Is it a sin to pray with Protestants?

[Genesis315]

Praying with Protestants is not communicatio in sacris. Sharing sacraments would be and actively participating in public, liturigical worship that signifies a common profession of faith is also forbidden.

Furthermore, it bears pointing out that the prohibition against communicatio in sacris can be dispensed with for a just cause according to Pope Benedict XIV (14th) (cf. R. De Martinis, Iuris Pontificii de Propaganda Fide, Pars II, Rome, 1909, p. 324.)

 

[johnthebaptist1]

I belive, that if people of all kinds, go to Fatima ,Loures and other places to be heal,what is wrong going to a Protestants Church. As long as they don,t force me to join thir Parish.
I can enter and she what is differtant from our Catholic Faith. I once when in one,took part
,but I, will never turn agains, my Catholic Faith, for I well Die a Catholic. Amen

 

[Morgan_Hiver]

They come to Fatima and other places recognized by the Catholic church because it has all been proven to be legit. Why would a Catholic go to a place that does not have the approval of the Pope? False miracles have manifested at these places that could be attributed to demons.

 

[bostonboy23]

Does the ban on communicatio in sacris mean that it’s a sin to pray with Protestants?

And, while we’re on the subject, what is the Church’s position on prayer in public schools?

no i think they need all the prayers they can get :-D. seriously though it is not a sin to do that maybe before vatican II it was but now no. at least not to my knowledge. seeing as at most masses we pray for christian unity the whole church should be going to hell.

 

[Contarini]

If we pick and choose what we participate in then wouldn’t we just be some sort of neo-protestant?

I’m not sure what you mean. You wouldn’t be any sort of Protestant. You would be a Catholic expressing your Catholic recognition of the truth found among your Protestant brothers and sisters.

Also, by participating in the stuff that MAY be inline with Catholic doctrine we could be allowing demons to creep in through the windows we cracked open.

What is the rationale behind this suggestion? Worshiping God according to one’s conscience and the teaching of the Catholic Church somehow opens one to the demonic? This makes no sense at all.

We, as Catholics, already have everything we need…

Self-sufficiency is not a Christian virtue. Short of the Beatific Vision, we do not everything we need, no matter what religious body we belong to.

so why go out to other faiths just to pray?

Because in this case they are your brothers and sisters in Christ (praying with non-Christians is a different and more complicated issue, but not the point here).

In my experience protestants and liberals like to use the above argument - in order to be a good Catholic you must pray with pagans, buddhists, and protestants otherwise you’re closed minded and possibly hell bound.

Liberals rarely speak of someone being “hell bound,” so I question your experience of liberals.

All I’m suggesting is that saying “we have everything we need” is probably not a very healthy spiritual attitude. I’m not saying you are hell bound. But we all need each other.

Edwin

 

[dconklin]

I am very humble in my prayers. I wouldn’t want to hear anyone speaking in tongues or being boisterous.

Do you really think all protestants speak in tongues and are boisterous?

 

[Morgan_Hiver]

I’m not sure what you mean. You wouldn’t be any sort of Protestant. You would be a Catholic expressing your Catholic recognition of the truth found among your Protestant brothers and sisters.

Every lie is rooted in truth.

What is the rationale behind this suggestion? Worshiping God according to one’s conscience and the teaching of the Catholic Church somehow opens one to the demonic? This makes no sense at all.

Praying with those of another faith, which was founded on errors, can lead to faith comparisons and debates and even conversion from the one, true church.

Self-sufficiency is not a Christian virtue. Short of the Beatific Vision, we do not everything we need, no matter what religious body we belong to.

Our Lord established one church and gave us everything we need in order to achieve Heaven.

Because in this case they are your brothers and sisters in Christ (praying with non-Christians is a different and more complicated issue, but not the point here).

Brothers and sisters in Christ, but not the children of the BVM, apparently.

Liberals rarely speak of someone being “hell bound,” so I question your experience of liberals.

A lot of the times Liberals are very fast to say YOU ARE GOING AGAINST WHAT THE HIPPY, ECUMENICAL, THUMBS UP BUDDY JESUS WANTS. GO TO HELL NOW.

All I’m suggesting is that saying “we have everything we need” is probably not a very healthy spiritual attitude. I’m not saying you are hell bound. But we all need each other.

