So what’s the scoop with divided families? If children convert to the Catholic faith, can they still attend Protestant services when visiting their folk’s home assuming that they: (i) don’t take communion and (ii) still go to Catholic Mass? What about when a wife converts, can she still attend church with her Protestant husband assuming that she also doesn’t take communion and doesn’t forego her Sunday obligation? I’ve seen multiple and conflicting answers to these sorts of questions from a number of different Catholics over the years. Some say…“of course, provided the above caveats are observed” and others insist “no way…not all all.” Has the Catholic Church spoken on this common question or not?
(The following sentence is humorously intended) It almost seems like the answer being sought is one of “How close can I come to violating Canon Law without quite violating it?”
In times past, it was absolutely forbidden to attend one another’s services due to the strife and fallout from the Protestant reformation. However, since the Catholic Church now recognizes that Protestants are our separated brethren, it
may be allowed in some circumstances and disallowed in others.
Part of the difficulty in this query is that the answer is a pastoral one, not a doctrinal one, since the doctrinal element has been removed by realization that intercommunion is forbidden and the Sunday for the Catholic entails Mass must still be attended. In this situation, therefore, there is no hard and fast ruling since the Code of Canon Law is not being violated. However…
A priest
may permit limited attendance at Protestant services if he knows that doing so will not present a danger to the faith of the person seeking permission, and may help prevent division and a hardening of hearts among those family members who are not Catholic. But care has to be taken to ensure that the person does not lose his Catholic faith and, if a convert, reverts back to his former religion, as happened in the sad case of Bill Cork.
A risk is exposure to a mindset that can over time erode faith or even virulently attack it, such as was faced by the early converts to Christianity who still attended Sabbat’ services with their Jewish brethren as well as the Sunday Mass. When the rabbis inserted the Curse Against the Minim (Christians) into the 18 Benedictions, the Christians were compelled to stop attending because the invocations were directed at themselves and their loved ones. Many of those who had to leave were undoubtedly heartbroken to leave behind their unconverted family members, but they had to do so to remain Christian. In modern times, attending a Protestant service that does not attack Catholicism may be allowed, while those that promote indifferentism and/or attack the Catholic faith would not.
Thanks, but I don’t see why there isn’t a definitive answer to this question. It seems that the Church defines everything else, why not address this issue? It is a common and very real, very painful problem for many “mixed” marriages and families.
That is one reason the Church discourages disparity of cult in marriage. Even so, the Catholic Church defines what
must be defined and leaves untouched that which is malleable, such as pastoral issues. And while I appreciate how difficult this must be for those families that have this situation, Jesus Christ never promised that it would be easy to follow Him. He actually mentioned that it would be the opposite, with loved ones fighting and separating when some would follow Him and others wouldn’t. While it might be debatable as to which side follows Him best, that potential for division remains a real possibility. One also sees this type of tension in families where some members continue to practice their faith and others lapse. There are no simple or easy answers to every situation, and the Church’s pastoral approach, as others here have indicated, is such that it takes into account the individual involved.
Yours in Christ,
Dominicanis
