothing else I am in your corner…God bless and have a blessed Easter…teachccd

 

[juliamajor]

I have never been one to commensurate or equate ecumenical church services as an equal when compared to how the Roman Catholic Church celebrates the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. This is not to say that I am an enemy with my respected ecumenical brothers and sisters from different Faith’s outside the Catholic Church. In less than a decade a number of individual clergy members who affiliate amicable ties with a vast number of Protestant churches are again hosting a Christian Rock Concert in one of our archdiocesan catholic parishes in late spring. The last time this occurred I was the sacristan of my home parish. What I witnessed in the past I did not approve of for several reasons. #1. The Sanctuary is supposed to be holy ground not unlike that of Moses being near the Burning Bush (“Today’s Holy Eucharistic Presence in the Tabernacle”). #2. In the last ecumenical rock concert my parish priest “would not” consider my suggestion of removing the Blessed Sacrament from the Main Tabernacle to the Alter of Repose so as not to take away from the Holy Presence in the Tabernacle amongst unbelievers. #3. The Alter itself is supposed to be a Holy Blessed immovable object in the Sanctuary. It was sad to see it pushed aside against a wall in the Sanctuary with coffee cups and pop cans strewn all over the surface with the Alter cloth covered in multiple stains.

If such ecumenical Christian Rocks concerts are to be hosted inside a Catholic Church which I blatantly disapprove of, is there not a more fitting place than a Holy Sanctuary in a Holy Catholic Church ? I shutter to think that this is going to happen again latter this spring. There are a lot of self-righteous Do-Gooders in the Church (the younger adult generation) who think this kind of ecumenical (Christian Rock) sharing service in our parishes is just fine and dandy. I am not one of them. Worst of all I feel powerless and too broken inside to stop such a service. Obviously the Archbishop knows about it.
I really am at a loss for words as to how this kind of thing can happen in a Catholic Church and be condoned. I would appreciate some feedback on this.

That was a huge NO NO.Worship only with the Eucharist in the Tabernacle. We’ve had concerts at our Church- organ recitals and we will have an inter-faith concert later this Spring.The Eucharist is always removed and put in our chapel. We would not even think about having a meeting of a non- worship nature where the Eucharist was. The Altar of the Lord used as a coffee table! and pushed aside like it was nothing with the Eucharist there!.
What a disgrace. The kids don’t respect the Sanctuary because your pastor apparently doesn’t.
I would make a royal stink if they still intend to keep the Eucharist during the concert.Without the Eucharist the church is empty- and can be used , respectfully , for other events . A church even without the Eucharist is an expensive thing. If they can’t respect the property of the Church and the parishioners they should go elsewhere.

 

[Lizziebel]

I have never been one to commensurate or equate ecumenical church services as an equal when compared to how the Roman Catholic Church celebrates the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. This is not to say that I am an enemy with my respected ecumenical brothers and sisters from different Faith’s outside the Catholic Church. In less than a decade a number of individual clergy members who affiliate amicable ties with a vast number of Protestant churches are again hosting a Christian Rock Concert in one of our archdiocesan catholic parishes in late spring. The last time this occurred I was the sacristan of my home parish. What I witnessed in the past I did not approve of for several reasons. #1. The Sanctuary is supposed to be holy ground not unlike that of Moses being near the Burning Bush (“Today’s Holy Eucharistic Presence in the Tabernacle”). #2. In the last ecumenical rock concert my parish priest “would not” consider my suggestion of removing the Blessed Sacrament from the Main Tabernacle to the Alter of Repose so as not to take away from the Holy Presence in the Tabernacle amongst unbelievers. #3. The Alter itself is supposed to be a Holy Blessed immovable object in the Sanctuary. It was sad to see it pushed aside against a wall in the Sanctuary with coffee cups and pop cans strewn all over the surface with the Alter cloth covered in multiple stains.

If such ecumenical Christian Rocks concerts are to be hosted inside a Catholic Church which I blatantly disapprove of, is there not a more fitting place than a Holy Sanctuary in a Holy Catholic Church ? I shutter to think that this is going to happen again latter this spring. There are a lot of self-righteous Do-Gooders in the Church (the younger adult generation) who think this kind of ecumenical (Christian Rock) sharing service in our parishes is just fine and dandy. I am not one of them. Worst of all I feel powerless and too broken inside to stop such a service. Obviously the Archbishop knows about it.
I really am at a loss for words as to how this kind of thing can happen in a Catholic Church and be condoned. I would appreciate some feedback on this.

I think that it is a wonderful thing that such ecumenical music gatherings are happening among Christian believers. Perhaps the sanctuary itself isn’t the best place for the music to be played. The better place would be the meeting hall of the church if there is one. At my parish, we have one downstairs, where there is even a small stage. The only issue would be whether the meeting hall is large enough to support the number of people attending the concert.

