Can a Catholic go to a protestant church?
- Thread starter Bataar
- Start date
- Status
T
tradcatman
Guest
I personally would not. I do not attend non-Catholic ceremonies of any kind. I’ll go to the party, but not the actual ceremony so I would not give an outward expression of acceptance of non-truths.
T
TC3033
Guest
From what I have been told, multiple times, it’s fine to attend Protestant services. It doesn’t count towards “your” Sunday Obligation so you need to go to Mass too, or so I’m told.
1
1ke
Guest
Catholics can attend non-Catholic events like baptisms, weddings, funerals, etc. Catholics married to non-Catholics can occasionally attend their spouse’s services.
Catholics should not make a habit of regular attendance and worship at non-Catholics churches.
No.
T
TC3033
Guest
Wow, you really think it’s “wrong” or “bad” for my wife to regularly attend services at my church as well.Bataar:
Catholics can attend non-Catholic events like baptisms, weddings, funerals, etc. Catholics married to non-Catholics can occasionally attend their spouse’s services.
Catholics should not make a habit of regular attendance and worship at non-Catholics churches.
No.
That’s too bad.
1
1ke
Guest
I didn’t say it was wrong or bad.
T
TC3033
Guest
No, but you didn’t say they should make a regular “habit” of it either, so (to me) in the context of the thread, that’s kinda how it came off ¯_(ツ)_/¯.
My apoligies if I misunderstood.
My apoligies if I misunderstood.
Last edited:
D
DarkLight
Guest
I wouldn’t do it in order to worship God there better or something - the fullness of truth is still in the Catholic Mass. I have no problems going on certain occasions, however - for example I had no issue going to church on Christmas with my family, having fulfilled my own obligation on Christmas eve.
S
stpurl
Guest
Certainly one may go to a protestant church in addition to attending Catholic Mass, even regularly if, for example, one is a musician and plays/sings at the protestant church.
But it’s a fine line about the ‘more social manner’. Because you see there is then a danger that has already come into your mind, the idea that the protestant venue is ‘more social’ than the Catholic one AND the idea that one gets more out of ‘worshipping in a more social manner’. That actually winds up taking the worship (of God) and turning it into a worship of the worship, i.e., the protestant church has things which appeal to me more so I need to satisfy my own need to do appealing things.
If your best friend or spouse or other family member attends the protestant church and you like to go because that person is there to worship with, or there’s a lot of family and friends, that’s one thing. The ‘social’ is with a group that you ‘already’ socialize with.
But if you just know people casually but you like the way that everybody seems to act, all the neat things they offer, the whole worship ‘style’, the friendly, relaxed, ‘we’re so glad you’re here’, and you are contrasting that with the cold, formal, solitary, "I’ve gone to this church for 5 years, nobody says anything to me’ Catholic church and going, “Pfui on these cold-hearted rigid sourpuss slugs! I deserve better, I’ll show up for my ‘duty’ and then get out where I’ll get some real fellowship, fun, and experience God the 'right way”, then it’s a problem.
Now you might spend the rest of your life going to St.Sourpuss. You might grit your teeth and hate it. You have two choices, you can try to be St Sweetness and get things going that way (knowing it might take AGES for people to respond, if ever), or you might just throw up your hands, "Lord, you know I find this behavior hard to deal with. But Lord, while I might have a more positive attitude than all the other people here, I’ve got my own sins and faults that they–and everybody else–have to put up with. While I’m carping that they are rigid and cold, they might be thinking, "oh no, here comes that loud, over-the-top person again, always trying to get people to ‘act happy’. We don’t want to be fake! We ARE perfectly happy, but we show it in quieter ways. We keep trying to model this, but that person doesn’t seem to get it. Lord, you know we find this behavior hard to deal with. . " IOW, oops, when we think we have the right attitude and somebody else is doing it wrong, they might be thinking the same about us. . .and perhaps we BOTH have an attitude that is perfectly fine.
So maybe we need to be sure that we really enjoy going to the Catholic Church first and ONLY then might we want to think about worshipping ‘elsewhere’.
But it’s a fine line about the ‘more social manner’. Because you see there is then a danger that has already come into your mind, the idea that the protestant venue is ‘more social’ than the Catholic one AND the idea that one gets more out of ‘worshipping in a more social manner’. That actually winds up taking the worship (of God) and turning it into a worship of the worship, i.e., the protestant church has things which appeal to me more so I need to satisfy my own need to do appealing things.
If your best friend or spouse or other family member attends the protestant church and you like to go because that person is there to worship with, or there’s a lot of family and friends, that’s one thing. The ‘social’ is with a group that you ‘already’ socialize with.
But if you just know people casually but you like the way that everybody seems to act, all the neat things they offer, the whole worship ‘style’, the friendly, relaxed, ‘we’re so glad you’re here’, and you are contrasting that with the cold, formal, solitary, "I’ve gone to this church for 5 years, nobody says anything to me’ Catholic church and going, “Pfui on these cold-hearted rigid sourpuss slugs! I deserve better, I’ll show up for my ‘duty’ and then get out where I’ll get some real fellowship, fun, and experience God the 'right way”, then it’s a problem.
Now you might spend the rest of your life going to St.Sourpuss. You might grit your teeth and hate it. You have two choices, you can try to be St Sweetness and get things going that way (knowing it might take AGES for people to respond, if ever), or you might just throw up your hands, "Lord, you know I find this behavior hard to deal with. But Lord, while I might have a more positive attitude than all the other people here, I’ve got my own sins and faults that they–and everybody else–have to put up with. While I’m carping that they are rigid and cold, they might be thinking, "oh no, here comes that loud, over-the-top person again, always trying to get people to ‘act happy’. We don’t want to be fake! We ARE perfectly happy, but we show it in quieter ways. We keep trying to model this, but that person doesn’t seem to get it. Lord, you know we find this behavior hard to deal with. . " IOW, oops, when we think we have the right attitude and somebody else is doing it wrong, they might be thinking the same about us. . .and perhaps we BOTH have an attitude that is perfectly fine.
So maybe we need to be sure that we really enjoy going to the Catholic Church first and ONLY then might we want to think about worshipping ‘elsewhere’.
1
1ke
Guest
In general, Catholics should not.
However, in marriages with non-Catholics the church gives guidance to pastors who in turn can guide the Catholic spouse regarding ecumenism, their marriage, and how to balance and respect their spouse’s faith tradition.
P
PJM
Guest
NO!
Patrick
- Doing such underlines a lack of Catholic Faith-right-understanding
- Divine Worship is to be GOD centered [Its NOT about US; its ALL about Our God]
Many Protestant worship services focus greatly on Community-Unity; & Fellowship, which is WHY they are popular. … NOT a GOD centered focus - Is the HIGH possibility of Scandal to yourself, your parish and the RRC in general IF it is KNOWN that you are a “catholic”
Patrick
T
TC3033
Guest
Did you honestly just compare going to a non-Catholic service to going to a strip club.
I’ve now officially heard it all.
I’ve now officially heard it all.
Last edited:
I’m not asking about going to a protestant church instead of Catholic Mass, I’m asking if it’s ok to do both. For example, going to the vigil Mass on Saturday evening and going to a protestant service on Sunday. I wouldn’t be denying anything about the Catholic church, I’d merely be going to the other service as more of a social aspect that would involve praying.
P
PJM
Guest
My friend I DID understand and my first rely explains WHY you should NOT do it.
I suggest you discuss this with your Pastor before going ahead with it.
God Bless you,
Patrick
I suggest you discuss this with your Pastor before going ahead with it.
God Bless you,
Patrick
- Status