Catholic layperson assisting in Anglican Mass?

[FrDavid96]

This particular person attends these parishes in addition to his own so as to provide the opportunity for his family to receive the Eucharist, which they cannot receive elsewhere (spouse is not interested in becoming Roman).

While it might be possible for a Catholic to act as an acolyte at an Anglican service (while never taking the bread, of course) for some special occasion (maybe a funeral or someone’s wedding anniversary, etc.) it’s not acceptable to do it on a regular basis. It seems that might be happening. If that’s the case, yes, it is a real problem.

The broader problem seems to be that this person does not understand that the Catholic Church decides who does or does not have valid ordination. This isn’t decided by individuals. Anglicans/Episcopalians do not have valid ordination as a community, therefore as Catholics we must presume that any Anglican clergy do not have valid ordination unless the Catholic Church says otherwise on an individual basis.

 

[thistle]

It surely depends on what one means by ‘worship’. We can worship on a bus or a beach or out on a walk, so I don’t see why we can’t acknowledge God’s glory and ask His help in a non-Catholic church, even during a service.

Don’t get me wrong - I understand the scandal aspect of receiving Communion, but not allowed to worship? Do you have a source for this?

Below is a response from Father Serpa of Catholic Answers from some time ago. I have bolded the part which you asked me about.

"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.

Now if there are no Catholic churches in the vicinity on a Sunday, Catholics are allowed to participate in the Liturgy of Churches whose clergy are validly ordained such as the Eastern Orthodox Churches—including the reception of the Eucharist.

Although we consider them to be in schism (not in union with the Pope) with the Catholic Church, such Churches are not heretical and share our basic beliefs.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P."

 

[paperwight]

Conversely, Thistle, you might like to follow up the link provided by Fr. David to the Vatican document, in particular section 63, point b. This talks of ‘Sharing prayer and particularly in some form of public worship or devotional acts of other Christians’.

It would appear that Fr.Serpa is out of step with the Church.

 

[FrDavid96]

Conversely, Thistle, you might like to follow up the link provided by Fr. David to the Vatican document, in particular section 63, point b. This talks of ‘Sharing prayer and particularly in some form of public worship or devotional acts of other Christians’.

It would appear that Fr.Serpa is out of step with the Church.

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.

 

[paperwight]

Thank you for the clarification, Father. Thistle, I owe you an apology. I was too hasty.

But I still can’t accept that we are not allowed to worship with non-Catholics, as Thistle states in post 18… Fr, David, would you mind addressing that?

 

[FrDavid96]

Thank you for the clarification, Father. Thistle, I owe you an apology. I was too hasty.

But I still can’t accept that we are not allowed to worship with non-Catholics, as Thistle states in post 18… Fr, David, would you mind addressing that?

It all depends on the type of worship.

For example, if the local Protestant church down the street from me were to have a ceremony dedicating their new playground (happened this past summer) and invited the Catholics to participate, it would not be a problem at all.

If the pastor of that same place were to die and I attend his funeral as a matter of courtesy, representing my parish, that would be OK. I just cannot participate in their remembrance of the Lord’s Supper.

More to the specific point, attending a non-Catholic service (in this case Anglican) on Sunday mornings as a regular practice is a problem. Attending from time-to-time, such as weddings, funerals, or other special occasions is permissible.

The overall point is that this is not a simple “yes or no.” It depends on a lot of different factors.

 

[paperwight]

paperwight:

Thank you for the clarification, Father. Thistle, I owe you an apology. I was too hasty.

But I still can’t accept that we are not allowed to worship with non-Catholics, as Thistle states in post 18… Fr, David, would you mind addressing that?

It all depends on the type of worship.
Attending from time-to-time, such as weddings, funerals, or other special occasions is permissible.

The overall point is that this is not a simple “yes or no.” It depends on a lot of different factors.

Thank you, Father. So there is no blanket prohibition on worshipping with our fellow-Christians, which is what I thought.

