Catholics can't attend Protestant services?

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ABostonCatholic said:
I agree. I’ve attended 6 parishes, only 2 of which have had Bible studies. Neither have been that great.
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The Bible study leader in ours is extremely knowledgeable, the people in it are absolutely wonderful… Unfortunately there’s much less discussion as much more reading or watching a video.

I prefer to take a very small portion at a time, discuss it as long as it needs discussion and go on… Vs. having a set agenda of what needs to get done this year. lol.
 
ABostonCatholic said:
Fr Serpa wrote:

"Hi,

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."

Can anyone point me to some (recent) source on this. I know Catholics shouldn’t receive communion at non-Catholic Churches, but I was under the impression that attendance is allowed.

I have read through the Principles and Norms on Ecumenism before, but it strains my eyes to read large portions of text online (at times I can barely manage these posts).

Can anyone point me to anything that substantiates (or refutes) Fr. Serpa’s claim?
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**That document refutes part of it. He is correct - up to a point - in saying Catholics cannot receive Holy Communion at services of non-Catholic Churches; but mistaken, in saying: **​

…136. Members of other Churches or ecclesial Communities may be witnesses at the celebration of marriage in a Catholic church. Catholics may also be witnesses at marriages which are celebrated in other Churches or ecclesial Communities

Sharing Other Resources for Spiritual Life and Activity
  1. Catholic churches are consecrated or blessed buildings which have an important theological and liturgical significance for the Catholic community. They are therefore generally reserved for Catholic worship. However, if priests, ministers or communities not in full communion with the Catholic Church do not have a place or the liturgical objects necessary for celebrating worthily their religious ceremonies, the diocesan Bishop may allow them the use of a church or a Catholic building and also lend them what may be necessary for their services. Under similar circumstances, permission may be given to them for interment or for the celebration of services at Catholic cemeteries…
**The document is very detailed, therefore long; & it would be easy to quote in a misleading way 😦 I suggest you read section 116 & those following. **
 
:confused:

Okay, taking this from another perspective…

I am non-Catholic at a Catholic college. I have no car. If I want to go to a church service on Sunday morning, my only option is a Catholic Mass. If I choose to attend, I do so because, even though I am not able to receive Communion, the music is not the best quality, and the sermons vary in quality, I am going to church and worshipping God on a Sunday morning, which is what I want to do.

Now reverse Catholic and non-Catholic. If there is no Catholic or Orthodox church available, or the only one is too far away to conveniently go to, what is wrong with going to a Protestant church service in order to worship God? God is present in churches besides the Catholic Church!!!

I agree that a Catholic probably shouldn’t be going to a Protestant church regularly if they can go to a Catholic church just as easily. (Protestant denominations aren’t that different so no one cares.) But to go once in a while when that’s the only or by far the easiest option?? Why not? I think it would be better to go to a Protestant worship service than not to go to church at all.
 
HannahLisa said:
. If there is no Catholic or Orthodox church available, or the only one is too far away to conveniently go to, what is wrong with going to a Protestant church service in order to worship God?
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I would say this is a very rare case… and the problem (for a Catholic) still comes with not receiving the Eucharist.

Therefore, a Protestant service, while (from what I know) is permissible for a Catholic to attend (except for communion) does not replace the Catholic mass.
 
KJK80 said:
I would say this is a very rare case… and the problem (for a Catholic) still comes with not receiving the Eucharist.

Therefore, a Protestant service, while (from what I know) is permissible for a Catholic to attend (except for communion) does not replace the Catholic mass.
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I think it would be a rare case, as well. But I’m sure it happens.

Maybe this is just my Protestant viewpoint, but I think there’s more to Mass than receiving Communion, otherwise I would never go to a Catholic Mass where I can’t receive Communion.

I go to church to worship God. This can take the form of Communion, this can take the form of singing hymns or other church music, etc. Catholics can do some of that at a Protestant church, even though they can’t receive Communion.
 
HannahLisa said:
I think it would be a rare case, as well. But I’m sure it happens.

Maybe this is just my Protestant viewpoint, but I think there’s more to Mass than receiving Communion, otherwise I would never go to a Catholic Mass where I can’t receive Communion.

I go to church to worship God. This can take the form of Communion, this can take the form of singing hymns or other church music, etc. Catholics can do some of that at a Protestant church, even though they can’t receive Communion.
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I do not disagree, but as a Catholic, the Eucharist is central to the entire Mass…therefore obligatory. I was born, raised and baptized Protestant. Every 13th weekend we celebrated “communion” as a ceremony. I understand why, to a Protestant it wouldn’t mean that much… but for a Catholic it’s very different. Therefore the typical Protestant service cannot replace the Catholic mass… There’s just no substitution.
 
ABostonCatholic said:
Fr Serpa wrote:

"Hi,

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."

Can anyone point me to some (recent) source on this. I know Catholics shouldn’t receive communion at non-Catholic Churches, but I was under the impression that attendance is allowed.

I have read through the Principles and Norms on Ecumenism before, but it strains my eyes to read large portions of text online (at times I can barely manage these posts).

Can anyone point me to anything that substantiates (or refutes) Fr. Serpa’s claim?
Click to expand...
To attend a Protestant worship is not wrong in and of itself. But to participate in the singing and such is not. Communion would be just outright sinful and cause for the sacrament of reconciliation. But I have an entire family full of Protestants…I will attend their worship and sing and all, except when the words of a song are against the Chruch’s teaching… There are many. But if I can find a common ground, I will, but it will be in secret since they do not know we are Catholic.
 
