Catholics can't attend Protestant services?

[happygal]

I don’t see why attending a protestant service in additional to Mass has any wrong. Moreover God won’t blame you for going more services apart from the ones’ a week Mass. As for the Holy communion, if you don’t believe in the protestant HS, don’t even need to think about partaking it…Simple as that…not a complicated issue

 

[TLara]

first off to any Catholic who has or is considering going to bible study in a protestant church, it would be a mortal sin for you to participate if you did not defend the Catholic churches teaching on scripture. To learn scripture from a heretic is unthinkable.

 

[emeraldcoast]

I thought that the Catholics on the site may find this interesting that Christ’s Church of the Valley actually felt a need to conduct a survey on how to meet the needs of the many Catholics that attended their services. Apparently, CCV was offering something that brought Catholics to this church. Brian Jones is the pastor and a great blogger/author to read if you are interested.

Why all the fear about attending a Protestant Service? Are they going use a Jedi mind trick on those attending - “These aren’t the droids you’re looking for?” At the very least, attending a Protestant service would help provide some context for one’s own faith.

God Bless!

 

[Righteousone]

Would never attend a Protestant service because I have the truth in the Catholic church…why go else where?

 

[wisdomseeker]

first off to any Catholic who has or is considering going to bible study in a protestant church, it would be a mortal sin for you to participate if you did not defend the Catholic churches teaching on scripture. To learn scripture from a heretic is unthinkable.

I agree. no offense to them. we have to realize they do not know what they are doing so why follow those who does not have the truth. they do not recognize our Church as the One Holy Catholic Apostolic Church. they dont believe we are even christians. they dont believe in the Eucharist. what can we learn from those who teach the Bible wrong? let us not fool ourselves in believing that they are charible and sweet. we are here to find the truth of God and not to be sweetened by each other. talking to a protestant friend a presbyterian, i was very surprised to find that her beliefs are so off from ours. I was like, where in the world this girl gets such interpretation. it is awfull. it trully is, and sad too. for she thinks she is so wright.

 

[wisdomseeker]

Would never attend a Protestant service because I have the truth in the Catholic church…why go else where?

commited to the truth.

 

[Brian_Millar]

A dynamic I had to learn the hard way, which will stay in line with the OP, something to think about here.

I used to attend protestant services from time to time, I even used to hang out on protestant forums. On the surface, everything seems in line, we are both studying the same cannon’s, we both know that Jesus is the son of God and that only through him, you can find salvation. These fundamental elements we can be in complete agreement with. What happens though, eventually it breaks down, where as one of the recent posts state, absolute differences in core beliefs beyond this, and this is where the contraversy arrises.

I’ve learned much from studying with them, yet, there is more that get’s shoved under the rug they refuse to face up to. It’s only a Catholic’s perspective that’s able to delve into these areas, and this is where you as a Catholic will always be an outsider to them, there cannot be unity in a house divided, and you are in division as you fellowship with them.

To give you an example, I had a protestant tell me that after she had much dialog with some Catholics, she suddently realized, we were worshipping the same Christ as her. I’m going, you had to actually draw that conclusion, that it took time, that before then, you honestly thought we worshipped a different Christ?

These elements will eventually surface, it’s only a matter of time, and you will look back and realize, these people that called you brother or sister, are not yours, for it’s a matter of them having to compromize their beliefs, or you, there is no middle ground.

 

[catholiconce]

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?

A year ago I started to attend a Protestant Church and I also started listening to EWTN Radio. I have since left the catholic church and now I feel welcome at home and my christian faith is stronger than ever. You always hears of those who join the catholic church because of what they heard on EWTN. Welll now you know of somebody who left the "ROMAN CATHOLIC church because of what he heard on EWTN.
I enjoy going to church now I do not feel I am being judged and put down as I was in the RCC. We are in Church to Worship god and recieve the body and blood of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist each and every Sunday.

 

[Righteousone]

To me and it’s my opinion, we are NOTbrothers and sisters in Christ because we do not have the same doctrines. Although we all believe in Christ, we are not in dialogue with our churches.

 

[Righteousone]

A year ago I started to attend a Protestant Church and I also started listening to EWTN Radio. I have since left the catholic church and now I feel welcome at home and my christian faith is stronger than ever. You always hears of those who join the catholic church because of what they heard on EWTN. Welll now you know of somebody who left the "ROMAN CATHOLIC church because of what he heard on EWTN.
I enjoy going to church now I do not feel I am being judged and put down as I was in the RCC. We are in Church to Worship god and recieve the body and blood of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist each and every Sunday.

Oh please…to say you left because of EWTN is a joke. That station is one of the greatest television shows today. The holiness of it and the way it was founded by Sister Angelica, and how it has become the most watched Catholic show by even non-Catholics is outstanding. You left because of your own reasons, and to blame EWTN is totally ridiculous.
Describe exactly how you were “put down” in the RCC.

 

[catholiconce]

Oh please…to say you left because of EWTN is a joke. That station is one of the greatest television shows today. The holiness of it and the way it was founded by Sister Angelica, and how it has become the most watched Catholic show by even non-Catholics is outstanding. You left because of your own reasons, and to blame EWTN is totally ridiculous.
Describe exactly how you were “put down” in the RCC.

Case in point. First of all I said EWTN RADIO.If you are going to attack me get your facts straight Study the History of the Church. Not the History from your own point of view but from the perspective of others. Just because Jesus gave the Keys to Peter those who followed had no right Kill thousands of Fellow Christians as the Romans have done. Thou shall not Kill. There is no escape clause for Non Romans.

