Attending Other Churches

[valoriuslobo]

I am an ardent RC yet out of curiosity I’d like to attend another Church just to see what its like at one of their worship services. My supervisor at work, in her manifold efforts to “save me,” has asked me attend her megachurch. I think its called Community of Christ. Anyways, what is the Church’s teaching on doing this? I believe the Baltimore Catechism says we must not participate if were obliged to attend. Despite my curiosity, I am scared my attendance would encourage my supervisor, be an act of unspoken legitimazation(sp), and on a personal level be a sin on my part.

If my sister gets married in her fiance’s protestant church, I’m not going on matter of conscience. Thus, I’ll be inconsistent by going to the supervisor’s? I’m more of the “man the ramparts” type when it comes to the Church so I don’t want to put myself in a situation where I’d be susceptible to heresy.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[JM3]

cuf.org/faithfacts/details_view.asp?ffID=225

There is no ban against a Catholic attending a Protestant service, although a Catholic may not receive “communion” if made available. This is largely a consequence of the invalid ordination of ministers attempting to confect the Sacrament. Canon 844 of the Code of Canon Law says that Catholic members of the Christian faithful may receive sacraments only from Catholic ministers. Further, the Catechism of the Catholic Church explains that there can be no “Eucharistic intercommunion” between the Church and Protestant communities (no. 1400).

vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/general-docs/rc_pc_chrstuni_doc_19930325_directory_en.html

 

[dafrenchman]

Will you attempt to 'save" your supervisor by having her attend your church in return?

 

[TrueLight]

I am an ardent RC yet out of curiosity I’d like to attend another Church just to see what its like at one of their worship services. My supervisor at work, in her manifold efforts to “save me,” has asked me attend her megachurch. I think its called Community of Christ. Anyways, what is the Church’s teaching on doing this? I believe the Baltimore Catechism says we must not participate if were obliged to attend. Despite my curiosity, I am scared my attendance would encourage my supervisor, be an act of unspoken legitimazation(sp), and on a personal level be a sin on my part.

If my sister gets married in her fiance’s protestant church, I’m not going on matter of conscience. Thus, I’ll be inconsistent by going to the supervisor’s? I’m more of the “man the ramparts” type when it comes to the Church so I don’t want to put myself in a situation where I’d be susceptible to heresy.

Thanks for the advice.

You’re not going to attend your sisters wedding? This doesn’t seem right to me. She’s your sister. Is a Protestant church a witch coven?

 

[markomalley]

I am an ardent RC yet out of curiosity I’d like to attend another Church just to see what its like at one of their worship services. My supervisor at work, in her manifold efforts to “save me,” has asked me attend her megachurch. I think its called Community of Christ. Anyways, what is the Church’s teaching on doing this? I believe the Baltimore Catechism says we must not participate if were obliged to attend. Despite my curiosity, I am scared my attendance would encourage my supervisor, be an act of unspoken legitimazation(sp), and on a personal level be a sin on my part.

If my sister gets married in her fiance’s protestant church, I’m not going on matter of conscience. Thus, I’ll be inconsistent by going to the supervisor’s? I’m more of the “man the ramparts” type when it comes to the Church so I don’t want to put myself in a situation where I’d be susceptible to heresy.

Thanks for the advice.

You must still fulfill your Mass obligation. As long as you do that and, as another poster has said, do not receive communion, there is nothing wrong with observing another worship service.

HAVING SAID THAT

If you are visiting a community where one of their members has expressed a need for you to be “saved” because you are a Catholic, I would approach with extreme caution. There may be attempts, both subtle and not subtle, to attack the Faith and to talk you into renouncing Holy Mother Church. I am not saying that this is certain, but it is very possible. (My in-laws ecclesial community attempts to do so whenever we visit…)

In other words, if you are weak in your apologetic skill, I would use caution.

AS FOR YOUR SISTER’S FORTHCOMING MARRIAGE:

1. Has she abandoned the Faith or is she just assenting to her fiance and/or his family?
2. Has she requested a dispensation to be married outside of the Church?
3. Is her fiance aware of and agreeable to the obligations involved with being married to a Catholic?

There is a licit way for her to be married outside of the Church. If she has taken the steps involved with doing so (husband allowing her to practice her faith, consenting to raise the children as Catholic – including receiving the sacraments, and then receiving a dispensation prior to the marriage), I would see absolutely no reason to not celebrate her marriage with her and her new spouse.

 

[LDNCatholic]

You’re not going to attend your sisters wedding? This doesn’t seem right to me. She’s your sister. Is a Protestant church a witch coven?

