Can you be both Methodist & Catholic?

[CatsCath]

May I complete RCIA & be confirmed, etc. but also maintain my membership in our family’s Methodist Church, with the understanding that I may not take communion in the Methodist Church? I’ve been told Catholics & Methodists are
“brothers & sisters”, so what’s the big deal? I want to stay faithful to my spouses Methodist Church, which I joined when we married; but I already practice Catholicism at home. I can manage being involved in both congregations. But my Methodist minister says I must relinquish y membership! We’re all in the Body of Christ- so what’s the big deal? Thanks!

 

[Start]

I’ve been told Catholics & Methodists are “brothers & sisters”, so what’s the big deal?

The Methodists told you or was it the Catholics?

 

[CatsCath]

I was told that by the Methodists. However, my understanding is that the Pope encourages Catholic- Methodist brotherhood.
I have not spoken to my preist yet except I told him my husband grew up in his Methodist church & since his parents have died, he feels he should remain faithful to that church, but fully supports me in my conversion, even offering to attend mass with me.

 

[Cor_ad_Cor]

What do you lose by giving up the Methodist membership? You won’t receive their communion. Is there something else at stake? I’m not talking about attending their services or functions. Other than this, what does “membership” benefit you in any way?

(The Church’s response is really no; you’re not both.)

 

[giuseppe96]

I would not. You are becoming a member of the Mystical Body of Christ, will be able to receive Our Lord in the Eucharist (Methodists don’t believe in the real presence), and receive the great graces of the Sacraments. As a Catholic, you must know that Protestant rites and sacraments if any are not valid. They do not have nor believe in Apostolic Succession. That being said, you can still visit occasionally for the sake of being with your family, but not to substitute Catholic theology and Sacraments with Methodist.

 

[chessnerd321]

I support you in continuing to be apart of your family’s faith community. I tend to think it’s a stride too far to actively “maintain” membership. I mean for all I know I’m still technically a member at my parents church and I don’t see that as a big deal, but if asked I’m Catholic and only Catholic.

It would he slightly ironic if the church demanded we have our record of association with other churches purged. Seeing as she never removes any of her records on anyone ever.

 

[lilypadrees]

No, you can’t be both. You can attend the Methodist church with your husband as long as you also fulfill your Sunday obligation by attending Mass.

But you cannot convert and become Catholic and maintain your membership in the Methodist church at the same time. You must choose to either join the Catholic Church which was founded by Jesus Himself or remain a member of the Methodist church which was founded by John Wesley.

 

[Deditus_Domina]

Membership in a church is a public commitment to the beliefs and people of that church. You cannot commit to two different belief systems at the same time. You must understand some of the differences to be considering conversion. By becoming Catholic you are choosing not to be Methodist. You can still hang out with them but you won’t be one of them anymore. You will be the Catholic spouse of a Methodist

 

[ZMystiCat]

But my Methodist minister says I must relinquish y membership! We’re all in the Body of Christ- so what’s the big deal?

To be fair, if you were jumping ship to a Lutheran church or even another Methodist church, there’s a very good chance that you’d have to give up your membership. This isn’t an anti-Catholic move on the Methodist’s part. There are a few practical reasons for this:

1. For churches that permit voting, you want to limit voting to those who have declared membership.
2. It is a sign of what authority you’re under, such as which pastor has the authority to discipline you.
3. It helps with logistics. How many members are there? Who should we send emails to?
4. It shows that you intend to be available to help with things like ushering or greeting.

With that said, there is a bit more of a divide between Catholics and Methodists than exists among Methodists and other Protestants. As Catholics, we see Protestants as “separated brethren”. I don’t emphasize “separated” because it is more important. I emphasize it because that’s what’s missing behind the question. Yes, they are brothers and sisters, but they also aren’t in full communion with the Body of Christ. Once you’re in full communion, you’re no longer separated with them and can’t be a member of their separated portion. (On a somewhat related note, some Catholics really need the word “brethren” emphasized.)

 

[Roseeurekacross]

please discuss this with your Catholic priest. Protestants are our separated brethren. Why does your methodist minister say you must relinquish your membership, what is his or her reasoning.

We are all in the Body of Christ. There are differences and your Catholic Priest should be able to distinguish those for you.

 

[PaulfromIowa]

Can you be Catholic and Protestant at the same time? The answer should be obvious. Give the Methodist minister credit. He, at least, understands this. You may attend with your spouse, but not participate to the extent of embracing error. Stick to the teachings of Christ and His Apostles, not those of modern men.

 

[HeDa]

OP. We confess in the Creed that we believe in “one, holy, Catholic and apostolic church” every single Sunday and Holy day. You will say (if you are previously baptised) when you are received into the Catholic Church, in front of the priest and people present, at the Easter Vigil or another Mass that “I believe and profess all that the holy Catholic Church believes, teaches, and proclaims to be revealed by God.” This is what you commit to when becoming Catholic.

The Catholic Church is not a member of the World Council of Churches for this reason. It has an observatory status only.

