Attending Protestant Services

[Steadfast]

Would it be permissible for a Catholic attending my Lutheran church to pray with us during the liturgy?

What about reciting the creed with us? Would that be permissible?

 

[lizaanne]

My husband and I were recently invited by a dear friend of mine from work to attend her “confirmation” ceremony at her protestant church. We were the only ones she invited other than her daughters and boyfriend. We were certainly very honored to be asked, but a bit hesitant about going.

It was a strange service, almost like they chose some aspects of the Catholic Church, but left out others. We both felt very uncomfortable, and later I told my husband that I just don’t think we can accept these types of invitations again, regardless of how will intentioned the person might be (he totally agreed). I felt very much like a hypocrite just being there, but at the same time was still so honored that she would invite us (knowing we are extremely traditional and conservative Catholics).

If anything, it opened up a dialogue with her and her boyfriend about the Catholic Church, and we look forward to having them over for dinner soon to have a really good talk about our faith differences. Ya never know - we might be able to bring them over to the Fullness of Truth!!

Anyway - my 2cents is that I just don’t think we will be going to any protestant activities again. I would have to draw the line at wedding and baptism, and even that might be stretching it depending on the circumstances.

~Liza

 

[Scott36]

Would it be permissible for a Catholic attending my Lutheran church to pray with us during the liturgy?

What about reciting the creed with us? Would that be permissible?

Hi Steadfast! Having received many responses to my original question and having learned a lot, maybe I can take a crack at answering your question.

I would say that it comes down to a judgement call. If anything specific that is said in the prayers or creed said in the Lutheran churcg, if anything said or prayed contradicts anything of the Catholic faith then I would say that it’s not permissible. I would say also that if there is anything that is glaringly omitted from the prayers/creed that is important to Catholicism that it would be conisdered not permissible.

Consideration of all this in light of the following would be helpful I think:

vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/documents/rc_pc_chrstuni_doc_25031993_principles-and-norms-on-ecumenism_en.html

(from prv’s post previously)

 

[Scott36]

My husband and I were recently invited by a dear friend of mine from work to attend her “confirmation” ceremony at her protestant church. We were the only ones she invited other than her daughters and boyfriend. We were certainly very honored to be asked, but a bit hesitant about going.

It was a strange service, almost like they chose some aspects of the Catholic Church, but left out others. We both felt very uncomfortable, and later I told my husband that I just don’t think we can accept these types of invitations again, regardless of how will intentioned the person might be (he totally agreed). I felt very much like a hypocrite just being there, but at the same time was still so honored that she would invite us (knowing we are extremely traditional and conservative Catholics).

If anything, it opened up a dialogue with her and her boyfriend about the Catholic Church, and we look forward to having them over for dinner soon to have a really good talk about our faith differences. Ya never know - we might be able to bring them over to the Fullness of Truth!!

Anyway - my 2cents is that I just don’t think we will be going to any protestant activities again. I would have to draw the line at wedding and baptism, and even that might be stretching it depending on the circumstances.

~Liza

Wow, I can sympathize. Once I made the mistake of going to a Protestant service on the particular day when they were offering communion (at my old church, which I attend maybe twice a year to keep in touch with old friends in a Christian environment) after attending mass. It’s a small church, one I have good friends at, the one that brought me to Christian faith before I eventually become a Catholic. I didn’t know they were offering communion that day.

The service was preached in such a warm loving way and it’s a small church attended by some people that I love very much. The person that said the final words before communion was instrumental in bringing me to Christian faith 2 years ago. She spoke some very kind welcoming words about how people from other Churches are welcome to partake in their communion. It made me extermely nervous. the moral of this story, is that if you do attend protestant services from time to time, try to determine beforehand what’s planned for the particular service and maybe it would be better not to go if there are sacramental type activities planned that day.

 

[itsjustdave1988]

Fr. Serpa said…“No Catholic is ever forced to attend a Protestant church service. In fact, Catholics are forbidden to worship in such Churches—let alone receiving their form of eucharist.”…Is it really true that Catholics are forbidden to attend a Protestant service? … It seems rather severe to declare that Catholics are forbidden to attend Protestant churches.

Scott,

The Catholic Church prohibits giving countenance to a false Christianity.

Titus 3:10 states, “A man that is a heretic, after the first and second admonition, avoid.” Rom 16:17 “take note of those who create dissensions and difficulties, in opposition to the doctrine which you have been taught; avoid them.”

Consequently, Catholics are bound to avoid that which is contrary to Catholic Doctrine. Canon law prescribes, “the Christian faithful are to take care to avoid those things which do not agree with [Catholic doctrine].” (canon 752)

Yet, even under the 1917 Code of Canon laws, there were exceptional circumstances which allowed Catholics to passively attend non-Catholic services (I’ll try to find the canons).

Thus, it is a matter of proper application of prudence. Moreover, there are limits to when and how a Catholic may take part in those non-Catholic services, even under Vatican II, 1983 Code of Canon Laws, and current ecumenical norms.

Paul VI, NOSTRA AETATE, 1965, affirmed:

“The Church, therefore, exhorts her sons, that through dialogue and collaboration with the followers of other religions, carried out with prudence and love and in witness to the Christian faith and life, they recognize, preserve and promote the good things, spiritual and moral, as well as the socio-cultural values found among these men.”