 

[wisdomseeker]

Case in point. First of all I said EWTN RADIO.If you are going to attack me get your facts straight Study the History of the Church. Not the History from your own point of view but from the perspective of others. Just because Jesus gave the Keys to Peter those who followed had no right Kill thousands of Fellow Christians as the Romans have done. Thou shall not Kill. There is no escape clause for Non Romans.

and whose point of view are you studying the history of the Church? who are those who dare to condenm the catholic church?
who gave anyone the right to condenm anyone? for God alone is the judge. who are the christians that the catholic church killed?
where are you getting your history from? judgement day will come, it is not here yet. take care that you dont fall into err and lead others too.

 

[catholiconce]

and whose point of view are you studying the history of the Church? who are those who dare to condenm the catholic church?
who gave anyone the right to condenm anyone? for God alone is the judge. who are the christians that the catholic church killed?
where are you getting your history from? judgement day will come, it is not here yet. take care that you dont fall into err and lead others too.

You are Right God alone is the judge. I am sorry if you viewed me as being judgemental that is not my intention. Google the reformation period and the peasant wars the history is there . Do not believe everything you hear and read without looking at both sides of the every story. You are right the judgement day is not yet here

 

[peary]

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."**

Isn’t Fr. Serpa being a bit disingenuous here?? I work as a music minister for a protestant church which means I am obligated to attend their services. I get paid for being their music minister. I consider myself a Catholic Christian through & through…they know it, and I know it. I do not consider them ‘heretical’ at all BECAUSE those who are members, for the most part, were born into the denomination. Yes, there are some ex-Catholics in the congregation too, but that is their own issue. I do not get involved in it.

And I have no problem in seeing them as being offered salvation and a life of grace BECAUSE they practice a valid Baptism. They also have the Bible, which is the Word of God written. Though they may not have the fullness of Faith, they DO have Faith in Christ as they understand Him to be. I also share in their Communion service because, after much conscience-searching, I have concluded that, as Scripture tells us, “where two or more are gathered in My Name, there I am in the midst of them.” Although their concept of Communion is flawed, nevertheless, Jesus is present to them in a way He deems fit to be present to them, and not in any way we assume. Yes, we as Catholic Christians have the full Eucharist, but it does negate the presence of the Lord in some way during their communion sharing. Personally, I accept them as brothers and sisters in Christ, because they ARE.

 

[emeraldcoast]

Thank you Peary for your honesty.

God Bless!

 

[LilyM]

Would never attend a Protestant service because I have the truth in the Catholic church…why go else where?

Put it this way - I frequently go to daily Mass. One day months ago I had been unable to do so, and was longing for and missing it.

My local High-as-High-can-be Anglican Church has evening services (as I knew from the times listed outside). All the Catholic churches in the area would’ve been closed and most don’t have evening Masses on weekdays anyways.

On impulse I went and sat quietly at the back. 90% of the wording of the service was the same as a Catholic Mass, and of course I didn’t go up for Communion or anything. But it did me good to join (as far as I was able) with fellow Christians in common worship of our mutual Lord and God, in a style of worship that was extremely familiar to me.

There’s some reasons why I went elsewhere, not that I’ve been back since. And I don’t believe that one-time attendance would put me in much danger of indifferentism or anything.

 

[Genesis315]

I interpret it the same…

However, this is a pre-VII understanding, to the best of my knowledge.

Under Vatican II, I don’t know of any reasoning why one cannot attend a Protestant service–but receiving their communion, is still disallowed… to the best of my knowledge.

Some info on this from the Second Vatican Council itself–it seems it is acceptable in special circumstances for the purpose of promoting unity, but you shouldn’t be indiscriminately worshipping at non-Catholic services:

1. Common participation in worship (communicatio in sacris) which harms the unity of the Church or involves formal acceptance of error or the danger of aberration in the faith, of scandal and indifferentism, is forbidden by divine law.(32)

vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_decree_19641121_orientalium-ecclesiarum_en.html

In certain special circumstances, such as the prescribed prayers “for unity,” and during ecumenical gatherings, it is allowable, indeed desirable that Catholics should join in prayer with their separated brethren. Such prayers in common are certainly an effective means of obtaining the grace of unity, and they are a true expression of the ties which still bind Catholics to their separated brethren. “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them”.(33)

Yet worship in common (communicatio in sacris) is not to be considered as a means to be used indiscriminately for the restoration of Christian unity. There are two main principles governing the practice of such common worship: first, the bearing witness to the unity of the Church, and second, the sharing in the means of grace. Witness to the unity of the Church very generally forbids common worship to Christians, but the grace to be had from it sometimes commends this practice. The course to be adopted, with due regard to all the circumstances of time, place, and persons, is to be decided by local episcopal authority, unless otherwise provided for by the Bishops’ Conference according to its statutes, or by the Holy See.

vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_decree_19641121_unitatis-redintegratio_en.html

 

[Phemie]

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.

I can assure you that it does happen regularly in my diocese. There are Catholics living in communities where there is no Catholic church and no possibility of travelling to one. Their choices are attending either a Pentecostal or a Moravian service or nothing. My friend opted to attend Moravian services with her family while she was teaching in one of those communities.

 

[peary]

Case in point. First of all I said EWTN RADIO.If you are going to attack me get your facts straight Study the History of the Church. Not the History from your own point of view but from the perspective of others. Just because Jesus gave the Keys to Peter those who followed had no right Kill thousands of Fellow Christians as the Romans have done. Thou shall not Kill. There is no escape clause for Non Romans.

I didn’t know all Catholics were Italian.

 

[LilyM]

You are Right God alone is the judge. I am sorry if you viewed me as being judgemental that is not my intention. Google the reformation period and the peasant wars the history is there . Do not believe everything you hear and read without looking at both sides of the every story. You are right the judgement day is not yet here

And this relates to YOU specifically feeling judged and put down in the RCC (and you said YOU were judged and put down, not just that there are general aspects of RCC history that you’re not happy with) how, precisely?