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JSRG
Guest
Read in context, this is not a statement regarding Protestantism in general, but specifically the so-called “Old Catholic Church.”
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Prodigal1984
Guest
Yes this is true. Thank you for pointing that out. That was after the First Vatican Council which they didn’t agree with and separated ; more than likely they were viewed like the SSPX is today except the Church it seems is much more charitable to the latter. Imagine a pope just coming out and saying what Pius lX did about the Old Catholics?
The Second Vatican Council was not the first Council where groups separated over issues with it. The First Vatican Council did. I would almost want to go back further into even more distant councils but the fact is we already know the answer since the vast majority of Councils were called just to condemn some form of heresy.
The Second Vatican Council was not the first Council where groups separated over issues with it. The First Vatican Council did. I would almost want to go back further into even more distant councils but the fact is we already know the answer since the vast majority of Councils were called just to condemn some form of heresy.
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angel12
Guest
It might for some people, but you can’t make a blanket statement like that. I have attended a number of Protestant services over the years, for various reasons, and have not felt any inclination at all to fall away from Holy Mother Church.
By the way, you do know there’s a new code of Canon Law, right?
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Special
Guest
How come your profile is hidden?
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angel12
Guest
I have literally NEVER had Protestant say that to me. Mabe my Protestant friends are more polite.
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Canvas
Guest
Excellent point. And Pius IX might have taken personal offence with the “Old Catholics”, which would at least partly explain the particular vehemence of his condemnation, because they went into schism largely because of disputes with him and his supporters.
Here is the encyclical in question:
Graves Ac Diuturnae - Papal Encyclicals
To Our Venerable Brothers the Bishops, to the Clergy, and to the Swiss People who enjoy Grace and Communion with the Apostolic See. Venerable Brothers, Greetings and Apostolic Blessing. The serious and long-lasting plots and efforts which the new heretics … Continue reading →
www.papalencyclicals.net
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PrayForMe
Guest
To answer your question, OP, it sort of depends on the context in which you are asking the question. It is advisable to attend if it’s the wedding or funeral of a family member, for example, provided you do not “actively participate” in the service itself, particularly involving anything explicitly contrary to the Catholic Faith.
If it’s just for the sake of family unity (i.e. you have a spouse or parent that is Protestant and wants you to attend their service) you are going to be met with some conflicting answers. I know from experience that some priests will tell you it’s fine, and others will advise against it. Canvas posted an article earlier in this thread that I think raises some good points relating to the general thought of the Church on this matter, varying views aside.
My own opinion is not to go in the latter case. For one thing, although Prodigal1984 quotes a version of Canon Law that is outdated, he’s also not necessarily incorrect that attending services for a reason outside of necessity can (even though it won’t always) lead to indifferentism or falling away from the faith. My brother started going to Protestant services with a relative as an adolescent; he eventually decided he liked it better and has never been back to a Catholic Mass since.
Furthermore, my view is that we shouldn’t worry about offending our Protestant friends or relatives by NOT attending one of their services. As Catholics, we have the fullness of the truth. Of course we should be compassionate and charitable towards our separated brethren, but this does not mean we should feel pressured to attend their services just to make them happy.
If it’s just for the sake of family unity (i.e. you have a spouse or parent that is Protestant and wants you to attend their service) you are going to be met with some conflicting answers. I know from experience that some priests will tell you it’s fine, and others will advise against it. Canvas posted an article earlier in this thread that I think raises some good points relating to the general thought of the Church on this matter, varying views aside.
My own opinion is not to go in the latter case. For one thing, although Prodigal1984 quotes a version of Canon Law that is outdated, he’s also not necessarily incorrect that attending services for a reason outside of necessity can (even though it won’t always) lead to indifferentism or falling away from the faith. My brother started going to Protestant services with a relative as an adolescent; he eventually decided he liked it better and has never been back to a Catholic Mass since.
Furthermore, my view is that we shouldn’t worry about offending our Protestant friends or relatives by NOT attending one of their services. As Catholics, we have the fullness of the truth. Of course we should be compassionate and charitable towards our separated brethren, but this does not mean we should feel pressured to attend their services just to make them happy.
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Dlee
Guest
I can think of a few reasons: wedding, funeral, your mother asked you to take her, your grandchild is singing in the children’s choir or Christmas program. You’re attending a family reunion of sorts and they are all going to church together like they used to.
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MamaJewel
Guest
Yep, Catholics do have a Mass obligation.
My favorite Protestant service was the one that I went to with my husband, children, mom, dad, grandma, and aunt.
I filled out a visitor’s card and the pastor called me to ask us to come back for another service. I explained that I was very happy with my Catholic faith and had attended Mass on Saturday evening so I could go to church with family on Sunday.
My dad was a combat wounded veteran who believed in Jesus, but couldn’t forgive himself for what he’d done in the war. My dad was also a long-time alcoholic.
I told that good Southern Baptist preacher my story and about my dad, and how I had offered many a Mass on bended Knee for my father. I asked the pastor to please come to my parents home, visit with them, and ask them to come back because my dad really liked the people and service.