Obviously, I do not equate attending Holy Mass with attending their services regularly. It was the statement that we are not permitted to worship with them ever which bothered me.

 

[OraLabora]

Keep in mind what Catholics worship. We worship Christ Himself made truly present on the altar at each Mass. Even at each Communion Service in absence of a priest, since it is done with validly consecrated hosts, we are in the presence of Christ Himself and thus can give Him appropriate honours and worship as He is present in our midst.

Anglicans have a “mass” of sorts but due to invalid orders, what is present on their altar is simply bread. If we go through the worship motions (kneeling, etc.) at an Anglican “mass”, we are worshipping bread, not Christ.

Our worship is very specific and directed to Christ Himself, present amongst us. Our Mass isn’t a mere prayer service. We can never replace our worship at a Catholic Mass with something else. That’s why, when from time to time I attend Anglican services with my Anglican wife, I always do so having fulfilled my obligation at a Catholic Mass as well, either before or after the Anglican service.

We can therefore never “worship” at a Protestant service, but we may do so, if we are compelled by circumstances to attend an Orthodox (not in communion with Rome) Divine Liturgy, as the priest is validly consecrating and making Christ truly present before us.

That doesn’t mean we can’t attend a Protestant service. We can even pray with them at such a service, for example general intercessions as long as nothing incompatible with the Catholic faith is asked. But we can never worship there. We cannot direct our prayer at their “eucharist” as it is only Bread, in the same way we can pray to Jesus truly present on our own altars… And we must never attend a Protestant service in lieu of our obligation on Sundays or any holy day of obligation.

 

[Athanasius_Mary]

OraLabora, your post gets to the very heart of the question. If this particular Anglican Eucharist is the very same Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity Who is present at every Catholic Mass, is it still a sin for a Catholic to acolyte or even receive the Sacrament (as this would be the same as receiving it in a Catholic or Orthodox Church)?

 

[OraLabora]

The only thing I can suggest here, is for the person involved to speak to his pastor and follow his guidance.

 

[PJM]

1. How have they have retained Apostolic Succession? Henry was is SCHISM
2. No

GBY

 

[AlNg]

If we go through the worship motions (kneeling, etc.) at an Anglican “mass”, we are worshipping bread

I don’t look at it that way. I look at it as being respectful.

 

[paperwight]

Keep in mind what Catholics worship. We worship Christ Himself made truly present on the altar at each Mass. .

Our worship is very specific and directed to Christ Himself, present amongst us. Our Mass isn’t a mere prayer service. We can never replace our worship at a Catholic Mass with something else.

We can therefore never “worship” at a Protestant service, but we may do so, .

That doesn’t mean we can’t attend a Protestant service. We can even pray with them at such a service, for example general intercessions as long as nothing incompatible with the Catholic faith is asked. But we can never worship there. We cannot direct our prayer at their “eucharist” as it is only Bread, .

I honestly think this is too restrictive a view of ‘worship’ ’

We must worship the Most Holy Trinity, and that should be the background of our lives at every moment.

You seem to be restricting the focus of our worship to adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Naturally, I agree with you that there can be no Real Presence at a non-Catholic Holy Communion service. But the vast majority of non-Catholic services are not any attempt at Holy Communion, but a mix of hymns, prayers and preaching…

Almighty God is everywhere, and we must worship Him at all times and in all places, yes?

 

[OraLabora]

I honestly think this is too restrictive a view of ‘worship’ ’

Perhaps, but unique to the Catholic and other valid Masses is the worship of God made physically present in the Eucharist. It is the central element of our Mass.

Yes we can ce respectful of Anglican’s invalid mass, but we cannot cross the line into worshipping their eucharist. That means, mostly, not participating in communion. And probably not taking an active part in its rituals, at least past the Liturgy of the Word. By that I mean not serving as acolyte.

We can certainly worship in the sense that we praise God with them.