Attending Protestant "ordination" is sinful?

[GraceDK]

I forgot the link: youtube.com/watch?v=mxDumU0TSrY&feature=related

You can choose for yourself which side of the argument this video supports.

I follow you man.
I come from a Protestant background and am sure that however wellmeaning and zealous Lily is for her faith, she would have turned me of when I was in the process of becoming Catholic.
There is a time for firmness, yes, but it has to happen with utmost sensitivity and not like an elephant in a glass store.
After my conversion I met so many Protestants that think we are legalistic and don’t have a living relationship with Christ.
My approach has been to pray with them and speak with them. I have come with them to their churches, recognized the beauty of their strengths and some of the weaknesses of our own church life, and they have actually done the same, even come to my church and my fellowship. First we have to grow friendship and love, and let them see a good role model of love of Christ… this is the most difficult.

You know Jesus went and ate with the sinners in his days… he went into the houses of sinners. This symbolism was SO much stronger back then than it is today. A Jewish man back then who ate with a sinner in their house… it was almost like he defiled himself.

Yesterday a friend came to visit me. She is evangelical. When I met her she was on her guard against Catholics. At that time I was a new convert to Catholicism, I prayed a lot and was very in love with Jesus. This woman was so surprised at that. She told me later: “Back then was surprised to find a Catholic like you. I even envied you for your love of Christ”. Back to the present: Her and severel other friends came to visit me yesterday. Her friends said: “We have heard about you that you are a Catholic who loves Christ and prays on your knees with fervour.” I did not know what to say. My shame was so big. if they only knew what a sinner I am. The conversation that followed was like holding a tiny baby in ones hands. There was a lifetime of suspicion in their eyes. I had to weigh my words. Any bombastic utterance could have confirmed their prejudize. Yet I shared my testimony with them on how biblical I found catholicism compared to evangelicalism, how I longed for unity and how deeply I respected their work in Christ. Before the day was over I had prayed with them and they had been suprised by the hospitality of Catholics (many of my Catholic friends stopped by and gave good impressions of kindness and openess) and they said what they admired by Catholicism.
Just one unsensitive person could have destroyed the fragile trust I was trying to build up. First comes trust. Then comes the point where people look into Catholicism with an open mind.

I like your soul!

 

[GraceDK]

I forgot the link: youtube.com/watch?v=mxDumU0TSrY&feature=related

You can choose for yourself which side of the argument this video supports.

Halleluja!!!

Alex Jones has meant so much to me too

 

[LilyM]

I follow you man.
I come from a Protestant background and am sure that however wellmeaning and zealous Lily is for her faith, she would have turned me of when I was in the process of becoming Catholic.
There is a time for firmness, yes, but it has to happen with utmost sensitivity and not like an elephant in a glass store.
After my conversion I met so many Protestants that think we are legalistic and don’t have a living relationship with Christ.
My approach has been to pray with them and speak with them. I have come with them to their churches, recognized the beauty of their strengths and some of the weaknesses of our own church life, and they have actually done the same, even come to my church and my fellowship. First we have to grow friendship and love, and let them see a good role model of love of Christ… this is the most difficult.

You know Jesus went and ate with the sinners in his days… he went into the houses of sinners. This symbolism was SO much stronger back then than it is today. A Jewish man back then who ate with a sinner in their house… it was almost like he defiled himself.

Yesterday a friend came to visit me. She is evangelical. When I met her she was on her guard against Catholics. At that time I was a new convert to Catholicism, I prayed a lot and was very in love with Jesus. This woman was so surprised at that. She told me later: “Back then was surprised to find a Catholic like you. I even envied you for your love of Christ”. Back to the present: Her and severel other friends came to visit me yesterday. Her friends said: “We have heard about you that you are a Catholic who loves Christ and prays on your knees with fervour.” I did not know what to say. My shame was so big. if they only knew what a sinner I am. The conversation that followed was like holding a tiny baby in ones hands. There was a lifetime of suspicion in their eyes. I had to weigh my words. Any bombastic utterance could have confirmed their prejudize. Yet I shared my testimony with them on how biblical I found catholicism compared to evangelicalism, how I longed for unity and how deeply I respected their work in Christ. Before the day was over I had prayed with them and they had been suprised by the hospitality of Catholics (many of my Catholic friends stopped by and gave good impressions of kindness and openess) and they said what they admired by Catholicism.
Just one unsensitive person could have destroyed the fragile trust I was trying to build up. First comes trust. Then comes the point where people look into Catholicism with an open mind.