If a Catholic marries in a non Catholic ceremony without a dispensation from their Bishop they are acting against the Church and are committing a mortal sin. There are 9 ways we can be an accessory to someone’s else’s sin:

By counsel.
By command.
By consent.
By provocation.
By praise or flattery.
By concealment.
By partaking.
By silence.
By defense of the ill done

It would be wrong to attend the wedding and so give the impression that it is OK for a Catholic to disobey the Church.

 

[valoriuslobo]

Thank you for the questions and advice.

I wasn’t clear about my sister’s wedding. It is a year off, she reverted and will be confirmed in May (amen!) But despite my telling her, she hasn’t sought a dispensation. See, she wants to get married in the RCC but the fiance has reservations and won’t commit yet despite the need to secure the church waaaay in advance. I don’t think she’s made him aware of his obligations either. But that’s a matter for continual prayer and faith in Providence.

…and no, it is not a “witch coven.”

Whomever made the point about apologetics: I would have to hone my skills with that. But, I just don’t want to go I think. I thought if I went it would “shut her up”(sorry for the bluntness!) But that was a good point that someone made about it being a further opportunity for her to evangelize. She already led another Catholic away and I think I’ll pass on giving her another.

I like her, but not this.

Thanks everyone.

 

[Wandering_Home]

This has been a good discussion on this topic. Some of my co-workers and I were wanting to visit each others churches for the experience. While some of my co-workers are Catholic, others go to a Lutheran and Unitarian churchs and I was wondering if I would be going against the Church by attending one of the services there.

Thanks!

 

[TrueLight]

If a Catholic marries in a non Catholic ceremony without a dispensation from their Bishop they are acting against the Church and are committing a mortal sin. There are 9 ways we can be an accessory to someone’s else’s sin:

By counsel.
By command.
By consent.
By provocation.
By praise or flattery.
By concealment.
By partaking.
By silence.
By defense of the ill done

It would be wrong to attend the wedding and so give the impression that it is OK for a Catholic to disobey the Church.

Wow. I am amazed. Would that also apply to not attending a catholic child’s wedding in a non-catholic church?

I believe you can let someone where you stand without doing something so hurtful as missing a wedding.

In regards to that other question about visiting the church of someone who wants to “save you”, I agree it can be dangerous but it might be an opportunity to have them visit yours as well.

 

[jmcrae]

Wow. I am amazed. Would that also apply to not attending a catholic child’s wedding in a non-catholic church?

Each case is handled individually - if your Catholic child is getting married in a Protestant church without a dispensation from the Bishop, then you should seek spiritual direction on the matter, and follow the priest’s advice. He might say, go, and try to maintain a relationship with the child, or he might say, don’t go, to show the child that he or she has reached the limits of acceptable behaviour, in the hope that the child will wake up to his or her situation, and repent of his or her sins and return to the faith.

 

[LDNCatholic]

Wow. I am amazed. Would that also apply to not attending a catholic child’s wedding in a non-catholic church?

I believe so in most cases, yes.

I believe you can let someone where you stand without doing something so hurtful as missing a wedding.

I don’t think you understood what I meant.

By being accessory to another’s sin, you share in said sin. If you do it with full knowledge, it is a mortal sin.

I believe you can get married without doing something so harmful as forcing someone to choose between living in a state of grace and attending an invalid wedding.

 

[SecretGarden]

I think just because you are Catholic, it doesn’t mean you cannot check out a Protestant church. A church of God is a church of God and although the church recommends that you attend mass every Sunday. There is no reason why you can’t attend mass on a Saturday evening or a Sunday night and then attend your friend’s church that Sunday morning. I would suggest that you set up a few boundaries as in you tell your friend bluntly: “I’m coming because I’m interested in experiencing another denomination but don’t think you are going to convert me.” You can also say that “I’m usuallu busy therefore I can’t garantee I will be able to come again” Stuff like that. I spent 8 years inside the Pentecostal church before I became Catholic and I learned alot. My Protestant upbring really helped me with my Catholic faith.

I recommend that you go with an open mind and see where God leads. One never knows where the Holy Spirit will touch your soul. If there is an altar call, (basically the pastor calling the congregation up to the stage or designated area for prayer,) I suggest that you pray and discern when it happens. If you feel God calling you up, go up, it’s ok. Even if you are Catholic it’s ok. If not, it’s ok too. Altar calls are not for everyone. The only thing you can’t do is take communion which is a standard that that happens on both sides.

That said, the Protestant church is very good at giving people a good foundation to their Christian faith. In some ways, the evangelical churches are almost like the kindergarten and elementary schools of Christianity because it can give you a really good Christian background in which you can add your Catholic beliefs. Catholicism is very much the college and university level of Christianity.

Don’t be afraid of the Protestant church. Be aware that many Protestants do not think Catholics are Christians but several will also say that for other protestant denominations as well.

As for not attending your Sister’s wedding… If you love her, you will go regardless of what denomination it’s held. In the end, it’s still Christian, and the same God. Your Sister can always renew her vows inside the Catholic church when she and her husband are ready.

