"Interfaith Services" in a Catholic chapel

[bear06]

As a general rule, I am opposed to interfaith** SERVICES**

. I don’t have a problem with people of different faiths or even different religions for that matter praying together outside the context of an actual service. For example praying outside of an abortion clinic would be all right, moving the same thing to a Church and having an actual physical service I think would be wrong.
Just thought I’d chime in here from my relatively slow and obnoxious vacation computer.

Well, I’d have to disagree with you here. I saw many conversions and babies saved in the Operation Rescue days with “prayer rallies” held in Catholic churches. In fact, I remember one specific prayer rally/service held in a Church who’s pastor still used the kneeling rail and who go the TLM for his parish. Fr. Fessio, while giving his talk, turned around and pointed to the tabernacle (which I’m sure was empty) and explained that Catholic view the baby in the womb and the Holy Eucharist in a similar fashion. We believe what’s there even when you can’t see it. I know many of the protestants got it right there on the spot.

I thank God every day for the “ecumenism” of Operation Rescue because, like I said, I saw many converts and reverts because of it as well as many babies saved.

 

[Damascus]

Bear- what happened to Fr. Fessio? I loved some stuff I read that he wrote about what participation in the Mass really means!!!

I cant find out anything on his current status.

Anyway As touching as your post was, I have not changed my mind yet.

Just thought I’d chime in here from my relatively slow and obnoxious vacation computer.

 

[palmas85]

Just thought I’d chime in here from my relatively slow and obnoxious vacation computer.

 

[bear06]

bear06;1684281:

If thats true in your experience then fine. It has not been so in my experience and I stand my statements. I’ve seen many more Catholics leave the Church to join other sects and faiths as a result of these so called ecumenical services and gatherings than the other way around. I do agree that Operation Rescue is valuable in many respects but not in conversions to the Catholic faith.

Wow! I’d have to tally it up but I personally know about a dozen that converted. I’ve also heard of some that were going to leave the faith who stayed, although I don’t know them personally (and that’s just personally). There are still some that have moved so greatly that I’m sure they will become Catholic one day. There was one man that flat out hated Catholics (yes, not very Christian but that’s where he was) when we started rescuing. He had a permanent scowl on his face when he was around us. I think he was more than a little ticked that we weren’t serious enough. The last time I saw him, he was at my newly ordained friend’s first Mass and he was kneeling and following along. Moved me to tears because I remember his disdain for the Faith. I’m sure that he’ll continue his movement toward the Church.

Almost all of these people looked down on us when we whipped out our rosaries at first. By the end, they were taking them. They had never been confronted with Catholics and we were able to dispelll many of their myths about the Faith. I guarantee that none of them would have said “Hey let’s go hear Fr. Fessio speak”. Without these prayer rallies they wouldn’t have had the opportunity.

 

[Damascus]

Yes Bear, and Assisi did wonders too did it not?

palmas85;1684451:

Wow! I’d have to tally it up but I personally know about a dozen that converted. I’ve also heard of some that were going to leave the faith who stayed, although I don’t know them personally (and that’s just personally). There are still some that have moved so greatly that I’m sure they will become Catholic one day. There was one man that flat out hated Catholics (yes, not very Christian but that’s where he was) when we started rescuing. He had a permanent scowl on his face when he was around us. I think he was more than a little ticked that we weren’t serious enough. The last time I saw him, he was at my newly ordained friend’s first Mass and he was kneeling and following along. Moved me to tears because I remember his disdain for the Faith. I’m sure that he’ll continue his movement toward the Church.

Almost all of these people looked down on us when we whipped out our rosaries at first. By the end, they were taking them. They had never been confronted with Catholics and we were able to dispelll many of their myths about the Faith. I guarantee that none of them would have said “Hey let’s go hear Fr. Fessio speak”. Without these prayer rallies they wouldn’t have had the opportunity.

 

[AlexV]

I’d be highly suspicious about conversions to Catholicism coming from any experiences with Operation Rescue…an organization I could hardly recommend.

 

[jmcrae]

I’m a member of the Church of Satan. Would you allow me to conduct a Black Mass in that Catholic chapel?

No. Nor a distinctively Protestant service, nor any service that was distinctly identified with a particular religion of any kind.

Interfaith is just that, though - there is no such thing as the “interfaith church;” rather, an interfaith service is a paraliturgy that welcomes people of all faiths and none.

Our Diocese has guidelines on how to conduct interfaith services in Catholic churches, so it seems as though it’s permitted.

My feeling on it is that it’s better to have these in a Catholic church, where people can then ask about the Catholic faith than somewhere else, where they would then start asking about that other religion.

I would guess that Catholics who converted to something else at an interfaith event were attending that event in a non-Catholic setting, and started asking about that religion, and received friendly welcoming and answers to questions.

 

[Damascus]

No. Nor a distinctively Protestant service, nor any service that was distinctly identified with a particular religion of any kind.