I like your soul!

And with all due respect to you, I knew many people like you when I was all-but away from the church for a dozen years. And people like you made me feel so gosh-darn great about who I was and what I thought and where I was spiritually even when I was almost totally non-practicing.

And it was because of people like you, who were in no way different to 99% of the other common-or-garden generic-brand Christians out there, that it never even occurred to me until that dozen years had passed that I might need or want to come back to full practice of the faith. It happened not because of people like you, but because I found (thanks to God and my devout mother) a real straight-line capital-C Catholic parish, with confession every day including Sundays - DURING mass no less - and no-nonsense homilies, that I might want or need to come back to Catholicism.

In my defence, I talk as I do here because here I am, for the most part, among a) fellow Catholics b) fellow Catholics who are zealous for their faith and c) on the internet which offers a certain freedom to be blunt that is not present in real life.

I can assure you I have never been strident or offensive to people of other faiths - for one thing, none of my friends has ever wanted to be ordained in another faith. For another, I do know how to be very polite and courteous, even when saying ‘no’ to something or explaining why I disagree with someone. For a third, Catholics are and should be held to a higher standard - ‘to whom much is given, of him shall much be expected’. That means us, for we have been given by far the greatest.

I’m certainly not about to ram my faith down anyone’s throat who isn’t ready to listen, or is going to be turned off by an overzealous attitude. But at the same time I am not about to attend any event that I feel I shouldn’t, either!

So please, enough with the incorrect assumptions about someone you’ve never actually met or seen in real-life conversation or interaction with non-Catholics.

 

[Kathryn_Ann]

Daniel, Protestant ministers are choosing to be spiritual leaders within their faith communities in a way that goes well beyond the ordinary Joe or Jane pew-sitter in their churches. They’re the ones up the front preaching and leading the prayer and worship, for starters. That in itself makes them more of a representative of their faith, as our priests and bishops are of ours, than the average congregant.

And to get to the stage of ordination they usually go into deep study of their faith, as our priests do of our faith. Sometimes years of study. Their learning in their faith has to exceed that of their congregation, because they are the one congregants and visitors will come to with queries about their faith, and they will expect good and deeply-thought answers backed up by intellectual knowledge. That removes any element of ignorance.

Most of the time, like our priests, they will learn at least the basics of other faiths, including Catholicism, so as to be able to undestand the viewpoint of people of those other faiths who will cross their paths and want to discuss religion with them. That removes the element of ignorance of Catholicism in particular.

And they will be looking for converts more than the average pewsitter, because, very bluntly, they are the ones who are out of a job if numbers go down, and without converts they will go down over time.

So - ordination in a Protestant faith is a much more thought out and considered rejection of the truths of Catholicism than that of the average cradle Protestant. And they are much more responsible for teaching and preaching, and converting, and therefore spreading error, than the average congregant.

Once again, LilyM, thank you for your clarity. Any person considering himself a “shepherd” of souls must ask “Where am I leading my flock and under Whose authority?” Protestantism spreads error, and those choosing to lead their flocks into error are held accountable.

Until they realize that and come home to the Church Christ Founded, they are continuing to spread error and affecting countless lives.

I"m going to leave this particular thread now, as it is getting quite argumentative, too much so for me, but I wish all here well. The Church does not recognize Protestant ordinations as valid, and nor should we attend these ceremonies as members of the One, Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. I pray that all may be one in the True Faith which Christ HImself founded. .

 

[GraceDK]

And with all due respect to you, I knew many people like you when I was all-but away from the church for a dozen years. And people like you made me feel so gosh-darn great about who I was and what I thought and where I was spiritually even when I was almost totally non-practicing.

And it was because of people like you, who were in no way different to 99% of the other common-or-garden generic-brand Christians out there, that it never even occurred to me until that dozen years had passed that I might need or want to come back to full practice of the faith. It happened not because of people like you, but because I found (thanks to God and my devout mother) a real straight-line capital-C Catholic parish, with confession every day including Sundays - DURING mass no less - and no-nonsense homilies, that I might want or need to come back to Catholicism.

In my defence, I talk as I do here because here I am, for the most part, among a) fellow Catholics b) fellow Catholics who are zealous for their faith and c) on the internet which offers a certain freedom to be blunt that is not present in real life.

