Can Catholics use Protestant churches?

  • Thread starter Thread starter IlCajetan
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
Praying in a Protestant church is no different than praying in a library. It is not a blessed sanctuary and Jesus is not present like He is in the tabernacle in the Catholic Church. So there is zero reason to leave home to go pray there.

We see in the gospel today that Jesus started a church, not churches. Jesus wants us in His church not a heretical church.
 
I would argue that those churches reject the dogma of the real presence of Jesus in the eucharist. Thomas Aquinas said that if you reject one dogma of the faith, you reject them all. It sounds pretty heretical to me. I have looked up the definition of heresy and heretical and it seems to be a perfect fit. So I am unsure where you are coming from.
 
c4csp said:
Thomas Aquinas said that if you reject one dogma of the faith, you reject them all.
Click to expand...
I wonder what St. Thomas would think about UR. Especially this part:

“The brethren divided from us also use many liturgical actions of the Christian religion. These most certainly can truly engender a life of grace in ways that vary according to the condition of each Church or Community. These liturgical actions must be regarded as capable of giving access to the community of salvation.

It follows that the separated Churches and Communities as such, though we believe them to be deficient in some respects, have been by no means deprived of significance and importance in the mystery of salvation. For the Spirit of Christ has not refrained from using them as means of salvation which derive their efficacy from the very fullness of grace and truth entrusted to the Church.”

Heretics all - but at least we’re useful heretics 🙂
 
TULIPed said:
I wonder what St. Thomas would think about UR. Especially this part:

“The brethren divided from us also use many liturgical actions of the Christian religion. These most certainly can truly engender a life of grace in ways that vary according to the condition of each Church or Community. These liturgical actions must be regarded as capable of giving access to the community of salvation.

It follows that the separated Churches and Communities as such, though we believe them to be deficient in some respects, have been by no means deprived of significance and importance in the mystery of salvation. For the Spirit of Christ has not refrained from using them as means of salvation which derive their efficacy from the very fullness of grace and truth entrusted to the Church.”

Heretics all - but at least we’re useful heretics 🙂
Click to expand...
I am not saying it as an insult but as a fact. So if one is offended by the term I used, then shake it off and stick to the message.

Everything true in a Protestant church came from the Catholic Church. They do not have the fullness of truth. However, anything contrary to Catholic Church is poison because it is not true.

There is no salvation outside the Catholic Church. Now, clearly God is just and if there is invisible ignorance then the person can be saved. If they have baptismal desire, they can be saved. There are many Protestants who love the Lord and will probably be saved through their desire because we believe God is merciful and just.

However, the OP was asking if Catholics can use Protestant churches to pray. Now maybe that Catholic is completely ignorant of their faith, which many are, but it is very unwise to do so. If there is no salvation outside the Catholic Church, why on earth earth would a Catholic go to a church that broke away from Christ’s church with their heresy to pray? It just seems like a big slap in the face to our Lord Jesus.

Furthermore, that is terrible witness for Christ’s true church. We believe Jesus started one church and we must be witnesses to that. Going into Protestant churches to pray or giving their church equality to Jesus’ one true church is terrible witness to that truth.
 
Last edited:
c4csp said:
Furthermore, that is terrible witness for Christ’s true church.
Click to expand...
Funny this. I would argue exactly the opposite - using this as a guide:

“5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

If we’re to be humble and Christ like to everyone, why wouldn’t that include those who profess to love the same Savior you do? Jesus spent time breaking bread with sinners after all. How is praying with those who love Jesus in their home any different?
 
TULIPed said:
If we’re to be humble and Christ like to everyone, why wouldn’t that include those who profess to love the same Savior you do? Jesus spent time breaking bread with sinners after all. How is praying with those who love Jesus in their home any different?
Click to expand...
My posts reflect the OP posts, which do not address praying with protestants. It is asking if it is ok for them(solo) go into a Protestant church and pray by themselves. That is the post. I gave a thorough answer to that. The action of doing that is not good witness to the Catholic faith. By not going to Protestant churches is great witness because it shows one believes solely in Christ’s one, holy, Catholic, and apostolic Church.

Example: A Catholic is home and their church is locked up but a Baptist church is open. So they get in the car and drive 3 miles to the Baptist church and go inside and pray. the question is why? It is just a building. Jesus is not there in the tabernacle. Did a Catholic priest go there and bless their meeting space? It is just a building. I am saying that action either shows one is completely ignorant of their faith or it may be even sinful. A Catholic should have blessed crucifixes and art in their home. It is more edifying to stay home and pray.
 
c4csp said:
I am saying that action either shows one is completely ignorant of their faith or it may be even sinful.
Click to expand...
“…maybe even sinful”

I’m Calvinist. I start the day wondering if I rolled over in bed sinfully. I’ve finally found a kindred spirit on CAF!!!
 
TULIPed said:
I’m Calvinist. I start the day wondering if I rolled over in bed sinfully. I’ve finally found a kindred spirit on CAF!!!
Click to expand...
You sound like you would make a good Catholic. We must endure the sufferings of our crosses and constantly examine ourselves. It is what brings us closer to the Lord.
 
Ha!

A good Calvinist would wonder if he was predestined to eat the biscuits or not. 🙂
 
I’ve only read through post 41, so forgive me if this has already been pointed out: in the Mass/Divine Liturgy there are 4 presences of Christ according to the Church…
  1. Most particularly in the Eucharist
  2. In the celebrant, Bishop, Priest, Deacon
  3. In the people/congregation (the body of Christ)
  4. In the Liturgy of the Word (anamnesis, nmemosisnon, is not restricted to the Eucharist only)
Peace and God Bless
Nicene
 
Last edited:
Nicene said:
I’ve only read through post 41, so forgive me if this has already been pointed out: in the Mass/Divine Liturgy there are 4 presences of Christ according to the Church…
  1. Most particularly in the Eucharist
  2. In the celebrant, Bishop, Priest, Deacon
  3. In the people/congregation (the body of Christ)
  4. In the Liturgy of the Word (anamnesis, nmemosisnon, is not restricted to the Eucharist only)
Peace and God Bless
Nicene
Click to expand...
And we can agree that Protestants have two of these at least :hugs:
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top