Attending Services at Non-Catholic Christian Congregations

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Thanks, I read through it. To me, it still sounds like it there isn’t necessarily a “consensus” decision, as there is some grey area, and the thread is more about actually serving in another denominations church service, but I see where you are coming from and where you draw your conclusion from.

I’ve seen, heard, read from other priests that it’s okay as long as Sunday obligation has been met and it’s a situation where family is involved (like a mixed marriage).
 
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I just don’t see the harm as long as it doesn’t replace the mass. Many Catholics these days will have non-Catholic family and friends.
 
It’s coincidental that you should say that because I was down at the rectory earlier today and was discussing this with my pastor. Particularly since two separate priests (only one is a Jesuit like the Pope) in our parish have given be conflicting answers on this. He said…“Well I’ve known you a long time, and ultimately your going to have to rely on your own conscience on this question. Father “x” and I disagree, but we, and Pope Francis, interpret the word of Christ just like you do: the best we can. Be at peace. You are not sinning. The Church is made up of human beings, and it’s been wrong about lots of things over the years. If we didn’t have people in the Church who question some of these things, how would the Church ever progress”? That’s what he said. My pastor. I trust him.

I suspect that is why Pope Francis has refused to judge homosexuals, and also just recently met with the Lutheran church.

No one can force someone to believe something that he thinks is untrue. It’s LITERALLY impossible to do. Put another way, You can’t believe something that you don’t."

To be saved, we must: “Obey the commandments”, and “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
(Christ)
 
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Hope2 said:
Reubin_J,

My children were baptized as infants in the Anglican church for several
reasons I won’t go into here. Later, after taking counsel with the priests
(Jesuits) at our parish, we began to worship in both churches. The Jesuits
turned out to be right. The doctrines of the High Anglican church are
pretty much identical to those of the CC. We never encountered any
doctrinal disputes that interfered with our faith or worship. BUT, it is
true that in talking this over with many CC priests over the years, some
told us one thing and some told us another. We made our decisions
prayerfully. God knows each of our hearts. I trust the Holy Spirit to keep
us in Truth and peace. And I do love the Doxology, sung at every Anglican
Mass.
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It is sad that your children are not baptized in the Catholic Church and not become Catholics. As a mother, surely that is not your first choice for them not to become Catholics.

You allowed it, like you said, for the sake of harmony in the family. And thus you are happy with it. I know your marriage is very important and take precedent in your life. It can be said that this is one of the consequences of mix marriage.

As for worshipping in other churches, it is wrong. You can go to the Anglican church to accompany your spouse or children, but for you to worship there is wrong. You still have to go to mass in the Catholic Church to fulfill your obligation.

If you think it is right, you have been probably influenced by Protestant theology which you seem to accept.
 
Does it bother your wife that the official book of teachings for Lutherans, the Concord book, teaches the Pope is the Antichrist (or as some now state “sits in the seat of the AntiChrist.”)

You can look it up online.

Just wondering. I almost joined the LCMS after my divorce and frustration with the annulment process. The Concord book with Luther’s words about “Papist asses” which he refers to as Catholics is horrifying to me.

That’s a somewhat “hidden fact.” LCMS Lutherans confirm to the teachings in Luther’s small Catechism and the official AntiChrist teaching is not noted during the “confirmation classes.” I attended them 3 times then did my own research.

That said they have very conservative views regarding homosexuality and abortion.

Just something to think of before she considers converting.

I met many wonderful people there but after a while of going weekly (never communing) , and attending the Catholic Church as well the sermons started to all sound the same with their Law/Gospel approach to teaching.

All the best to you both.
 
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Hope2 said:
I suspect that is why Pope Francis has refused to judge homosexuals, and also just recently met with the Lutheran church.
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We may not judge homosexuals but we must judge homosexuality. The action is a grave sin (infallible Church teaching) and those unrepentant at death go immediately to Hell, just like dying with any other type of mortal sin on the soul.
 
I grew up in the church baptized by my grandpa confirmed by my dad. And no it doesn’t bother her she was actually questioning how they could send a pastor that was like the one they got.
 
Reuben_J said:
You allowed it, like you said, for the sake of harmony in the family
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Whoa!! I and my husband did NOT allow it, we chose it on the basis of prayer.

There are things we did not want our children to be taught, or be forced to say they accepted a doctrine as true, under pain of hell.

There has not ever, nor is there now and “disharmony” in the family. We respect each other’s individual consciences. No one in either of our loving families is inclined to complain about things, least of all another person’s conscience. You must have heard of Cardinal Law?
Yes?
 
You make me chuckle a bit. The greatest influence on my theological reasoning (as a college Philosophy instructor) and beyond, is the advice of saintly Jesuits, whom I first came to know at Boston College. They taught me to think! (Thank you Fr. Monan I’m hangin’ in there).
 