Edwin

Well, thank you for saying that I’m not going to hell. However, I do feel that belonging to the Catholic church is having everything we need, and that does entail a healthy spiritual attitude.

 

[Ruth_Catherine]

Actually, couples are encouraged to pray together to strengthen each other, to ask for God’s blessing on them and their loved ones, for his help in trials, for his healing for those who need it etc. If my husband was only praying with me because he wanted me to convert and not for God’s help with anything else, it would cheapen the idea of praying together…

You’re right. Couples should always be praying together for these things and more even if one is a protestant but Catholics married to non Catholic spouses should always keep praying that their spouse would come to the Catholic faith.

Also not every interdenominational marriage was entered into with the “promise to raise kids Catholic” if your spouse converts afterwards there is no such promise.

I’m not sure what you are saying here. When a non Catholic and a Catholic marry, the Catholic promises to do everything possible to raise their children Catholic. True, if the spouse converts there is no such promise, but then there would not be a problem with raising them Catholic because they are both now Catholic.

If two non Catholics, though interdenominational, are marrying, well sure, there is no promise to raise children Catholics.

I guess I am just not too sure what you meant by the above.

 

[Blossoming]

As long as their are tests, there will be prayer in schools!

LOL No truer words were ever spoken! You MUST be a teacher.

Lol, true and nice exchange.

 

[SwissGuard25]

Does the ban on communicatio in sacris mean that it’s a sin to pray with Protestants?

And, while we’re on the subject, what is the Church’s position on prayer in public schools?

You can pray with Protestants just make sure the’re not praying to Satan

Prayer in public schools should be every student’s individual right. An Atheist has can’t do anything if a single student wishes to pray.

 

[OraLabora]

Praying with those of another faith, which was founded on errors, can lead to faith comparisons and debates and even conversion from the one, true church.

If someone is well-grounded in his or her faith, there is no danger.

I speak from personal experience. I have been married to a Protestant for 23 years. My father was Protestant and my mother Catholic. They were married (in 1955!) by a Catholic priest with a promise to bring up their offspring (me) Catholic.

My mother and father prayed together, neither wavered from their faith. In fact my father took his promise of raising the kids Catholic so seriously that he never let me set foot into a Protestant church as a kid except for my step-sister’s wedding (he was a widower when he married my mother). He would take me to Mass when my mother was unwell. My father died Protestant and my mother died Catholic. They never “debated” over religion, never attempted to convert each other, and never used religion in anger.

You could say that I have 53 years experience with mixed Catholic-Protestant marriages, and mixed Catholic-Protestant prayer.

Any fear about losing one’s faith due to prayer with Protestants sounds like plain old insecurity to me, or someone trying to win an Internet debate.

Those of us with real interfaith experience have very little time for this sort of nonsense, but I did decide to take the time to respond because I saw so much nonsense being said here. The stereotyping about boisterous prayer is also way off the mark. A High Church service in the Anglican Church would put to shame any of the poorly executed Catholic Masses I have been to, and is far from “boisterous”.

You’re right. Couples should always be praying together for these things and more even if one is a protestant but Catholics married to non Catholic spouses should always keep praying that their spouse would come to the Catholic faith.

This is a prayer best done privately if you value a harmonious marriage!

I’m not sure what you are saying here. When a non Catholic and a Catholic marry, the Catholic promises to do everything possible to raise their children Catholic. True, if the spouse converts there is no such promise, but then there would not be a problem with raising them Catholic because they are both now Catholic.

If two non Catholics, though interdenominational, are marrying, well sure, there is no promise to raise children Catholics.

I guess I am just not too sure what you meant by the above.

I think you’re missing a possible scenario. If two Protestants (or a couple of any other faith, Christian or otherwise), marry, there is no promise to raise the children as Catholics. If one of the two Protestants should convert to Catholicism, then they are in a mixed marriage, but there is still no promise to bring up the children as Catholics. That’s not a requirement of conversion.

 

[MartyrForJesus]

They are the same sacraments, equally valid and equally licit.

Could you please explain to me Br. Jay what you mean by licit? I thought they were illicit?

 

[JReducation]

Could you please explain to me Br. Jay what you mean by licit? I thought they were illicit?

Licit means lawful. For a sacrament to be lawful, the priest must have faculties. Faculties are like a license. The Patriarchs have the authority to grant faculties. Therefore, the Orthodox priests validly and lawfully celebrate the sacraments.

