Can a protestant church be called a church?

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Also, let’s not forget that the Lord is omnipresent, so why wouldn’t His presence still be in the Protestant church building when all living humans leave it or when only one person is there, just like His presence remains with us through the Holy Spirit even when we are physically alone.
 
De_Maria said:
I’ve been in many. No one is respectful.
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Interesting. We must frequent different churches or are in a different geographical area. When we enter our church (yes, I said church) indeed it is a family and chatty atmosphere…but that’s why our gathering area is in the rear of the church. When we move to the pews, that is a quiet area.
De_Maria said:
I’ve never been to a Protestant gathering where they acknowledged the presence of the Lord before the sermon began.

Have you?
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Yes, as said above. When we move into the church from the rear gathering space it is a quiet area where we are getting ready for the service to start and we all know to be seated by the start time.
 
Oh, I agree. But still, it obviously allows one to exclude certain flavors of Anglicans from the general discussion here. As I do, anyway.

After Mass, the only candle remaining lit is the chancel lamp. If I’m the usher, I even extinguish the votive candles. I’m somewhat paranoid on the subject of fire.
 
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Yes. From Genesis:

“The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.”

I believe God is present in all of his creation. I believe he’s present in every believer’s heart. And yes, I believe he’s in a Protestant church, even when nobody’s there. I also believe he’s in a Catholic church even when nobody’s there.
 
But they don’t teach everything Christ commanded. So, what’s the point of posting this verse?
Reservation of the sacrament depends on the Orthodox Church and individual situations.
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But it is reserved in the Orthodox Church. Thus, when entering the Orthodox Church, you are entering the presence of God and should genuflect in respect.
Yes, technically speaking a Protestant place of worship could be called something besides a Church.
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It is customary to call them churches. And I find that the easiest thing to do. But, the fact remains that the individuals mentioned in the OP, were technically correct.
In everyday language or conversations it would strike me as a crass and boorish to do it though except in the most unusual circumstances.
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I don’t see why. It is a fact that many Protestants deny that buildings are churches. They insist that the Church is the invisible Church which is the union of all believers. There are Protestants who vehemently deny that a building is a church. I’ve heard those objections.

 
I don’t think we’re talking about the same kind of presence. But we can leave it there. Thanks for your participation.
 
I haven’t read all the posts, but here’s what the Church teaches. You may refer to a Protestant church building as a ‘church’ (lowercase ‘c’). However, Protestants are not part of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church so you cannot properly call a Protestant organisation, or Protestant ism as a whole, a ‘Church’.

The correct term is ecclesial community.
 
And that would be indeed true also and in keeping with Catholic teaching.
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I’m glad you said “also”. Because it is true, but not to the exclusion of the fact that the Church is the organization which Jesus Christ established to guide His sheep nor the fact that the Church is also the house of God.
 
catholic03 said:
I haven’t read all the posts, but here’s what the Church teaches. You may refer to a Protestant church building as a ‘church’ (lowercase ‘c’). However, Protestants are not part of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church so you cannot properly call a Protestant organisation, or Protestant ism as a whole, a ‘Church’.

The correct term is ecclesial community.
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Well take the time to read post #33 by Ammi who kindly quoted the CCC which uses a capital letter in the word Churches. Not sure you are well informed.
 
Then there’s the Satanic “temple” like the one that held a black “mass” in Houston last week. 😰
 
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phil19034 said:
From the point of Canon Law, the only Christian Churches are the Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Oriental Orthodox Churches, the Church of the East, Polish National Catholic Church, and most (not all) Old Catholic Churches.

Essentially, anywhere you find all 7 sacraments validly administered, with apostolic succession is a Church. Any other place would be an ecclesial community.
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From Vat II, Unitatis Redintegratio / DECREE ON ECUMENISM - Abridged

II. Separated Churches and Ecclesial Communities in the West

It must however be admitted that in these Churches and ecclesial Communities there exist important differences from the Catholic Church, not only of a historical, sociological, psychological and cultural character, but especially in the interpretation of revealed truth.
  1. Our thoughts turn first to those Christians who make open confession of Jesus Christ as God and Lord and as the sole Mediator between God and men, to the glory of the one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We are aware indeed that there exist considerable divergences from the doctrine of the Catholic Church concerning Christ Himself, the Word of God made flesh, the work of redemption, and consequently, concerning the mystery and ministry of the Church, and the role of Mary in the plan of salvation. But we rejoice to see that our separated brethren look to Christ as the source and center of Church unity. Their longing for union with Christ inspires them to seek an ever closer unity, and also to bear witness to their faith among the peoples of the earth.
  2. A love and reverence of Sacred Scripture which might be described as devotion, leads our brethren to a constant meditative study of the sacred text. For the Gospel “is the power of God for salvation to every one who has faith, to the Jew first and then to the Greek”.(39)
While invoking the Holy Spirit, they seek in these very Scriptures God as it were speaking to them in Christ, Whom the prophets foretold, Who is the Word of God made flesh for us. They contemplate in the Scriptures the life of Christ and what the Divine Master taught and did for our salvation, especially the mysteries of His death and resurrection.

But while the Christians who are separated from us hold the divine authority of the Sacred Books, they differ from ours - some in one way, some in another - regarding the relationship between Scripture and the Church. For, according to Catholic belief, the authentic teaching authority of the Church has a special place in the interpretation and preaching of the written word of God.

But Sacred Scriptures provide for the work of dialogue an instrument of the highest value in the mighty hand of God for the attainment of that unity which the Saviour holds out to all.
 
I don’t think the non-Catholic Churches are waiting around for the CC’s permission to win the lost.
 
JulianN said:
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De_Maria:
“Church” means “house of the Lord”.

The word “Church” is derived from the Greek “Kryiakon” meaning “The Lords House”. …
Search for: What is the root meaning of the word church?
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You are assuming that the house of the Lord requires the Lord’s physical presence at all times. By that logic, my house is no longer mine when I am at work, or on vacation.
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Also by that logic a Catholic Church that has no consecrated host temporarily is not a church during that time. There would need to be a red light on the top of the church building as well so that those passing by would not cross themselves in front of an ecclesial community building if the light is off.
 
JulianN said:
You are assuming that the house of the Lord requires the Lord’s physical presence at all times.
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Yes.
By that logic, my house is no longer mine when I am at work, or on vacation.
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Are you required, by Law, to remain in your house at all times?

Here’s the code of Canon Law.

CHAPTER II : THE RESERVATION AND VENERATION OF THE BLESSED EUCHARIST​

Can. 934 §1 The blessed Eucharist:

1° must be reserved in the cathedral church or its equivalent, in every parish church, and in the church or oratory attached to the house of a religious institute or society of apostolic life

So, your argument doesn’t apply. Jesus Christ is always present in every Catholic Church, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity.
 
Directed to anyone interested.

In my experience, Protestants only admit to one definition for “church”. They have always, adamantly claimed that the Church is only the group of people who have been called and indwelled and empowered by Christ. They deny that the magisterium is church or that there is any other definition for church.

But apparently, now, some are up in arms because we don’t consider their buildings, where they gather, to be churches?

What’s the deal with that?
 
mabu said:
p.s. Any advice how to best respond? This is a close family member. And I’m Catholic too, just a little less… ummm… “militant”
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Just tell them they are obnoxious and then suggest they get their directions from Google, because you are done.

Seriously.
 
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