 

[TheLittleLady]

But my Methodist minister says I must relinquish y membership!

Methodist congregation determines who may and who may not be a member. I am certain that they will still allow you to attend the pot lucks and picnics and sit by your wife during services.

 

[midori]

I’ve been told Catholics & Methodists are “brothers & sisters [by the Methodists]”

But my Methodist minister says I must relinquish y membership!

For what it’s worth, my MIL is Methodist who is currently attending the local Baptist church. My husband was raised Methodist, but is non-practicing. So in both cases, you have an individual who considers themselves Methodist— but neither of them is attending a Methodist church.

So, you want to

stay faithful to my spouse’s Methodist Church, which I joined when we married.

What are three things that you want to do to stay faithful to your spouse’s Church?

Does it involve attending the service?

Attending their Bible study?

Attending their social gatherings, like potlucks?

Participating in their fundraisers?

You can do all of those things, even without formal membership. What does formal membership get you? The ability to vote on your pastor, for one thing. But apart from that, it goes beyond “I’m an active member of a group that loves God”, but also is a way to publicly commit to believing x, y, and z. Which is good, because if you think of it as a Venn Diagram, there’s a whole lot of overlap— but at the same time, your Catholicism is also having you believe is a, b, and c.

So, look through your membership vows. I picked a random sample, just to have something specific to discuss. Some of them are going to be compatible with your Catholicism-- rejecting the evil powers of the world, renouncing sin, accepting God’s grace, to serve Jesus. Some of them, you’ll have to think about, but you can go along with-- to do all in your power to strengthen the Methodist Church’s ministries, or to participate in their ministries with your gifts/witness. Some of them, you’ll have to think about-- you’ll think you’re going along with it from your POV, but they might think differently-- like “to receive and profess the Christian faith as contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Covenants.”

It’s definitely understandable that you want to straddle both worlds. But are you not able to attend as your husband’s guest, or continue to cultivate your friendships, even though you may no longer be a card-carrying member of that particular congregation?

 

[redbaron162]

I grew up Methodist and became Catholic at 17. One interesting thing I found out was that John Wesley (Who was Anglican and specifically did not his followers to break off and found a new church) was an avid prayer of the rosary and was buried with his rosary…just a fun fact.

 

[ZMystiCat]

It’s actually somewhat shocking to hear what many of the Protestant fathers had to say about Mary. A lot of Protestants today would be mortified to learn that they accepted things like the Immaculate Conception (at least as well as it was understood at the time) and the Assumption. It’s sad that whether or not she should be called Mother of God is a debate among Protestant now.

 

[TheLittleLady]

Older Methodist hymnals contain Marian Hymns.

A very good book on the Rosary was written by a Methodist minister, book is called “Five for Sorrow, Ten For Joy”

 

[CatsCath]

Thank all of you for your (name removed by moderator)ut. I am committed to my husband’s Methodist Church b/c, as I said before, he was raised in it & his parents passed away not long ago. They were more parents to me than my own. So, to show loyalty & submission to my husband & his family, I will participate in events, etc. but I do believe the Catholic Church hits the mark, if you will, on the Truth. Therefore I do intend on converting. And I’ve made peace with the fact I will have to relinquish my “card- carrying membership” to the UMC as someone said. My son, is Orthodox & he was coming to visit last Christmas & was conflicted bc he knew we would have communion & that Methodist don’t believe in the Real Presence. However, his priest told him that as long as he was doing it to honor his mother and to prevent being s stumbling block to others- he could take communion as a Remembrance, as long as he understands it is only an act of Rememberance & not the Actual Presence. It would be like remembering a family member by lighting a votive- except he’d be remembering & showing reverence for Christ’s death & resurrection- and to show hone to his mother. What say you- anyone here- in that point?
It does pain my heart that Christ’s Church is spread out into denominations due to men’s false ideas. We do need to remember that in Heaven God will not ask for a membership card, He will ask “Who do YOU say I am? And have you lived out my commandments?” I mean, there’s going to be Protestants in Heaven too! I’m just saying- EVERYONE is our brother & sister if they have repented of sin & given their lives fully over to God.
I do think the one thing that will be the breaking point for a lot of Methodists, is when in February they vote on whether UMC ministers can perform same-sex marriages. If they agree to that, it’s just a slippery slop that soon they will allow gay clergymen. Any thoughts? I have been a closet Catholic for 2 years, so I intend on completing the journey. Thank you all.

 

[JulianN]

OP. We confess in the Creed that we believe in “one, holy, Catholic and apostolic church”

Slightly off topic here, but it’s catholic, not Catholic. As in “universal.” And the Methodists recite those words as well.

 

[Thom18]

HeDa:

OP. We confess in the Creed that we believe in “one, holy, Catholic and apostolic church”

Slightly off topic here, but it’s catholic, not Catholic. As in “universal.” And the Methodists recite those words as well.

Does Catholic with a capital “c” not also mean universal?