I can assure you I have never been strident or offensive to people of other faiths - for one thing, none of my friends has ever wanted to be ordained in another faith. For another, I do know how to be very polite and courteous, even when saying ‘no’ to something or explaining why I disagree with someone. For a third, Catholics are and should be held to a higher standard - ‘to whom much is given, of him shall much be expected’. That means us, for we have been given by far the greatest.

I’m certainly not about to ram my faith down anyone’s throat who isn’t ready to listen, or is going to be turned off by an overzealous attitude. But at the same time I am not about to attend any event that I feel I shouldn’t, either!

**So please, enough with the incorrect assumptions about someone you’ve never actually met or seen **in real-life conversation or interaction with non-Catholics.

Your post just now made no sense in light of the last two lines.
If you read my post you would see that I was speaking with people who were very ardent Christians already, and I did say to them I had left Protestantism because Catholicism is very Biblical, and I explained to them why. I did so using their terminology which I have learned because I care about them and see them truly as brothers and sisters…
Your first points on this thread was that people who would attend a Protestant rite of leadership are causing scandal, because you yourself feel scandalized. Well… please continue to do what you wish to bring non-believers and non-Catholics into the Church. I will continue with my ardent honest approach which is based on communication and respect and firmness during true friendship… and you can continue to shun and see only danger in the other churches. Do what suits you.

 

[Newbie2]

Sorry dear Daniel, but I must strongly dis-agree. LilyM is right. When speaking of adults (and certainly protestants choosing to be “ordained” as ministers ) we are not speaking about an innocent child going along with what his or her parents choose for them, or a person not acquainted with the faith differences. We are speaking of a fully informed adult choosing to perpetrate protestantism. The word, the life, the choice to perpetrate this life and lead others further way from the True Faith is a serious issue. It matters not what their motive is at this point. They are now choosing to lead countless other souls in a direction opposite to the Catholic Faith. Entire lives will be affected, decades of leading others down that road away from the Catholic Church.

Peace to you:heaven:
Kathryn Ann

But they’re also bringing people to Christ, thought not in the fullest sense.

And to get to the stage of ordination they usually go into deep study of their faith, as our priests do of our faith. Sometimes years of study. Their learning in their faith has to exceed that of their congregation, because they are the one congregants and visitors will come to with queries about their faith, and they will expect good and deeply-thought answers backed up by intellectual knowledge. That removes any element of ignorance.

Most of the time, like our priests, they will learn at least the basics of other faiths, including Catholicism, so as to be able to undestand the viewpoint of people of those other faiths who will cross their paths and want to discuss religion with them. That removes the element of ignorance of Catholicism in particular.

So - ordination in a Protestant faith is a much more thought out and considered rejection of the truths of Catholicism than that of the average cradle Protestant. And they are much more responsible for teaching and preaching, and converting, and therefore spreading error, than the average congregant.

Beg to differ. If a protestant seminarian is taught Catholocism from a Protestant POV, will they be taught the truth about Catholocism? Are they then rejecting the truth of Catholic theology or are they rejecting what they are taught as truth about Catholic theology?

For example they may be taught that Catholics worship Mary, that Mary is put as an equal to Christ, etc. They reject that teaching. We reject that teaching too! I don’t think that it’s correct in all cases that Protestant ministers reject the truth of Catholic teachings, simply becaue they are not always accurately taught about Catholic theology.

 

[Newbie2]

I think this entire thread begs the question as to how we are to handle eccumenism.

To preface, I’m not saying we should automatically not attend any sort of Protestant ordination rite or ceremony; I am saying that we not need to automatically reject going.

So…If we do not recognize Pastor Bob’s ordnation, how does that affect how we see him after his ordination, out in his ministry leading his flock say, ten years after ordination? If we reject his ordination, is he to us just another Protestant, not anymore qualified than Joe Average sitting in his church’s pews, except that he is better studied? Seem so, if we reject the validity of his ordination.

Yet our Priests, Deacons and Bishops recognize Protestant ministers as leaders in their various ecclesial communities.

Bottom line is, do we recognize that while doing so imperfectly, many of these ministers are leading people to Christ?

 

[Kathryn_Ann]

My friend… your definition of “perpetrating” something is very confusing. They do not care about what the Vatican thinks or not thinks about their choice.

Good morning Daniel, I just wanted to stop in before I leave this particular thread as I think sometimes people must simply agree to dis-agree and that is all right. I just noticed the beginning of your response (above) and I believe that this one quote says it all.

