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.
Yes, yes, yes, yes.
First. just kidding…there are really lots of questions packed in there. You could attend a Protestant service, but there is not reason too, unless you are attending for family reasons, say a mixed cult…religious marriage, for example. In my family’s situation I have a reason to attend with them. They want to “show off” there grandchildren, daughter and son-in-law, etc. But to recevie communion in it would be wrong. There may be rituals that go against Catholic teaching too, altar calls for example as if to go forward to receive something that just isn’t there or possible. If you are going to learn about them is another reason to attend. There are ecumenical reasons to attend from time to time, but fully participaing is just now allowed because that gives the wrong impression that you agree and accept all that they teach. I think Fr. Serpa was right, but incomplete in his answer.
Most cradle Catholics are just not strong enough or grounded in their faith to know right from wrong in a Protestant church. There is a push to strongly encourage Catholics to learn their faith even better. If you are strong then you will know wrong teaching in a bible class. I would absolutely recommend avoiding any Protestant bible class. I’ve spent enough time in Protestantism to know just how off they are or even further incomplete or very misguided. No matter how sincere they are, you should always make sure you read scripture in context and with Catholic understanding. There are many places where there can be multiple meanings, but not at the ignoring of Catholic teaching.
If you are attending because you think its nice or something, then I would concede to Fr. Serpa in that it is unwise and maybe even not allowed. The advice if it is not teaching is very good. Let me give you my quick spill on me. I attended various denominational church growing up with my mother. Dad was the Catholic and was really never there. He was military, deployed to Vietnam. After he returned, they divorced - yes a determination of nullity was issued. I moved to live with dad when I was 12, didn’t really attend mass but off and on, didn’t understand the difference. But began at 14 almost 15. Soon after I moved to country in the midst of Protestant country…Southern Baptist mostly, some Pentecostal or Holiness as they said. The closest Catholic Church was about 25 to 30 miles. My then stepmother was not Catholic and dad was still not around. He dumped me on grandparents and then stepmother…long story. Dad finally got me a car when he realized I was missing mass. But left me there again. * By this time I was accustomed to attending bible class and worship. Much of the teachings are not even close to Catholic teaching and predisposed to anti-Catholicism whether meaning to or not. Needless to say I didn’t go to CCD and read my bible constantly. I grew up in a mostly Protestant atmosphere. I was convinced early on the the bible only was the best and really only prefered method to know truth. Years later even aftermoving to a large Catholic city I even went to seminary. My own Catholic family was already poisoned by anti-Catholic movements in the region. Catholicism was seen as optional by most Catholics. I joined the Army and went off into more anti-Catholic atmosphere…even forced to attend a Protestant military worship in training once and the anti-Catholic sermon by a Protestant chaplain was enought then they tried to get us. When I met my now wife, they were real heavy duty proselytizers that ultimately convinced me that I’d go to hell. I was searching for reasons I won’t go into. I was worried about whether or not Catholicism was real by this time. I heard so many people even in my Protestant and Catholic family that ultimately I got baptized in the church of Christ and thought that I was now safe. I then got married to her and that’s when I really realized the disparity of cult. I realized the hard way the major differences between our faiths and my conscience.
Long story short. Don’t attend unless you have to like me. I’m doing it out of charity towards my wife and mother-in-law that doesn’t know we’re Catholic. She beleives we’re attending a non-denominational church that takes weekly communion and sings praises and hymns, has elders and deacons, …all true but not what she thinks. With that she still worries about our salvation not being in the churches of Christ. So you should be careful not to participate. I concede to Fr.Serpa not because I just agree with him, but he is a priest as well caring for sheep. But if you are Catholic, you should contact your parish pastor and ask him what you are posing here. He has responsibility over you, like it or not. He is your pastor, which carefully defines that if he says no, then the answer is simply no. I’m sure there are some limitations. But you must use your spiritual cognitive abilities [learning Catholic Teaching] to work out your faith with fear and trembling.
God luck.
PAX Christi tecum*
I think the OP received his answer, no need to go on really.