John Paul II, *Ecclesia de Eucharistia, *no. 30:

“It is unthinkable to substitute for Sunday Mass ecumenical celebrations of the word or services of common prayer with Christians from the aforementioned ecclesial communities, or even participation in their own liturgical services. Such celebrations and services, however praiseworthy in certain situations, prepare for the goal of full communion, including eucharistic communion, but they cannot replace it”.

So, under “certain situations”, “celebrations of the word or services of common prayer with [non-Catholic] Christians” may be “praiseworthy.” Those situations, according to canon law and current ecumenical norms, are to be prescribed by your local Bishop.

I recommend you find out from your bishop what those norms are and submit to them.

According to my diocesan bishop, Most Rev. Michael Sheridan of Colorado Springs, he reiterated the exhortation of the Catholic Church towards dialogue with our non-Catholic Christian brethren. While he admits “there could be a number of good reasons for attending the worship services of a non-Catholic Christian denomination, participation connotes a deeper involvement. Here there are limits.” He describes some of those limits:“As Catholics we may never enter directly into the sacramental rituals of other denominations. For example, we ***may not receive confirmation in a non-Catholic church, nor stand as sponsors for those to be confirmed. We may not partake of the eucharistic elements (bread and wine) at a Protestant service. ***We may serve as witnesses to marriage in a non-Catholic denomination, unless we are aware that the marriage would be held to be ‘invalid’ by the Catholic Church (e.g., when a Catholic marries in a non-Catholic church without dispensation). In other words, *we may not ‘participate’ in such a way that we could be seen to be expressing faith in the particular non-Catholic ecclesial body or rite or in any way questioning or denying our Catholic faith. *This could be not only a source of scandal, but also the occasion for the weakening of one’s faith.” (Most Rev. Michael J. Sheridan, Bishop of Colorado Springs, “The Bishop’s Voice,” *Colorado Catholic Herald, *Nov. 18, 2005, emphasis added)For more, see Bishop Sheridan’s articles here:

Answering Questions on Authentic Ecumenism
(4 November 2005) by Bishop Michael Sheridan

Answering Questions on Authentic Ecumenism II
(18 Novemberr 2005) by Bishop Michael Sheridan

 

[Sixtus]

someone who attended Protestant services ONLY and INSTEAD of Mass, which is a very dangerous and probably sinful thing for any Catholic to do.

If the Mass is what we believe it to be, then it is [in my view] tragic to miss it. It is also inconsistent with one’s culture. A staunch labour supporter would not join the Conservative Party, or Democrat join the Republicans.

That said, I am sure that if someone with all good intentions and with a sincere heart, became a Protestant and worshipped in their respective Community. Doing so in sincerity, I doubt very much if it would be regarded as sinful.

One wonders what Our Blessed Lord would have said. We do know that He said ‘I have other sheep not of this fold’.

WHO ARE WE TO JUDGE? ‘Pass no judgement and you will not be judged’ Mat 7:1-2

 

[happygal]

If the Mass is what we believe it to be, then it is [in my view] tragic to miss it. It is also inconsistent with one’s culture. A staunch labour supporter would not join the Conservative Party, or Democrat join the Republicans.

That said, I am sure that if someone with all good intentions and with a sincere heart, became a Protestant and worshipped in their respective Community. Doing so in sincerity, I doubt very much if it would be regarded as sinful.

One wonders what Our Blessed Lord would have said. We do know that He said ‘I have other sheep not of this fold’.

WHO ARE WE TO JUDGE? ‘Pass no judgement and you will not be judged’ Mat 7:1-2

Hi There,

Well said…God bless:thumbsup: In fact i gotten a same catty remark from a Catholic guy back here in my country; who said that what my church is practising are wrong. I replied him saying the same thing quote “Pass no judgement and you will not be be judged”!!!

 

[LilyM]

If the Mass is what we believe it to be, then it is [in my view] tragic to miss it. It is also inconsistent with one’s culture. A staunch labour supporter would not join the Conservative Party, or Democrat join the Republicans.

That said, I am sure that if someone with all good intentions and with a sincere heart, became a Protestant and worshipped in their respective Community. Doing so in sincerity, I doubt very much if it would be regarded as sinful.

One wonders what Our Blessed Lord would have said. We do know that He said ‘I have other sheep not of this fold’.

WHO ARE WE TO JUDGE? ‘Pass no judgement and you will not be judged’ Mat 7:1-2

Again, worshipping at the services of another denomination because one is in the process of changing or has actually changed from Catholicism to that denomination, is an altogether different kettle of fish to the case that was posed to Father Serpa.

Blame may possibly attach to the Catholic who abandons their faith, depending on the reasons why they did so. They have known the fullness of truth in the Catholic Church and turned their back on it. Ultimately, of course, that’s between them and God who alone knows all the secrets of their heart, though I wouldn’t advise any Catholic to do so under any circumstances.

But if for a legitimate reason a Catholic can’t get to Mass of a Sunday it would be much more beneficial for their faith to stay home, watch Mass on TV or listen to it on the radio (which is possible for the vast majority of people) and make a spiritual communion rather than go to a service of any other denomination.