Different rules for different people?

[TruthSkr]

I have a very serious question about the Sunday Mass obligation. If it’s a mortal sin for Catholics to miss Mass on Sunday why is it not a sin for everyone else? We are all children of God. Why wouldn’t the rules be the same for everyone?

 

[midori]

Do you have the same expectations of your four-month-old, your four-year-old, your fourteen-year-old, and your forty-year-old? They’re all people, but we have different expectations.

Did people have the same expectations of you at four months, four years, fourteen years, and forty years of age? You’re the same individual— but you had different capacities, different experiences, and different development at different points in your life.

The same thing is true with God. He judges everyone according to Jesus, and we all fall short of that. He also judges people with their own measure. So rather than worrying about Fred’s measure, or Susan’s measure, let’s all be happy that he’s not judging us according to Mother Teresa’s measure or Padre Pio’s measure…

 

[RedDuke]

The obligation to hear Mass on Sundays is a precept of the Church that only binds Catholics. Non-Catholics aren’t bound to obey the precepts of the Church.

 

[TruthSkr]

So you’re saying that one’s moral obligation is based on their ability to comply. Wouldn’t it be fair to say that my ability would be the same as any non-Catholic in my age group? Wouldn’t it also be fair to say that a universal moral code makes more sense than the fact that one happened to be born to the Catholic faith by chance? If I happened to be born into a family of a particular political affiliation but I disagreed with the philosophy of that group would I not be a hypocrite to remain in that party? The reason I raise these question is because I am the only practicing Catholic in my entire family and among my Catholic friends. A former Catholic friend recently asked me if I thought she’d go to hell for no longer attending Mass on Sunday. I suggested it depends on what she believes. I find myself constantly challenged by former practicing Catholics who disagree with the teachings of the Church to the point that I question the faith myself. I am trying to find answers to some of those questions.

 

[Elf01]

The sin is not not missing Mass but disobedience to the authority of the Church. A non Catholic is not under the authority of the Church.

 

[0Scarlett_nidiyilii]

A former Catholic friend recently asked me if I thought she’d go to hell for no longer attending Mass on Sunday.

Your friend is messing with you and trying to get you to doubt. She has her own reasons for doing this.
I might have answered the question with something along the lines of “You seem concerned about this. Obviously, I’m not in any position to judge you. The RCC believes Mass attendance is important because Eucharist is important and so is community. If you like, I have a book that can explain it better than me.”
If she continues to push, you can call her out on it “are you trying to challenge me? Why are you trying to challenge me?”

 

[1ke]

If it’s a mortal sin for Catholics to miss Mass on Sunday why is it not a sin for everyone else?

Because we are under the authority of the Catholic Church, and they are not.

 

[1ke]

A former Catholic friend recently asked me if I thought she’d go to hell for no longer attending Mass on Sunday.

If she is a baptized Catholic, but she is under the obligation. And it is grave matter for her to have fallen away from the church and no longer be attending mass.

suggested it depends on what she believes.

That is relativism.

 

[EugeneCharles]

Greetings of peace!
First of all I would like to tell a story there is a very talented mother and a son the son sits under his talented mother who is doing an embroidery on a board the son said to his talented mother"Mother you are a talented person but your embroidery is very ugly" the mother remained silent then she turn the embroidery and the son saw a very beautiful embroidery.This tells us that there are some people who knew the importance of mass but they do not attend because they do not see its natural beauty but when we reflect we can find the real meaning of mass but if we know into ourselves that it is important we must attend mass by this way we can be holy and attract others to do so and never judge the person who do not attend mass because there are times that it is hard for them we do not know maybe one of their family members or friends is at the point of death.Just pray for them and God will hear us.

 

[midori]

So you’re saying that one’s moral obligation is based on their ability to comply.

No, I’m saying one’s moral obligation is based on their ability to comprehend what it is they’re expected to comply with. When you understand, and you reject— then you’re judged more harshly, with an emphasis on God’s judgment. If you don’t understand, because you’ve never been taught— then your ignorance is presumably taken into account through God’s mercy.

 

[Vico]

I have a very serious question about the Sunday Mass obligation. If it’s a mortal sin for Catholics to miss Mass on Sunday why is it not a sin for everyone else? We are all children of God. Why wouldn’t the rules be the same for everyone?

There is a commandment is to keep holy the Sabbath, from Exodus 20 (also see Deuteronomy 5).

Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Six days you shall labor, and do all your work;
but the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God;
in it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, …

Now, for Christians that is not Saturday, as it is still observed by Jews, but Sunday, and for Catholics and some others, more holy days of obligation. So it can be a sin for non-Catholics.