In the Catholic Church, faculties can be granted or withdrawn by the Patriarchs. Also, diocesan bishops can grant or withhold faculties in their dioceses. Male religious superiors can grant or withhold faculties within their religious communities and in their houses. Obviously, the pope can also grant or withhold faculties.

In the Orthodox Churches, the highest authority is the Patriarch of each Church. He grants faculties to the Metropolitans who then grant faculties to their priests.

The pope does not have the right to deny the Orthodox Patriarchs the use of their authority, because they’re not Catholic. He only has authority over Catholic Patriarchs. As a result, the Orthodox Patriarchs are free to grant and withhold faculties and down the chain of command.

If ththe priests have faculties, then the sacrament is lawfully celebrated.

Then you get into the whole area of law. Each Church has its own set of laws that priests must follow. If they violate these laws, even if they have faculties, the sacrament can be ilicit or unlawful or even invalid, depending on the infraction.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[MartyrForJesus]

Licit means lawful. For a sacrament to be lawful, the priest must have faculties. Faculties are like a license. The Patriarchs have the authority to grant faculties. Therefore, the Orthodox priests validly and lawfully celebrate the sacraments.

In the Catholic Church, faculties can be granted or withdrawn by the Patriarchs. Also, diocesan bishops can grant or withhold faculties in their dioceses. Male religious superiors can grant or withhold faculties within their religious communities and in their houses. Obviously, the pope can also grant or withhold faculties.

In the Orthodox Churches, the highest authority is the Patriarch of each Church. He grants faculties to the Metropolitans who then grant faculties to their priests.

The pope does not have the right to deny the Orthodox Patriarchs the use of their authority, because they’re not Catholic. He only has authority over Catholic Patriarchs. As a result, the Orthodox Patriarchs are free to grant and withhold faculties and down the chain of command.

If ththe priests have faculties, then the sacrament is lawfully celebrated.

Then you get into the whole area of law. Each Church has its own set of laws that priests must follow. If they violate these laws, even if they have faculties, the sacrament can be ilicit or unlawful or even invalid, depending on the infraction.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

Thanks Br Jay.

Also, does this mean that SSPX priests may be granted faculties by their own Bishops who have authority?

 

[liturgyluver]

If someone is well-grounded in his or her faith, there is no danger.

Any fear about losing one’s faith due to prayer with Protestants sounds like plain old insecurity to me, or someone trying to win an Internet debate.

Those of us with real interfaith experience have very little time for this sort of nonsense, but I did decide to take the time to respond because I saw so much nonsense being said here. The stereotyping about boisterous prayer is also way off the mark. A High Church service in the Anglican Church would put to shame any of the poorly executed Catholic Masses I have been to, and is far from “boisterous”.

I agree with you completely. My Father came from mixed Anglican/ Catholic parantage, but my Mother was Catholic and I was baptised and brought up in the Catholic faith.

What you say about a high church Anglican service is absolutely right: they execute the liturgy far, far better than any Catholic church I have been too.

 

[Fone_Bone_2001]

I don’t get this. I never have.

Catholics are well known among Protestants for their “superior” attitude. This is a major cause of scandal, particularly among moderate/liberal Protestants (obviously some conservative Protestants reciprocate in spades!). My priest is honestly convinced that Catholics think they are the only Christians. That is surely at least as serious a misunderstanding as the one you seek to avoid.

Indeed it is, and it makes me very sad to hear it. I wish we Catholics set a better example and wouldn’t give such impressions. I hope your priest understands someday that the Catholic Church considers anyone who professes Jesus as the Son of God and has been validly baptized to be as Christian as any Catholic.

Why can’t Catholics simply act in a way that reflects their actual beliefs about Protestants? Don’t you in fact believe that we are imperfect members of the Church–that many of our beliefs and practices are right and some are wrong? So why not just participate in the stuff you agree with and not the stuff you don’t?

Yeah, I agree. I don’t understand why being seen praying with someone would make people think that the parties involved agree on everything. That’s just silly.

For the reasons JReducation explained, I would be willing to pray alongside absolutely anybody who is praying, and I would also be willing to pray with any Christian, Jew, or Muslim (since we share the same God, however imperfect and flawed may be the Jewish or Muslim understanding of Him).