Interfaith is just that, though - there is no such thing as the “interfaith church;” rather, an interfaith service is a paraliturgy that welcomes people of all faiths and none.

**Our Diocese has guidelines on how to conduct interfaith services in Catholic churches, so it seems as though it’s permitted. **My feeling on it is that it’s better to have these in a Catholic church, where people can then ask about the Catholic faith than somewhere else, where they would then start asking about that other religion.

I would guess that Catholics who converted to something else at an interfaith event were attending that event in a non-Catholic setting, and started asking about that religion, and received friendly welcoming and answers to questions.

There you go Caesar. Canada does it again. What a bummer. I am wondering what is going on in Canada. Southpark has poisoned everyone there.

 

[jmcrae]

There you go Caesar. Canada does it again. What a bummer. I am wondering what is going on in Canada. Southpark has poisoned everyone there.

Well, then, what’s your plan for evangelizing the Protestant churches? How do you propose getting them inside the door of a Catholic Church to check things out?

 

[AlexV]

It says plenty about the state of decomposition of the Church in many areas that there are now rubrics to govern how to conduct “interfaith” services in Catholic sacred spaces, but absolute prohibitions in plenty of areas on celebrating Mass the way the Mass was conducted universally in the Roman Rite for centuries.

 

[jmcrae]

It says plenty about the state of decomposition of the Church in many areas that there are now rubrics to govern how to conduct “interfaith” services in Catholic sacred spaces, but absolute prohibitions in plenty of areas on celebrating Mass the way the Mass was conducted universally in the Roman Rite for centuries.

We have had the TLM continuously - as far as I know, it’s never been “banned” in our Diocese. It’s currently being run by the FSSP, but we had local priests doing it before then - so, yes, it is actually possible to do both ecumenical evangelism and keep our traditions.

PS: And by the way, the OP did mention that these interfaith services are being conducted in the FSSP chapel.

 

[AlexV]

Of course it was banned in your diocese…from 1970 to 1988 at the earliest.

 

[jmcrae]

Of course it was banned in your diocese…from 1970 to 1988 at the earliest.

I don’t know - I remember being invited to them in the late 80s and early 90s. Anyway, they’ve been here for as long as they’ve been possible.

 

[bear06]

I’d be highly suspicious about conversions to Catholicism coming from any experiences with Operation Rescue…an organization I could hardly recommend.

Not that this surprises me. What kind of conversions would meet with your approval, Alex? I suppose you don’t think Operation Rescue saved any babies either.

 

[Damascus]

Well, then, what’s your plan for evangelizing the Protestant churches? How do you propose getting them inside the door of a Catholic Church to check things out?

If I must do it this way then I would much rather help them to be better protestants.

Getting them into an interfaith service in a Catholic Church ? not the way I came to the CHurch baby.

 

[netmilsmom]

If I must do it this way then I would much rather help them to be better protestants.

Getting them into an interfaith service in a Catholic Church ? not the way I came to the CHurch baby.

Nor my hubby.
When I attended the “Catholic Community” that tried very hard to mimic the local Lutheran Church, he was not interested at all.
Pure, historically Catholic Holy Masses got him.
Maybe we should expose more Protestants to them.

 

[jmcrae]

Maybe we should expose more Protestants to them.

What’s your plan for getting them in?

 

[Damascus]

Nor my hubby.
When I attended the “Catholic Community” that tried very hard to mimic the local Lutheran Church, he was not interested at all.
Pure, historically Catholic Holy Masses got him.
Maybe we should expose more Protestants to them.

There is another system currently working out just fine. Again, not the way I came in but another effective way as shown clearly through Saint Josemaria Escriva.

You show them in your everyday activity in life.

So maybe it was the fantastic Masses, but maybe YOU paved the way for those Masses to nail it.

Dont sell yourself short netmil(name removed by moderator). You are convincing.

 

[jmcrae]

If I must do it this way then I would much rather help them to be better protestants.

But you’d probably consider anyone else who does that a heretic, right?

Getting them into an interfaith service in a Catholic Church ? not the way I came to the Church baby.

Not everyone has the ability to walk into a place where they know they’re not invited (where, indeed, they know they are considered heretics, and that simply speaking to a child will cause mayhem and pandemonium, in case they corrupt the child’s faith), and simply impose themselves upon the priest.

For what it’s worth, interfaith services were what helped me get to meet Catholic priests and see them as real human beings. From there, I was able to take the step of talking to them and asking them questions.

 

[bear06]

But you’d probably consider anyone else who does that a heretic, right?

Not everyone has the ability to walk into a place where they know they’re not invited (where, indeed, they know they are considered heretics, and that simply speaking to a child will cause mayhem and pandemonium, in case they corrupt the child’s faith), and simply impose themselves upon the priest.

For what it’s worth, interfaith services were what helped me get to meet Catholic priests and see them as real human beings. From there, I was able to take the step of talking to them and asking them questions.

Better watch out or someone might suspect your conversion too!