Interdenom prayer service-my parish involved

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In reading this week’s church bulletin, the cover caught my interest especially. There will be an ‘inter-denominational’ prayer service this week…taking in our parish, a local methodist church, and a lutheran church…and the collection, will be for a non-denom ministry. I’m mulling it over, and wondering if it’s sensible for a Catholic to attend something like this? I give money to various secular charities, but I only fund Catholic charities, when it comes to religious organizations. Is it wrong to ‘tithe’ to a non-denom ministry?

What are your thoughts? Have you ever been to something along these lines?
 
This is pretty strange and not at all in line with traditional Catholicism. That isn’t to say one cannot donate to charities that aren’t Catholic of course, but any notion of religious-pluralism is a pan-heresy and ought to be dissuaded.
 
My take:
Sounds potentially okay… sounds.

As long as you don’t confuse the place of the Mass with any service and others aren’t lead to that conclusion, it could be okay.

But it would be really hard to know for certainty if it’s totally okay unless you know what they’re going to do and pray for.

Be careful

peace,
Michael
 
I agree with you Michael. It’s sort of vague…It definitely won’t be a mass…and I don’t see anything wrong with praying in a group with our Christian brothers and sisters, who are non Catholic, but there is something about the wording, leads me to think that this will be a bit more than that. I will have to contact my priest I guess, to ask for details, before considering to go. Probably would be the best idea.
 
It is not at all unusual for the various Christian faith communities (including Catholics) to get together for prayer and almsgiving at Thanksgiving. It usually involves some reading from Scripture, some prayers of thanksgiving, an exhortation to share our bounty with the poor, etc., and usually a collection to be donated to a local organization (soup kitchen, etc.) that serves the poor.

I see nothing wrong in participating in this. I have done so on a couple of occasions, and it has been beautiful. We don’t have to avoid all contact with our Protestant brethren. It’s OK to pray with them. The preaching, if done by a non-Catholic minister, may not be completely in line with a Catholic interpretation of things, but you can be smart enough to discern that, and silently pray that someday they will all come to the fullness of truth.
 
Great way to look at it, Philothea. I am going to get the details of this from my priest. I have been to Lutheran services in years past, but never to something that was organized for Catholics to attend with Protestants. I admit, I’m intrigued.
 
I know several parishes that do this yearly with other denominations in their community. It is an opportunity to get together with other Christians and to pray together. Usually it is a simple word service with a sermon given by one or two of the ministers or priests. Often the church choirs will join together to form an interdenomination choir for the service.
 
I say bring them on in! We get a number of RCIA candidates this way.

[Edited]
 
Well, I don’t know anything about inviting protestants into the parish to join in the prayer services but if you’re worried about your money, perhaps you could think about this…you pay taxes. You have no idea who gets the money or how it is spent, that is your portion, but you have roads to drive on and your trash gets gone on the mornings it is supposed to, your children get educated and oh yeah, your water tastes better and is a lot healthier for you and your family. Why they even keep foreign invaders from sacking your town and when the robbers break in to steal what’s left after your tithe and taxes, there’s even a few pennies paid to the police to find the robbers and put them up in a nice safe place so they will learn not to steal anymore.

Now I suppose you could consider this anonymous charity, but don’t tell some of the government’s employees they’re living on charity. They might not like that. There are other words to use for those types.

Peace,

Gail
 
GailMac said:
Well, I don’t know anything about inviting protestants into the parish to join in the prayer services but if you’re worried about your money, perhaps you could think about this…you pay taxes. You have no idea who gets the money or how it is spent, that is your portion, but you have roads to drive on and your trash gets gone on the mornings it is supposed to, your children get educated and oh yeah, your water tastes better and is a lot healthier for you and your family. Why they even keep foreign invaders from sacking your town and when the robbers break in to steal what’s left after your tithe and taxes, there’s even a few pennies paid to the police to find the robbers and put them up in a nice safe place so they will learn not to steal anymore.

Now I suppose you could consider this anonymous charity, but don’t tell some of the government’s employees they’re living on charity. They might not like that. There are other words to use for those types.

Peace,

Gail
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😃 The government is living on charity…hmmm…I like that.

No, no…I’m not worried about my money. I just was curious if a Catholic should be involved in something like this, as a whole. Maybe I should have clarified that better. I know though that I don’t give for example, to the Charles Stanley ministries etc…When it comes to tithing to ministries, I stick with Catholic ones. That is what I meant.
 