• “They do not care above what the Vatican think or not thinks about their choice.” *:frighten:

I pray that these people do come to care as deeply as we do. :angel1:

Thank you for the good wishes.
Have a wonderful evening and may God be always in your heart.
Daniel

And in yours as well. I do appreciate your offer about the quoting. I will take a remedial course in that someday,but later, as I don’t often like to parse so many individual questions and replies, so I shy away from it!

You remind me of Saul (later, St. Paul,) who was so energetic and aggressive :slapfight:until that moment on the Damascus road. After meeting Christ in that unique way, he turned all his energy into defending Holy Church!

Speaking of quotes, there is one from Shakespeare that may well apply here. “Methinks he doth protest too much.” Sometimes the very thing we set ourselves up against so energetically such as the Vatican (in defending people, for example, who do not care what the Vatican thinks or not) is the very thing we want to embrace and the very thing we want to embrace us. :grouphug: Perhaps it is the peace of the Church people are really seeking when they only seem to be making such spirited arguments. There truly is a “Peace that passeth all understanding,” and a “Joy unspeakable and full of glory” that awaits all of us who desire it above all things.

All I would leave you with is that Christ gave us Himself, and gave us His One, Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church and all the Sacraments, (the Blessed Sacrament in particular,) to embrace us all through time and beyond time with His love.

Someone once said “We consume Him so that He consumes us,” in speaking of that Holy Communion. My hope is that you feel the Father’s willingness and all Catholics you come across, to embrace you with that joyous love. You are a Child of God! And I hope anything said in the forums, despite differences of opinion, will reflect that truth. I hope you keep reading about the Church and the Love Who founded it. That Love is there for you and for all of us, if we only accept it!:heaven:

 

[LilyM]

Your post just now made no sense in light of the last two lines.
If you read my post you would see that I was speaking with people who were very ardent Christians already, and I did say to them I had left Protestantism because Catholicism is very Biblical, and I explained to them why. I did so using their terminology which I have learned because I care about them and see them truly as brothers and sisters…
Your first points on this thread was that people who would attend a Protestant rite of leadership are causing scandal, because you yourself feel scandalized. Well… please continue to do what you wish to bring non-believers and non-Catholics into the Church. I will continue with my ardent honest approach which is based on communication and respect and firmness during true friendship… and you can continue to shun and see only danger in the other churches. Do what suits you.

Please. I am of the opinion, as I have already said, that attending a Protestant ordination for me would be akin to, although obviously not as serious, as receiving communion in a Protestant church. So by extension, I would no more shunning someone by not attending their ordination than you would by not communing in their church.

So you are ‘ardent’ and ‘honest’. Meaning that I am what, by comparison? Chopped liver?

Good on you for taking the time to ‘learn the terminology’ of your Protestant friends. I mean that seriously. If I were Protestant, though, I would find that turn of phrase somewhat offensive, as if Protestants speak Mongolian or something!

It seems apt, on this eve of Pentecost, to reiterate that the Apostles on that day did NOT insist on learning all the multitude of ''terminologies" that their listeners from many nations employed. Not a bit. All they needed to do, and all any of is need to do, was speak their own truth in their own language, their own ‘terminology’. It was the Holy Spirit that made sure that those who needed to hear heard - no translation necessary on the part of the Apostles.

 

[LilyM]

I think this entire thread begs the question as to how we are to handle eccumenism.

To preface, I’m not saying we should automatically not attend any sort of Protestant ordination rite or ceremony; I am saying that we not need to automatically reject going.

So…If we do not recognize Pastor Bob’s ordnation, how does that affect how we see him after his ordination, out in his ministry leading his flock say, ten years after ordination? If we reject his ordination, is he to us just another Protestant, not anymore qualified than Joe Average sitting in his church’s pews, except that he is better studied? Seem so, if we reject the validity of his ordination.

Yet our Priests, Deacons and Bishops recognize Protestant ministers as leaders in their various ecclesial communities.

Bottom line is, do we recognize that while doing so imperfectly, many of these ministers are leading people to Christ?

Well of course they hold leadership positions in their communities. Goes without saying.

As for leading people to Christ … if Catholicism is the fullness of truth, and Christ is truth personified, then in as much as they lead people towards those truths they share with us they are indeed leading people to Him.

It follows that in as far as they are leading people away from the truth we possess … well, you get the picture. Of course the same holds for our own priests and bishops, some of whom sadly fail in their duty to teach all the truths of our faith.

 

[triumphguy]

I’m Australian, it’s middle of the afternoon here. And m’learned friend doth miss the point.