 

[centurionguard]

The Church is where Mass is celebrated and any liturgical rites that stem from the Mass. This would include all of the seven sacraments. The sanctuary should not be used for anything that does not promote the faith no more than we would go to a Jewish synagogue and preach the New Testament. Now, granted, we are all the Body of Christ those in or out of communion with Holy Mother Church. But, as you stated, the sanctuary is the Holy of Holies and if we even go back a few years the sanctuary was cordoned off with the altar rail and only the priest and the altar boys could be in the sanctuary.

There should be parish halls or a place outside where ecumenical concerts can be held. The church, in general, should not be used as a hall. I know that there are those times where certain talks are done in the church due to practical space limitations. I have not researched the GIRM or other documents concerning this topic but just a common sense of respect would indicate that your concern is very real and should at least be addressed and discerned. I guess I basically just expounded on your original post but if nothing else I am in your corner…God bless and have a blessed Easter…teachccd

It’s interesting that you mention a Jewish synagogue which I have had the privilege of being invited to by a Rabbi in a number of their respected services studying the roots of my Catholic Judeo-Christian heritage. Even the Jewish people wouldn’t blaspheme their synagogue by holding some inter-faith Rock Concert in their sanctuaries.

Why the Catholic Church where the Sanctuary is supposed to be revered as a Holy Place in the Church.

I know that there are those times where certain talks are done in the church due to practical space limitations.

teachccd; nothing personal against what you said; But maybe it is that I being stiff-necked in my resolve I fail to see anything remotely practical or even religiously inspiring with Christian ROCK CONCERTS in the main area of the Church where the Sacred Liturgy is celebrated.

 

[rockerchar]

I do not know about Canon or other Laws in regard to this practice.

However, I went to a small Catholic parish-school, and they did not have a good meeting area. Every year for our award cermonies, graduations, Christmas concerts, etc. we would use the church. They left the tabernacle as it was (but it was set up to be in the church and a side chapel at the same time), and they moved the altar. It is possible that they removed it from the front of the church. I don’t remember if they did that or just pushed it to the back of the wall.

Now I go to a Catholic prep school, and we use the Church for graduations and award ceremonies. It is a big church and the tabernacle is not kept behind the altar, so they don’t do anything different that I know of.

 

[centurionguard]

That was a huge NO NO.Worship only with the Eucharist in the Tabernacle. We’ve had concerts at our Church- organ recitals and we will have an inter-faith concert later this Spring.The Eucharist is always removed and put in our chapel. We would not even think about having a meeting of a non- worship nature where the Eucharist was. The Altar of the Lord used as a coffee table! and pushed aside like it was nothing with the Eucharist there!.
What a disgrace. The kids don’t respect the Sanctuary because your pastor apparently doesn’t.
I would make a royal stink if they still intend to keep the Eucharist during the concert.Without the Eucharist the church is empty- and can be used , respectfully , for other events . A church even without the Eucharist is an expensive thing. If they can’t respect the property of the Church and the parishioners they should go elsewhere.

The Eucharist is always removed and put in our chapel

Juliemajor; I wish the same were to happen in my own parish when inter-faith concerts happen. Perhaps I wouldn’t be making a huge so called stink the way circumstances are now.

 

[Monsterkittie]

To the OP:
I’m sad to hear that things didn’t go well for you. We had one here last year, but it was part of an on-going concert/sing-along series, so the attendees were well versed in manners and respectfulness of a worship place.

Of course, Father removed the Eucharist from the Tabernacle and move it to the Chapel for Exposition (like it usually is), and he and our youth minister kept a close eye on what was going on. The musicians’ had a tight space to squeeze into (behind the organ, where the choir usually is), but no one was allowed to move the organ or move in front and move the altar around (that would have been very difficult as it is solid marble).

It was an enjoyable experience, and it was nice to see the youth of the community praising God together instead of out on the streets causing mischief.

side note: that’s where I met my dearest fiance.

 

[teachccd]

teachccd; nothing personal against what you said; But maybe it is that I being stiff-necked in my resolve I fail to see anything remotely practical or even religiously inspiring with Christian ROCK CONCERTS in the main area of the Church where the Sacred Liturgy is celebrated.

That’s o.k. since if you re-read my post you will see that that is not what I said. I agreed with the OP that Rock Concerts should NOT be held in the sanctuary. I said that sometimes I have heard a TALK that was relative to our faith held in the Church, not a Rock Concert. So, I guess that we are both “stiff-necked” since we agree that the sanctuary should be revered as the Holy of Holies where the Sacred Liturgy is celebrated. Thank you for allowing me to reiterate. God bless…teachccd

 

[Joe_Kelley]

Can. 1210 Only those things which serve the exercise or promotion of worship, piety, or religion are permitted in a sacred place; anything not consonant with the holiness of the place is forbidden. In an individual case, however, the ordinary can permit other uses which are not contrary to the holiness of the place.
Can. 1211 Sacred places are violated by gravely injurious actions done in them with scandal to the faithful, actions which, in the judgment of the local ordinary, are so grave and contrary to the holiness of the place that it is not permitted to carry on worship in them until the damage is repaired by a penitential rite according to the norm of the liturgical books.

It probably should be referred to the bishop for permission.