Is attending Protestant services against church teaching?

[ctkrcia]

Hello,

I have been married over 35 years to my non-Catholic wife. We have twin sons, one of whom has joined the Catholic church. Almost two years ago, he married a wonderful young lady. Almost one year ago, they had their first child.

My wife asked if they would attend her church one Sunday so she could show off her granddaughter. It’s what grandparents like to do.

They responded they could not do that without violating church teachings. My son sent me links to a church document and he actually cut and pasted a response on this from CAF. However, they referred to the 1917 Code of Canon Law, not the 1983 code, which replaced the 1917 code.

Regardless, the question is, is it illicit for a Catholic to attend a non-Catholic church service? Of course the Catholic would still need to fulfill their Sunday obligation as well. Please provide links or references to documents. I need to understand or demonstrate accurate church teaching on this matter. On a side note, I teach RCIA and this could be very important point to emphasize.

Thanks.

 

[Fr.Charles_Grondin]

Attending a nonCatholic service is not inherently wrong. Its advisability would depend upon circumstances. Obviously it makes little sense for a Catholic to attend prayer services of communities believe things contrary to the Catholic faith. However, there are circumstances where exceptions make sense and, in my personal opinion, occasionally bringing the child to the grandparents is a common sense exception.

For starters, yes, you are correct that the 1917 Code of Canon Law is no longer in force:

Can. 6 §1. When this Code takes force, the following are abrogated:

1/ the Code of Canon Law promulgated in 1917;

There is nothing in the 1983 Code of Canon Law that forbids attendance at a nonCatholic service. Catholics cannot receive communion in a nonCatholic community but merely attending for an occasional social reason is not forbidden by any canon.

Church documents even seem to presume that such a situation might occur and thus reminds the faithful that the obligation to attend Mass still applies:

Directory for the Application of Principles and Norms on Ecumenism

1. …it must be remembered that even when Catholics participate in ecumenical services or in services of other Churches and ecclesial Communities, the obligation of participating at Mass on these days remains.