Just remember that it is not Mass, and you should not participate in any “communion” (small “c”) or celebrate the “Lord’s Supper” with them. This is not Holy Communion, not the Eucharist, not the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of our Lord. It is bread and grape juice that they offer as a symbol only, and your partaking of it would be a no-no. 😉

Otherwise, I agree with the others, just be careful and pay attention to what they are asking you to join them in praying. And most definitely expect an “altar call!”
 
I just returned from my community’s ecumenical Thanksgiving Service. It was delightful, especially since neither of the evangelical pastors delivered the “reflection.”

We had punch and bars after.
 
One little nit-picky thing I have to add: the Catholic Church is not a denomination; we are not a branch.
 
Parce_Domine said:
One little nit-picky thing I have to add: the Catholic Church is not a denomination; we are not a branch.
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True. Catholicism is a religion, not a denomination.

I usually counsel people to avoid “non-denominational”, “inter-denominational”, “ecumenical” or whatever else they choose to call these prayer services. There is true ecumenism and there is false ecumenism. False ecumenism believes or supports the idea that Catholics and non-Catholics somehow share the same faith, and /or that both have the same value or legitimacy. True ecumenism occurs when Catholics present the truths of the Faith so as to teach our separated brethren those truths, and ultimately lead them to return to the Faith of the Church which their spiritual ancestors abandoned–most contemporary “ecumenism” fails to address this essential element, and is therefore a false ecumenism. This must be done in charity and honesty. True ecumenism also must be regulated by the local bishop.
 
Every year, my parish does an Interfaith prayer service for our military. No Communion, just bible readings and a homily, plus appropriate hymns for the occasion.

If you feel uncomfortable about the donations, them maybe check out which ministry will be receiving them and what are their plans with them. If it does not feel or sound right to you, then don’t give money. But attending the prayer service at your parish is a wonderful way of witnessing to our Protestant friends that we are truly Christian and part of God’s family.
 
FrDavid96 said:
True. Catholicism is a religion, not a denomination.

I usually counsel people to avoid “non-denominational”, “inter-denominational”, “ecumenical” or whatever else they choose to call these prayer services. There is true ecumenism and there is false ecumenism. False ecumenism believes or supports the idea that Catholics and non-Catholics somehow share the same faith, and /or that both have the same value or legitimacy. True ecumenism occurs when Catholics present the truths of the Faith so as to teach our separated brethren those truths, and ultimately lead them to return to the Faith of the Church which their spiritual ancestors abandoned–most contemporary “ecumenism” fails to address this essential element, and is therefore a false ecumenism. This must be done in charity and honesty. True ecumenism also must be regulated by the local bishop.
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Amen, father!

Why can’t I have more priests like you in my neck of the woods 😦
 
Freshman88 said:
Amen, father!

Why can’t I have more priests like you in my neck of the woods 😦
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It’s simply a matter of reading and applying the Vatican II document Unitatis Redintegratio which is often referred to as “Decree on Ecumenism” yet a better translation of the title is Restoration or re-integration of Unity.
Here it is, and it’s rather short:
vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_decree_19641121_unitatis-redintegratio_en.html
 
One more nit pick 🙂

If you plan to give them 10% of your income you will be giving a thithe.

Any other donated dollar amount is an offering.
 
whatevergirl said:
In reading this week’s church bulletin, the cover caught my interest especially. There will be an ‘inter-denominational’ prayer service this week…taking in our parish, a local methodist church, and a lutheran church…and the collection, will be for a non-denom ministry. I’m mulling it over, and wondering if it’s sensible for a Catholic to attend something like this? I give money to various secular charities, but I only fund Catholic charities, when it comes to religious organizations. Is it wrong to ‘tithe’ to a non-denom ministry?

What are your thoughts? Have you ever been to something along these lines?
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If it was in the bulletin it was presumably approved by your pastor. Do you trust his judgment? If not, find yourself another parish where you do trust your pastor. If you do trust him, then why fret about it?

Ecumenical gatherings are common around Thanksgiving. We can thank God for our blessings whether we’re Catholic or Protestant and it’s a good opportunity to come together with other Christians.

I don’t know where the donations will be given in your community but something like a food bank benefits everyone. If you disapprove of the charity receiving the money, then don’t donate.

Something else that occurs to me is that so often Protestants are somewhat afraid of Catholics and don’t even regard us as Christian. Praying together is one way of overcoming that prejudice.
 
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