Ecumenism and the Sin of Scandal

[Chesapeake]

This is a continuation of the events in this thread: forum.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=162096

So, I went on the trip. Now, this coming Sunday, all the youth who went have been invited to attend several morning worhsip services to present what we have learned, done, etc. to the congregation. I volunteered to give a short 3-minute ‘testimony’ of what I experienced and learned from the trip.

I mentioned this upcoming event to a good, holy priest, and he strongly suggested that I do not attend this event. He told me that I would be running the risk of committing the sin of scandal; my presence and participation would be implying that I am either fully supporting Methodism, or at least that it is equal to Catholicism… I certainly don’t want to lead anyone astray!

As I have said, I have already made a commitment to speak, but if this is a bad idea (the priest strongly advised against it, but said that it wasn’t necessarily sinful) , I will certainly attempt to be excused from this.

Thoughts?

 

[otjm]

I would seriously doubt anyone would be scandalized if you stood up at a prayer meeting, or even during their Sunday worship service, and gave your comments.

What would the scandal be and to whom? Those are the essential questions.

Other Catholics? To begin with, how are they to know you are doing this? They won’t be there, so unless you tell them you did it, they won’t be scandalized; so there is no scandal there.

If they were told by someone at the service, what scandal would there be - that you attended the service? That in and of itself should not give scandal, and to anyone who would be scandalized, I would suggest that they were being scandialized by a legitimate act that the Church does not prevent, as far as I can ascertain. To suggest that you are “participating” in the service is I think well beyond what the Church normally means by that - you are not acting as a minister.

Methodists would be scandlized? I seriously doubt that too. Many, if not most, may have no knowledge you are Catholic; so no scandal possible; and to those who do know, I would presume that you would have already made it clear that you are a Catholic and not in the process of change. Again, no scandal.

So who is it that would be scandlized? I can’t identify anyone.

What actual scandal would be given? I can’t identify that either.

And unless you can identify who actually would be scandalzed, and by what, I would suggest that as much as you categorize this priest as good and holy, that doesn’t get to the heart of the matter. His goodness and holiness are not the issue; the issue is what is going to give scandal, and to whom?

I have no problem with people asking a priest for advice; but I expect that the advice given is going to be more than a vague statement that someone might be scandalized.

 

[trogiah]

I recall a news article about Pope John Paul II attending a church service with the head of the Orthodox Church (The one not in full communion with the Roman Catholic Church. I forget which is which) He shared prayers and readings with the other but did not share communion because it would have sent the wrong impression that groups that were united when in fact they weren’t.

Come to think of it, I remember JPII going to a synagogue and a mosque to share prayers. I just share those examples to show that just because someone doesn’t recognize the authority of the Bishop of Roman in the same way as Catholics doesn’t mean we must have nothing to do with them. At least one bishop of Rome seems to think so.

I think there is a great deal of important information and fellowship to be shared amoung those who seek the truth that Jesus taught. This sharing can be worth participating in even among those who do not recognize the teaching authority of the Bishop of Rome in the same way.

Jim