The pastor honored my request. My dad and mom started attending that church. My dad quit drinking, became a deacon, and was given 2 years to live a few years later. Well, that little country church was starting a two-year Bible study that would run from Genesis to revelation. My dad was very upbeat, saying he’d do the Bible study and go on to meet his maker.
My dad lived another 10 years after the Bible study concluded. (Medicare would call his doctor and ask if my dad was still alive and why.)
My dad went home to be with the Lord in 2016. He was ready to go and told us he had seen Jesus and that Jesus was coming for him. My dad had a “good death” as we say in healthcare. He died peacefully with my mom at his side and we all had ample time to give him our love and appreciation and say our goodbyes.
Sometimes it is ok to attend a protestant service, but I made sure to get to Mass if I went to a different church service with family or friends.
My favorite Protestant service was the one that I went to with my husband, children, mom, dad, grandma, and aunt.
I filled out a visitor’s card and the pastor called me to ask us to come back for another service. I explained that I was very happy with my Catholic faith and had attended Mass on Saturday evening so I could go to church with family on Sunday.
My dad was a combat wounded veteran who believed in Jesus, but couldn’t forgive himself for what he’d done in the war. My dad was also a long-time alcoholic.
I told that good Southern Baptist preacher my story and about my dad, and how I had offered many a Mass on bended Knee for my father. I asked the pastor to please come to my parents home, visit with them, and ask them to come back because my dad really liked the people and service.
The pastor honored my request. My dad and mom started attending that church. My dad quit drinking, became a deacon, and was given 2 years to live a few years later. Well, that little country church was starting a two-year Bible study that would run from Genesis to revelation. My dad was very upbeat, saying he’d do the Bible study and go on to meet his maker.
My dad lived another 10 years after the Bible study concluded. (Medicare would call his doctor and ask if my dad was still alive and why.)
My dad went home to be with the Lord in 2016. He was ready to go and told us he had seen Jesus and that Jesus was coming for him. My dad had a “good death” as we say in healthcare. He died peacefully with my mom at his side and we all had ample time to give him our love and appreciation and say our goodbyes.
Sometimes it is ok to attend a protestant service, but I made sure to get to Mass if I went to a different church service with family or friends.
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Frankie65
Guest
My issue with it is twofold
- Why would you want to immerse yourself in a building and among a people who have rejected the Catholic faith (either passively or actively) and so are excommunicated. They do not teach the true faith. In this country 500 years ago we had many people tortured to death for remaining true to the true faith that our Lord taught us
- My gut says no.
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Tis_Bearself
Patron
People who have never been Catholic, which includes most of the Protestants alive today, are not “excommunicated” because they were never members of the Church to begin with and so could not be “excommunicated” from a Church they did not join. Likewise, if they were never Catholic then they never “rejected the Catholic faith” because they didn’t have it to begin with.
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Frankie65
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What I understand is that any baptism is Catholic but as soon as baptised starts practising protestantism as all babies baptised in Anglican or protestant churches will, they are excommunicated.
And sorry but they have rejected the faith either passively or actively. They are protestant.
And sorry but they have rejected the faith either passively or actively. They are protestant.
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Fauken
Guest
That’s incorrect. Not every valid baptism is a Catholic baptism.
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Frankie65
Guest
What the heck is the point of it then? Only a point if you think protestantism is as valid as Catholicism
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Fauken
Guest
Just because one is baptized Protestant doesn’t mean they’re in full communion with the Church. Otherwise they wouldn’t have to go through months of preparation for the Sacraments or make a profession of faith at their initiation. Baptism is only the beginning.
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Canvas
Guest
Excommunication is part of Canon Law, and people who have never been Catholic are not under it’s jurisdictions according to the 1983 Code.
Can. 11 Merely ecclesiastical laws bind those who have been baptized in the Catholic Church or received into it."
Tis_Bearself
Patron
The point of excommunication is to send a strong message to someone who is Catholic and has rejected Church authority or Church teaching, that they need to correct themselves and get back in the Church.
This makes no sense if someone was never Catholic and never in the Church in their life. It’s like getting fired from a job you never held.
This makes no sense if someone was never Catholic and never in the Church in their life. It’s like getting fired from a job you never held.
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Brendan_64
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I would think that for weddings, funerals, or other significant occasions involving friends or family then that is OK. If your spouse is a Protestant then perhaps that too.
But I think that there is a danger that in regularly attending Protestant services it could create a universalist mindset where the person starts to think that the differences between us are really not so significant and that we are effectively different branches of the same faith.
I personally would think that if we attend a Protestant service we should do so with caution and that there ought to be a fairly significant reason for us attending.
But I think that there is a danger that in regularly attending Protestant services it could create a universalist mindset where the person starts to think that the differences between us are really not so significant and that we are effectively different branches of the same faith.
I personally would think that if we attend a Protestant service we should do so with caution and that there ought to be a fairly significant reason for us attending.
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