Your duty in my scenario would clearly be to correct ASAP the misstatement of law by your opponent, even when you’ve never clapped eyes on them before and have no ‘relationship’.

To fail to correct them would make you look equally ignorant of the law yourself, and also get you in heap big trouble with both the judge and your client for not knowing or doing your duty.

Well I didn’t want to point out your mistakes on a public forum

Seriously I admire your side of the argument, but since no-one has come up with a definitive “thou shalt not” from higher up, and precedent from both sides I think it comes down to choice based on conscience.

Only you know the relationship you have with a person getting ordained, and only you know what kind of effect a. showing up; b. saying “no” would have.

I tend to be one of those fools who “rush in where angels fear to tread” myself, and wold go, and would enjoy telling -people at the party afterwards that I’m Catholic, seeing the shock on their faces, and would have a ball telling them how we don’t worship idols, and we are not polytheistic, and go read Scott Hahn for a real eye-opener.

 

[irishhindes]

The church recognizes pastors from other denominations. Any marriage or baptism performed in the name of the father son and holy spirit is considered a valid marriage or baptism. Lay people cant marry individuals. Is their ministry valid? Off course it is, otherwise the church would not recognize the two sacraments that the church recognizes outside of the church.. We should rejoice with our bretheren at their ordinations. Our recognition of the things we have in common, is our most powerful witness as catholics.

 

[LilyM]

The church recognizes pastors from other denominations. Any marriage or baptism performed in the name of the father son and holy spirit is considered a valid marriage or baptism. Lay people cant marry individuals. Is their ministry valid? Off course it is, otherwise the church would not recognize the two sacraments that the church recognizes outside of the church.. We should rejoice with our bretheren at their ordinations. Our recognition of the things we have in common, is our most powerful witness as catholics.

Yes, but Catholic lay people do not call themselves priests, as to do so would imply that they share in the ministerial priesthood of the ordained, and can thus do things like absolve sins or confect the Eucharist, when they do not and cannot. And so cause confusion.

Likewise a Catholic lay minister (say someone who reads at Mass or distributes Communion or whatnot) may well have some sort of ceremony whereby they as blessed and commissioned to do these tasks - but such would never ever be called, as is that of the OP’s friend, an ordination.

One of our strengths is our recognition of our similarities?

Ihave to say, in my 40 years as a cradle Catholic I’ve seen an ever-increasing push to emphasize the similarities.

And I’ve seen an ever-increasing number of Catholics who as a result don’t understand the unique beauties of Catholicism enough to be able to explain to other Christians WHY they are, or why anuone else should be, Catholic and not any other denomination.

And, as a result, an increasing number who barely practice their faith or not at all. Or who leave Catholicism for other denominations, with the comment ‘well, it’s the same thing, only in Church X I can contracept/remarry’, as if it is simply a matter of choosing the ‘brand’ of Christianity that suits you best like you’d choose a car or a brand of soap.

So my experience is that it has been anything but a strength.

 

[Moore11]

The church recognizes pastors from other denominations. Any marriage or baptism performed in the name of the father son and holy spirit is considered a valid marriage or baptism. Lay people cant marry individuals. Is their ministry valid? Off course it is, otherwise the church would not recognize the two sacraments that the church recognizes outside of the church.. We should rejoice with our bretheren at their ordinations. Our recognition of the things we have in common, is our most powerful witness as catholics.

What do you mean by recognize? Again it depends on the denomination however. I think the Church recognizes their ordinations as titles or functional leaders of a group of people but when a baptist minister converts to Catholicism He would not automatically become a priest because he was “ordained” With the Anglicans it can get a little more murky but I am sure there has to be some sort of validation. The point is that if a Baptist and a baptist get married and convert to Catholicism they do not have to get “remarried” so I think the “ordination” parallel is not accurate.
Again, I think it is dangerous and a little misinformed to think of our protestant brothers as equals in the Truth of Christianity category. There is a reason they are protestant and not Catholic and that has to be a stumbling block to salvation. Not one that cannot be overcome but man, I think of how often I go to confession, and receive graces through the Eucharist and I just do not think I could attain heaven without them. I have read of and talked to many holy people that were Catholic and I cannot think of one who did not need the sacraments for salvation.
It is important to evangelize.

 

[triumphguy]

The argument isn’t which Church is better, or even “should” a person go or not go to a protestant ordination, or what are the effects of going or not going, or how has the Church changed, or even is it better not to go, but is it “sinful?”

