Interfaith Services and Sins Against the Faith

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Ever since Pope Francis’ interfaith service in New York, I have had this question: are interfaith services a sin against the faith?

I have heard that taking part in non-catholic worship is a sin against the faith. Do interfaith services fall under this category?
 
The short answer is no. At one point in history, Catholics generally did not have services with Protestants. In recent decades that has changed. Catholics can have a Service of the Word with Protestants, but not a communion service.
 
CRUSADER_KING said:
Ever since Pope Francis’ interfaith service in New York, I have had this question: are interfaith services a sin against the faith?
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No.
CRUSADER_KING said:
I have heard that taking part in non-catholic worship is a sin against the faith.
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Heard from whom? What specifically is meant by “taking part”? Context is everything. We are free to worship God with our separated brothers and sisters (it is a wonderful opportunity for us to evangelize) but we must know when to draw the line between worshiping together and sinning by taking part in their service.

For example, if I go to the non-denominational church up the block on Sunday instead of to Mass because they have a better band and the times are better and then if I do the “altar call” and get re-baptized with them then yes, I am taking part in non-catholic worship and it is a sin.

If one the other hand I go to the non-denominational church up the block because my non-catholic spouse is a member there and I want to worship God with her (knowing that we will then go later in the day to Mass) but I don’t participate in their service, I am taking part in non-catholic worship but there is no sin.
CRUSADER_KING said:
Do interfaith services fall under this category?
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No, if they did the Pope would not be a part of them.
 
My understanding is the objective elements that would make such joint acts contrary to the faith include Catholics receiving a putative sacrament that was invalid, praying heretical prayers, or engaging in a rite that signifies assent to the faith of the non-Catholic group or implies a unity that doesn’t exist, even if the prayers or sacraments were otherwise benign. The subjective reasons it is to be avoided is when the danger of scandal or indifferentism involved outweighs any potential benefit.

I am not aware of what happened at the event mentioned in the OP, but usually the whole point is that the people participating are not one in faith, so there is no signification of assent to the faith of the other.
 
All this reminds me of an exchange from the British comedy “Bless Me, Father,” in which Fr. Duddleswell (Arthur Lowe) is conversing with the local Methodist minister Rev. Tinsley and his wife at the inaugoral celebration of the new Catholic mayor at the fictional parish of St. Jude’s in the year 1950.

Mrs. Tinsley: “It’s good to know that today the Catholic and the Anglicans are at last learning to pray together.”

Fr. Duddleswell: “Oh, we were not, Madam”

Mrs. Tinsley: “I beg your pardon?”

Fr. Duddleswell: "We were not praying together. 'Tis forbidden for us to pray with Protestants. We were not praying with you. You were praying with us.
 
TheDoctor said:
Heard from whom?
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I read this in the Baltimore Catechism:
“How does a Catholic sin against faith? A Catholic sins against Faith by Apostasy, heresy, indifferentism and by taking part in non-Catholic worship.”

I understand now that I took it out of context. Thanks for the help!
 
Belshazzar said:
All this reminds me of an exchange from the British comedy “Bless Me, Father,” in which Fr. Duddleswell (Arthur Lowe) is conversing with the local Methodist minister Rev. Tinsley and his wife at the inaugoral celebration of the new Catholic mayor at the fictional parish of St. Jude’s in the year 1950.

Mrs. Tinsley: “It’s good to know that today the Catholic and the Anglicans are at last learning to pray together.”

Fr. Duddleswell: “Oh, we were not, Madam”

Mrs. Tinsley: “I beg your pardon?”

Fr. Duddleswell: "We were not praying together. 'Tis forbidden for us to pray with Protestants. We were not praying with you. You were praying with us.
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We certainly are praying together now. 1950 is centuries ago 😉
 
Genesis315 said:
My understanding is the objective elements that would make such joint acts contrary to the faith include Catholics receiving a putative sacrament that was invalid, praying heretical prayers, or engaging in a rite that signifies assent to the faith of the non-Catholic group or implies a unity that doesn’t exist, even if the prayers or sacraments were otherwise benign. The subjective reasons it is to be avoided is when the danger of scandal or indifferentism involved outweighs any potential benefit.

I am not aware of what happened at the event mentioned in the OP, but usually the whole point is that the people participating are not one in faith, so there is no signification of assent to the faith of the other.
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Well said. I haven’t seen the service but just read a little article on it and I think the point he was trying to make to the world was to respect the virtue of religion because society is intolerant of religion.
 
It’s not a sin to have services with protestants (or non-Christians) unless you’re deliberately sending a message of “All creeds are the same and fully compatible”. Bishops have quite a bit of leeway with what they’re allowed to host in their parishes.
 
CRUSADER_KING said:
I read this in the Baltimore Catechism:
“How does a Catholic sin against faith? A Catholic sins against Faith by Apostasy, heresy, indifferentism and by taking part in non-Catholic worship.”

I understand now that I took it out of context. Thanks for the help!
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A good reason to use the current catechism.

In the older code of canon law (1917) it states, “It is unlawful for the faithful to assist in any active manner, or to take part in the sacred services of non-Catholics.” And previous councils had such canons, which would have been in force when the Baltimore Catechism was written. Church law has changed, and there is no longer a law prohibiting such worship.

One must be careful when using an older catechism, as divine and ecclesial law are often commingled without distinction.

The current catechism reflects the current disciplines of the Church.
 
In order for a Catholic to attend a non Catholic service they cannot receive the Eucharist in a protestant service also the Catholic must not endorse a false ecumenical spirit of indifferenism.

It is not recommended to go to non Catholic Bible studys because these meetings can pose a grave threat to the Faith and cause scandal.

We as Catholics must protect Our Faith and study it in order to evangelize non Catholics so that they can be given the fulliness of the Faith.
 
Trad_Catholic27 said:
In order for a Catholic to attend a non Catholic service they cannot receive the Eucharist in a protestant service also the Catholic must not endorse a false ecumenical spirit of indifferenism.

It is not recommended to go to non Catholic Bible studys because these meetings can pose a grave threat to the Faith and cause scandal.

We as Catholics must protect Our Faith and study it in order to evangelize non Catholics so that they can be given the fulliness of the Faith.
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Roman Catholic leaders, including recent Popes, have participated in Ecumenical and Interfaith services numerous times and in very public arenas. They have also shared teachings on Scriptures in a respectful manner of learning from each other. It is a very fine example they are setting.
 
That’s correct it’s a very good example unfortunately most protestants I have met can be very biased towards me they have zero interest in listening to what the Catholic Church teaches on Mary, Saints or the Holy Papacy.

Plus one of my former friends and some family members have abandoned their Catholism for other religions without even studying Our Faith

That’s why I am very traditional in my Catholicism and seek to protect it as much as possible
 
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