BTW, I’m Catholic and I still attend a Protestant church every now and then.

 

[meltzerboy]

This has been a good discussion on this topic. Some of my co-workers and I were wanting to visit each others churches for the experience. While some of my co-workers are Catholic, others go to a Lutheran and Unitarian churchs and I was wondering if I would be going against the Church by attending one of the services there.

Thanks!

I’m not Catholic or Protestant, but from what I’ve learned about Catholicism, I would guess that actual participation in the service might not be permitted, as opposed to attending and observing. This may very well be even more applicable to the Unitarian Church than the Lutheran, since the former (although there are different varieties of Unitarianism) may not even be Christian and may not believe in a Triune G-d. I’m sure Catholic members of the forum can advise you more precisely. Just my 2 cents worth.

 

[LDNCatholic]

As for not attending your Sister’s wedding… If you love her, you will go regardless of what denomination it’s held. In the end, it’s still Christian, and the same God. Your Sister can always renew her vows inside the Catholic church when she and her husband are ready.

That is emotional blackmail. It is a mortal sin to marry outside of the Church without the permission of the bishop. It’s not a matter of loving his sister, it’s a matter of staying true to the faith.

 

[LDNCatholic]

I’m not Catholic or Protestant, but from what I’ve learned about Catholicism, I would guess that actual participation in the service might not be permitted, as opposed to attending and observing. This may very well be even more applicable to the Unitarian Church than the Lutheran, since the former (although there are different varieties of Unitarianism) may not even be Christian and may not believe in a Triune G-d. I’m sure Catholic members of the forum can advise you more precisely. Just my 2 cents worth.

That’s pretty much it. You can go, but you cannot be an active participant, no matter how close to Catholicism it may be.

 

[TrueLight]

That’s pretty much it. You can go, but you cannot be an active participant, no matter how close to Catholicism it may be.

What does it mean to be an active participant? Can you sing a hymn? Or do you have to sit there with a scowl and arms crossed.

I’m being facetious but seriously…as I stated when I first joined this forum, I sing once a month with the choir at the reformed church and I don’t intend to leave it.

So woe is me.

 

[jmcrae]

What does it mean to be an active participant? Can you sing a hymn? Or do you have to sit there with a scowl and arms crossed.

I’m being facetious but seriously…as I stated when I first joined this forum, I sing once a month with the choir at the reformed church and I don’t intend to leave it.

So woe is me.

Well - you shouldn’t be someone in a position of leadership, where it would be expected that you are teaching authentic Protestant doctrine (so, no preaching, and no teaching Sunday School, or any other kind of teaching role).

You also should not join in reciting any kind of creeds or affirmations that would make it seem like you agree with their doctrines, nor should you go up to any kind of altar calls or other rituals that make it seem like you are renouncing your Catholic faith.

And obviously, you should not receive Holy Communion from them.

 

[LDNCatholic]

What does it mean to be an active participant? Can you sing a hymn? Or do you have to sit there with a scowl and arms crossed.

I can’t sing at all, so I’m afraid sitting there is my only choice. The scowl is an optional extra.

I’m being facetious but seriously…as I stated when I first joined this forum, I sing once a month with the choir at the reformed church and I don’t intend to leave it.

So woe is me.

Why woe? You’re a Protestant, you’re free to sing with them all you like.

Participating entails joining in with the altar calls/being a reader/being in their choir (as well as those things mentioned in the post above). If you’re a Catholic these things are at best scandalous, and at worst, are mortal sins.

 

[TrueLight]

Well - you shouldn’t be someone in a position of leadership, where it would be expected that you are teaching authentic Protestant doctrine (so, no preaching, and no teaching Sunday School, or any other kind of teaching role).

You also should not join in reciting any kind of creeds or affirmations that would make it seem like you agree with their doctrines, nor should you go up to any kind of altar calls or other rituals that make it seem like you are renouncing your Catholic faith.

And obviously, you should not receive Holy Communion from them.

The good thing is in some ways this is like an Anglican church. The don’t have altar calls and we sing lots of Latin music. Yay.

But now I have a dilemma. Communion occurs about once a month and it is an open communion. Everyone takes it. There is one catholic woman in the choir who takes it. She said at first she didn’t but when she saw others take it, she started to.

Considering the services are filmed it would look bad for me to be the only one in the choir loft not taking it.

This Catholic thing ain’t easy.

 

[Munchk]

My wife is Lutheran and I occasionally attend church with her on Sunday (after I have gone to Mass on Saturday evening). My priest said it was alright to attend with her as long as I was not substituting attending with her for my Sunday obligaion and did not receive Communion in her church. And of course we will be definietly going to two different services together on Easter Sunday.