Wait what? Granted it is sad to think that anyone would choose a service rather than the Mass…but, can a Catholic not worship God anywhere and anytime? Praise God in all circumstances, right. I don’t prefer to attend a non-Catholic service but if my friend is having a special event and invited me I would attend…after Mass (I would never replace the Mass with a non-Catholic service if that is what you mean). A non-Catholic service is just praise & worship music and someone preaching & prayer, right? If that is against the faith then please help me understand.

By God’s grace, my friend and her family were really impressed that I attended her daughter’s baptism. I was the only one from all who were invited in our mom’s group who actually attended her daughter’s baptism and they were surprised to learn that I was Catholic. As far as I knew we accept all Christian baptism in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit…and I wanted her daughter to know that our family supported her in baptism.
 
But how can you have a sacramental marriage if your husband is not Catholic?
 
He needs to talk to a good priest about why the Body and Blood of Christ is not merely symbolic. My Lord my God : ) The priest at Mass today was exceptional.
 
I agree. Most non-Catholic worship isn’t deliberately anti-Catholic and I think it’s important to have links with other Christians.
 
tifischer said:
Wait what? Granted it is sad to think that anyone would choose a service rather than the Mass…but, can a Catholic not worship God anywhere and anytime? Praise God in all circumstances, right. I don’t prefer to attend a non-Catholic service but if my friend is having a special event and invited me I would attend…after Mass (I would never replace the Mass with a non-Catholic service if that is what you mean). A non-Catholic service is just praise & worship music and someone preaching & prayer, right? If that is against the faith then please help me understand.

By God’s grace, my friend and her family were really impressed that I attended her daughter’s baptism. I was the only one from all who were invited in our mom’s group who actually attended her daughter’s baptism and they were surprised to learn that I was Catholic. As far as I knew we accept all Christian baptism in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit…and I wanted her daughter to know that our family supported her in baptism.
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I guess you didn’t read the earlier posts where I clearly stated that attending non-Catholic Christian churches for baptisms, weddings and funerals is not a problem otherwise you wouldn’t have made your comments.

Second I quote from a response by Father Serpa of Catholic Answers to a similar question from some time back:

"In the first place a Catholic has no business attending Protestant church services even occasionally. To participate in a heretical worship service and especially a communion service can be sinful for a Catholic because such an act is an affirmation of what we believe to be untrue.

To attend an ecumenical service or a wedding or baptism is allowed, but Catholics are not allowed to attend such churches for the main reason of worship.

In response to someone’s comment that Father Serpa was out of step with the Church FrDavid96 gave this response:

"What Fr S. wrote is completely correct.

Father was addressing attending Sunday worship services. That’s clear from the context. He writing about the sort of thing addressed in the Directory 62.b which is about occasional prayers (“some form of public worship or in devotional acts”).

When we discuss the “typical” Sunday worship services (what Fr. was addressing) that’s different, and what he wrote is correct.
 
Um…marriages between Catholics and non-Catholic Christians are sacramental, given:
  1. The non-Catholic Christian is baptized
  2. The Catholic collects the proper paperwork/permissions
 
TC3033 said:
The only place I’ve heard other denominations denounced or criticized is by the priest the currently resides over my wife’s parish.
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I am sorry to hear this TC. It sounds like this man has a personal axe to grind and it is leaking through into his liturgical duties. The purpose of the homily is to open the scriptures and help the faithful to apply the principles of Jesus’ teaching to the lives of the faithful. It is not necessary to disparage other Christian Ecclesial Communities to do this.

Catholics have much more in common with our separated brethren than we have differences, and it is important to acknowledge and affirm those things we share. in addition, there are many things to admire among non-Catholic communities and Catholics can learn some important things about living and sharing the Gospel.
 
TC3033 said:
I don’t think that I’ve ever heard nor witnessed such vitriol from a non-Catholic church aimed at Catholicism.
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I attended a Sourthern Baptist Church for a time and this type of vitriol was common. I was also asked when I would leave Paganism and what Christian Church I would join. My first exposure to vehement anti-Catholicism was the Chick Tracts. Even though I did not understand the faith into which I was baptized at that time, I remember being appalled at the unchristian attitude portrayed in them.

 
thistle said:
A Catholic may attend a non-Catholic Christian church for baptisms, weddings and funerals. Catholics are not permitted to receive or participate in any way with their Communion.

Catholics are not permitted to attend such churches for the purpose of worship.
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THIS! ^^

My gosh, it took 45 posts before someone said it.
 
What a nutcase.

I just don’t get the where’s and why’s of being so anti-(insert other Christian here).
 
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