 

[LilyM]

The argument isn’t which Church is better, or even “should” a person go or not go to a protestant ordination, or what are the effects of going or not going, or how has the Church changed, or even is it better not to go, but is it “sinful?”

Well the thread title asks ‘is it sinful’ but the actual question asked in te OP is ‘what should I do’. So it’s not as cut and dried a topic as you make out.

 

[GraceDK]

What do you mean by recognize? Again it depends on the denomination however. I think the Church recognizes their ordinations as titles or functional leaders of a group of people but when a baptist minister converts to Catholicism He would not automatically become a priest because he was “ordained” With the Anglicans it can get a little more murky but I am sure there has to be some sort of validation. The point is that if a Baptist and a baptist get married and convert to Catholicism they do not have to get “remarried” so I think the “ordination” parallel is not accurate.
Again, I think it is dangerous and a little misinformed to think of our protestant brothers as equals in the Truth of Christianity category. There is a reason they are protestant and not Catholic and that has to be a stumbling block to salvation. Not one that cannot be overcome but man, I think of how often I go to confession, and receive graces through the Eucharist and I just do not think I could attain heaven without them. I have read of and talked to many holy people that were Catholic and I cannot think of one who did not need the sacraments for salvation.
It is important to evangelize.

We need Christ for salvation. He is the door, the way and the Truth. The Evangelicals who truly believe in Him, are baptized and bear fruit as Christians , well many Catholics could learn from them, some of them are much closer to the Lord than many Catholics. You know there are lukewarm and cold people in all churches, and people who live in sin. As a former Protestant I cannot deny that Jesus Christ really works in the Protestant Churches and delight in the people who do their best to follow Him.
Lets not forget that one thing is primary: Jesus is Lord, was the first creed. Its the belief in Him that saves people. Church helps, or it should (some have been led to fall by bad priests or pastors) but its Christ who is the narrow gate.
I do not fear for the Protestants who truly love Jesus and try to seek Him, that they will be lost. I fear more that those will be lost who say, we are Catholics so we will be saved… like Jesus said: I could raise sons of Abraham from these rocks. and God will have worshippers in Spirit and Truth. Being a member of Israel was a privilege and a gift but not a garantee…

 

[LilyM]

We need Christ for salvation. He is the door, the way and the Truth. The Evangelicals who truly believe in Him, are baptized and bear fruit as Christians , well many Catholics could learn from them, some of them are much closer to the Lord than many Catholics. You know there are lukewarm and cold people in all churches, and people who live in sin. As a former Protestant I cannot deny that Jesus Christ really works in the Protestant Churches and delight in the people who do their best to follow Him.
Lets not forget that one thing is primary: Jesus is Lord, was the first creed. Its the belief in Him that saves people. Church helps, or it should (some have been led to fall by bad priests or pastors) but its Christ who is the narrow gate.
I do not fear for the Protestants who truly love Jesus and try to seek Him, that they will be lost. I fear more that those will be lost who say, we are Catholics so we will be saved… like Jesus said: I could raise sons of Abraham from these rocks. and God will have worshippers in Spirit and Truth. Being a member of Israel was a privilege and a gift but not a garantee…

Worship in Spirit AND Truth. You said it. Truth is essential. Jesus is Truth, and came to testify to the Truth. Those who know the Truth are the ones blessed to hear His voice. And it is truth that sets us free - that in fact saves us.

The Truths of Catholicism are critical. Every blessed one of them. If they were not, you would not have gone to the effort of becoming Catholic.

And why else would you become Catholic except for its fullness of Truth? Our liturgy is not and never has been more beautiful nor more energetic than those of some of our Christian brothers. Our history is not less rich than, say, that of the Orthodox. Nor, sadly, our leaders or laypeople more loving or holier on a personal level.

Truth is the critical distinction. And it is a distinction that gets blurred and muddied - on top of an already very dangerous level of blurring and muddying that I have observed over the past few decades - when you do things like attending a Protestant ordination

 

[triumphguy]

If you can say yes to the question, “Is it sinful?” then you know what to do.

If you cannot say, “Yes” then…

you must use prudential judgement.

 

[triumphguy]

Well the thread title asks ‘is it sinful’ but the actual question asked in te OP is ‘what should I do’. So it’s not as cut and dried a topic as you make out.

If you can say yes to the question, “Is it sinful?” then you know what to do.

If you cannot say, “Yes” then…

you must use prudential judgement.