Adding…a Protestant never fullfills the Catholic’s requirement for worship. Neither does attending an Orthodox Divine Liturgy, unless there are no Catholic Divine Liturgies or Mass available. The first would commit a serious sin and require confession as well.

Culpability plays a part as well, not necessarily just the knowledge of the act, but the outside forces playing upon the idividual. My wife would have a nervous breakdown to tell her mother openly for many reasons. He mother is also up in years and would never accept Catholicism and would only suffer from knowing that her daughter went apostate in their believe.
 
I can’t see there being anything of benefit for a Catholic to attend a Protestant meeting. Catholics really have no business going to such.

Since my conversion, I feel so awkward even stepping inside of a Protestant church-building. The only reason I personally would attend one is if somehow I were rendered unconscious and had awoken in one. 😉 I’m kidding about that. But I just see no reason for me to go to one at all. Everything I need is in Christ’s Church. I think it’s a great offense for those that like to “go to both.” If you do that, you might as well slap Christ in the face.😦

Al-Masih Qam!

Andrew
 
ABostonCatholic said:
Of course the reasoning is relevant for the individual case. If the Catholic is going to the Protestant service based on a false belief that all religions are the same, then yes, that matters.

But my question was related to attending Protestant services in and of themselves, IOW, is it EVER acceptable.
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You can’t attend a Protestant service in place of Mass, but I don’t think there’s anything wrong with going to another church with friends, etc. Taking communion is absolutely prohibited, but I think it’s ok to participate in the Lord’s Prayer and general stuff like that. I have fully participated in Protestant services to the extent of standing as Godfather of friends’ babies. Before doing that the first time, I discussed it with two Parish Priests. Both considered that it would be in the best interests of the child, so the more dogmatic of two tacitly approved and the other just said it would be ok. In no instance have I been asked to agree to anything other than participating in raising the kids as Christians. It is, of course, my intention to bring them into the Catholic Church if the situation ever permits.
 
vocatio said:
Adding…a Protestant never fullfills the Catholic’s requirement for worship. Neither does attending an Orthodox Divine Liturgy, unless there are no Catholic Divine Liturgies or Mass available. The first would commit a serious sin and require confession as well.

Culpability plays a part as well, not necessarily just the knowledge of the act, but the outside forces playing upon the idividual. My wife would have a nervous breakdown to tell her mother openly for many reasons. He mother is also up in years and would never accept Catholicism and would only suffer from knowing that her daughter went apostate in their believe.
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The question is whether or not a Catholic can attend a Protestant service in addition to going to Mass on Sunday, or a service on another night of the week (usually Wednesday). Also, if there is no Catholic Church around, there is no obligation to go to Mass. One is not obliged to go to an Orthodox Church if available.
 
ABostonCatholic said:
The question is whether or not a Catholic can attend a Protestant service in addition to going to Mass on Sunday, or a service on another night of the week (usually Wednesday). Also, if there is no Catholic Church around, there is no obligation to go to Mass. One is not obliged to go to an Orthodox Church if available.
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the question is why you would want to do that? is something missing in the catholic church that one would need to go to a protestant church to get it? i believe if one has the need to go other churches besides catholic church that something is wrong. catholic church has mass every day. there is a confusion in ecumenism, it is not meant for catholics to become protestant it is for them to become of us.
 
KJK80 said:
I’m going to try to stay as upbeat as possible here… but the Catholic “Bible studies” I’ve been to, are rather uhmm, well, not what I would call a Bible study… 🙂

Just because they exist, does not make them interesting. 🙂
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What are you looking for then, entertainment or Scripture readings?
 
Righteousone said:
What are you looking for then, entertainment or Scripture readings?
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Based on the postings I would say he is looking for knowledge and edification. It is wonderful that you have Bible studies that meet your needs. IMO, your posts show a lack of charity.
 
DallasCatholic said:
Based on the postings I would say he is looking for knowledge and edification. It is wonderful that you have Bible studies that meet your needs. IMO, your posts show a lack of charity.
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Really? What saint do you take after?
 
Righteousone said:
What are you looking for then, entertainment or Scripture readings?
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Umm, neither.

Bible study, to me, is not merely scripture reading… I can get that on an iPod, thank-you.

Not sure, but it almost sounds like your judging my sincerity. I certainly hope I am wrong.
 
wisdomseeker said:
the question is why you would want to do that? is something missing in the catholic church that one would need to go to a protestant church to get it? i believe if one has the need to go other churches besides catholic church that something is wrong. catholic church has mass every day. there is a confusion in ecumenism, it is not meant for catholics to become protestant it is for them to become of us.
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NO! That is not the question! The question was whether or not one could attend a Protestant service apart from the reasoning. Fr. Serpa said no, with some exceptions. The guidelines for ecumenism say “yes” and that Catholics are actually encouraged to! We have resolved that already!

As I explained, one reason I’ve gone to a Protestant bible study is because I have found it difficult to find a Catholic bible study. Also, those who have families with Protestants find that going to each others services is beneficial for its own reasons, namely, family unity.
 
ABostonCatholic said:
NO! That is not the question! The question was whether or not one could attend a Protestant service apart from the reasoning. Fr. Serpa said no, with some exceptions. The guidelines for ecumenism say “yes” and that Catholics are actually encouraged to! We have resolved that already!

As I explained, one reason I’ve gone to a Protestant bible study is because I have found it difficult to find a Catholic bible study. Also, those who have families with Protestants find that going to each others services is beneficial for its own reasons, namely, family unity.
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Apparently it’s not popular to do so around here, but I for one (as if it’s not obvious) do agree with you.
 
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