Catholicism and Protestantism and Morals

[PeteZaHut]

My priest said in his homily today that it used to be considered a grave sin to merely go to a
Protestant church. How can we justify this change in morals, or was that never an official teaching of the church to begin with?

 

[fermat]

My priest said in his homily today that it used to be considered a grave sin to merely go to a
Protestant church. How can we justify this change in morals, or was that never an official teaching of the church to begin with?

This sounds like it may have a discipline of the church, which can change (as opposed to dogmas, which cannot change). If you went to a Protestant church out of defiance of Catholic teaching, then I could certainly see the case for the being of grave matter.

But for the specific question on whether or not it was an official teaching, I can’t say. But it really does not sound like a teaching, but a discipline

 

[Phemie]

My priest said in his homily today that it used to be considered a grave sin to merely go to a
Protestant church. How can we justify this change in morals, or was that never an official teaching of the church to begin with?

My mom grew up with a lot of Protestants so of course would want to go to their weddings, funerals, etc. She asked her priest and was told it was OK but she was not to pray with them.

She was nothing if not obedient but could never understand the logic that made praying the Lord’s Prayer with her friends a sin.

 

[stuart12]

The 1917 Code of Canon Law said that a person who attends such services should be suspected of heresy, if you went for reasons other than weddings, funerals etc (where passive attendence should be adopted).

 

[corsair]

It has always been my understanding that we could not “participate” in other religious ceremonies.

A number of years ago an old Marine buddy of mine was ordained as a pastor in the United Church of Christ. So I checked with my TLM parish priest about attending. My priest told me that it would be appropriate to attend out of respect for my friend but I was not to partake in any “communion” or in any way lend support to that particular denomination.

Not sure how that squares with any church law but that is what my priest told me.

 

[BlackIris]

I was also wondering about this because I’m living in a place where there aren’t many Catholic churches. I haven’t found any near mine. As a result, I go with my friends to a Protestant church.

I never knew that this was wrong.