 

[Contarini]

Every lie is rooted in truth.

True. And every truth, expressed by humans [leaving divine inspiration out of it], is imperfect.

The only solution is to affirm what is true and reject the deformation of the truth that constitutes the lie. That will result in different practical decisions in different contexts.

Praying with those of another faith, which was founded on errors, can lead to faith comparisons and debates and even conversion from the one, true church.

That’s a pretty unworthy sort of argument. You profess to be interested in truth. So be interested in truth. Anything may lead to anything else. Why don’t we consider what things are in themselves? Isn’t that what really matters?

If you reject anything that may lead to something bad, you will have to reject absolutely everything.

Also, no Christian tradition (which is what we are talking about in this thread) is “founded on errors.” No Protestant church is or professes to be its own “faith.” Protestantism is a broad category comprising many variants of Christianity. Christianity is founded in the truth of Jesus.

This is not to deny that there is much error in Protestantism–in fact, any Protestant would agree with you on that!

Whether we should speak of non-Christian religions as “founded on errors” is another issue.

Our Lord established one church and gave us everything we need in order to achieve Heaven.

Sure, if *that’s *all you are interested in.

But aren’t you interested in glorifying God to the maximum extent possible? Aren’t you interested in loving God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength? If so, why neglect any possible way in which God may be glorified?

Brothers and sisters in Christ, but not the children of the BVM, apparently.

Are you suggesting that people are only what they know themselves to be?

All who believe in Jesus are children of the BVM, whether they admit it or not

A lot of the times Liberals are very fast to say YOU ARE GOING AGAINST WHAT THE HIPPY, ECUMENICAL, THUMBS UP BUDDY JESUS WANTS. GO TO HELL NOW.

I repeat: the liberals you know actually talk about hell? Or are you metaphorically ascribing your own forms of condemnation to them?

Well, thank you for saying that I’m not going to hell. However, I do feel that belonging to the Catholic church is having everything we need, and that does entail a healthy spiritual attitude.

Did people who belonged to the Catholic Church in 100 have everything they needed?

If so, why bother defining the Trinity or the limits of the canon? Why bother developing the wonderful liturgical prayers of the Church?

Did people in 1000 have everything they needed?

If so, was the Rosary a bad thing?

We may be speaking past each other. But my use of “everything needed” is the one relevant in this discussion. I’m not suggesting that not learning from Protestants makes you unorthodox. I’m saying that it involves rejecting some ways in which the expression and understanding and development of orthodoxy may be furthered.

Edwin

 

[Morgan_Hiver]

Yes, the first Christians (Catholics) were given the Beatitudes. They knew Jesus established one church and it was never meant to be broken apart. We were given the rosary by the BVM because she loves us and wants to keep our souls healthy…much like those on a healthy, clean food diet that still go out of their way to take vitamins and run a few extra miles. It just helps you that much more. The Holy Spirit did not give us protestantism. It was not a gift at all. It does not matter how far or close you are from the church…outside is still outside.

Pope Pius XII did say “To be Christian one must be Roman. One must recognize the oneness of Christ’s Church that is governed by one successor of the Prince of the Apostles who is the Bishop of Rome, Christ’s Vicar on earth”.

 

[Swiss_Guy]

As long as their are tests, there will be prayer in schools!

Well, in that case, maybe there shouldn’t be prayer in school.

 

[Elvis_Guy]

Does the ban on communicatio in sacris mean that it’s a sin to pray with Protestants?

And, while we’re on the subject, what is the Church’s position on prayer in public schools?

Good question! Several posters duly noted the depth that is , is a worship service entailing “Invalid Sacramental usage” if so…this is the technical sticky wicket…that is the cannon law also brought up would forbid. Simply to Pray together no…think in this term…our Churches have Protestant guests at Masses weddings , funerals…you name it…have you ever heard a Priest or Bishop ask Protestants to refrain from praying? no! Now my own Priest ruffled feathers of some Baptist not long ago …by reminding that The Sacrament of Eucharist was closed to non-Catholics…but did invite them to cross arms and receive a blessing… They were ticked! But we had had incidents where folk not knowing or caring received ! Lol. But easy answer/summation to your question : in the Church are Protestants asked to refrain from prayers? Nope. It applies outside Church corporately and individually as well. Hope my rambling is halfway useful! Pax!