Is it wrong for a Catholic to go to a Protestant church to see what it's like?

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Will8503

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I’m not planning on converting to another religion. The Catholic faith is the True Faith.

I have just become interested in seeing an Episcopal service and other Protestant services to see what they’re like. I had a friend a while back who said he accidentally went to an Episcopal Church, thinking it was a Catholic Church. He told me it was similar, but very different. I’m curious to see what it is like.

Of course, I would not receive communion or take part in a service at a non-Catholic church, but I would just watch. I will also remember to fulfill my Sunday obligation by going to a Catholic Mass, so don’t worry about me skipping.
 
I say go for it. It could be a good learning experience and an apologetic tool. 🙂
 
=Will8503;5487331]I’m not planning on converting to another religion. The Catholic faith is the True Faith.
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I have just become interested in seeing an Episcopal service and other Protestant services to see what they’re like. I had a friend a while back who said he accidentally went to an Episcopal Church, thinking it was a Catholic Church. He told me it was similar, but very different. I’m curious to see what it is like.
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Of course, I would not receive communion or take part in a service at a non-Catholic church, but I would just watch. I will also remember to fulfill my Sunday obligation by going to a Catholic Mass, so don’t worry about me skipping.
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***If your interest is to gain understanding to better enable to assist you in defending thee One True Church yes. Under the very specific guidlines you detailed.

However their could be GREAT Spiritual Risk if not done carefully and prayerfully.

I ma of the opinion that the risk outdo the possible benefits.:rolleyes:***
 
PJM said:
***If your interest is to gain understanding to better enable to assist you in defending thee One True Church yes. Under the very specific guidlines you detailed.

However their could be GREAT Spiritual Risk if not done carefully and prayerfully.

I ma of the opinion that the risk outdo the possible benefits.:rolleyes:***
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Fear is not a good thing.
 
PJM said:
***If your interest is to gain understanding to better enable to assist you in defending thee One True Church yes. Under the very specific guidlines you detailed.

However their could be GREAT Spiritual Risk if not done carefully and prayerfully.

I ma of the opinion that the risk outdo the possible benefits.:rolleyes:***
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Thanks for the response.
 
Since you know that the Catholic Church is the Church the Christ established on Earth and that he is present in the Eucharist, I don’t see what the danger would be in going to a protestant service. As the only Catholic on my side of the family I end up at services at other churches from time to time and the thing that usually stands out to me are all the things that are missing (the Eucharist, mainly). And it could hopefully help you with apologetics.
 
I go to a protestant school, but I do believe the Catholic church is the one true church. And like someone before me said, it’s a great learning experience, actually.

I attend chapels at my school once a week. Basically, an hour is taken out of the school day to worship and listen to a speaker. And even though it isn’t exactly a way a catholic would worship, it’s still worship. And it’s still a nice service. 🙂
 
There’s probably a video of a service on youtube…just a suggestion:)
 
If I understand the obligation to Holy Mass correctly, you are fine to attend other places as long as you do not substitute your obligation to Holy Mass at least once a week either on Vigil Mass on Sat, or Sunday Mass.

From what I can see, and am open to correction on is that you are fine and not hindered to attend elsewhere as long as it is not in substitute of your obligation.

I have seen some heated threads on that topic regarding places where the sacrament is considered valid by the catholic church.

But that was not your concern stated, so I don’t think that helped you much.
 
Will8503 said:
I’m not planning on converting to another religion. The Catholic faith is the True Faith.

I have just become interested in seeing an Episcopal service and other Protestant services to see what they’re like. I had a friend a while back who said he accidentally went to an Episcopal Church, thinking it was a Catholic Church. He told me it was similar, but very different. I’m curious to see what it is like.

Of course, I would not receive communion or take part in a service at a non-Catholic church, but I would just watch. I will also remember to fulfill my Sunday obligation by going to a Catholic Mass, so don’t worry about me skipping.
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I’d say go for it.
I have gone to Pentecostal services for some years and I have learned a great deal from these brothers and sisters of ours. I have learned especially about the ministries mentioned in St. Pauls letters to the Corinthians. In this the Pentecostals are definately stronger than in the Catholic churches I have been to. Also I learned to worship in new ways and pray aloud in a group… I learned a lot of wonderful songs and often felt more edified after hearing the preachers there than any Catholic sermon.
So I’d say, go for it.
However, its not bad to study a bit of apologetics as you go along… so that you are strong in your reasons for being Catholic, because when you see other churches that work really well, even the most happy Catholics can get attracted to that.

Lastly, when you go to the other churches, remmeber you are a visitor, not an evangelist. They already have the Gospel. Come in and humbly listen and learn from them.

Peace
 
There’s no harm in doing this, or indeed, attending the service of any religious tradition–provided, of course, that one is observing and doesn’t allow onself to get sucked in by their often-persuasive recruitment practices.
Better avoid Satan-worshippers, though; that can’t be good for the soul.
 
Mel_Stones said:
Is it o.k. for me to go to a nonCatholic bible study?

I know you didn’t ask about bible study but I think these apply. Look at these answers and the recommended reading. The above one especially - it numbers what will be taught differently in a Protestant church.


Is is all right to study with a Protestant Bible study group?

Can I attend a Protestant Bible study?
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Yes, be careful about reading that Bible. Catholics are not allowed to interpret anything in there.
:cool:
 
I see no reason why you shouldn’t investigate other churches to learn more about them. I’m sure they allow it.
 
I feel better after reading this thread. Last week, I went to see a friend from high school preach at the little baptist church he is the head of (he put a prayer from St. Francis on his church’s refrigerator 👍)

My sister is visiting with her husband and 5-year-old son next week from 1,000 miles away. Since Mass is at 9, and their church is at 11, should I go to church with them? We don’t see eye to eye on religion at all, so the only reason I would be going is to foster family unity and whatnot (give my parents and grandparents the joy of EVERYONE in church together). Is that a good enough reason, or should I avoid going since there’s no way they’d ever come to Mass with me?
 
TLM08 said:
Yes, be careful about reading that Bible. Catholics are not allowed to interpret anything in there.
:cool:
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It isn’t that we aren’t allowed to interpret. It is just that we give such a heavy task to those wiser than the average joe - meaning we put the responsibility on the Magisterium. Protestant churches base their entire sermon - which is most of the service - solely on the Bible so the warnings that apply to Bible studies also apply to Protestant services.
Catholicism is based on the Bible, other texts, and tradition.
We are allowed to read and apply the Bible to our everyday lives. But we are to respect the decisions of the Church on interpretations. If we disagree based on a true Catholic based conscience, we are allowed to follow that conscience.
 
I would say that if you are going for the purposes stated, then it’s allowed. You can gain a lot of knowledge from our separated brethren. But, please be careful and pray about it before you decide. Only go if you are extremely sure in your Catholic faith. Growing up, I attended a lot of fundamentalist churches and I can’t count how many people tried to convert me. I was not sound in my faith, and it played a part of me falling away from the Church for several years.
 
celticsfan1983 said:
I feel better after reading this thread. Last week, I went to see a friend from high school preach at the little baptist church he is the head of (he put a prayer from St. Francis on his church’s refrigerator 👍)

My sister is visiting with her husband and 5-year-old son next week from 1,000 miles away. Since Mass is at 9, and their church is at 11, should I go to church with them? We don’t see eye to eye on religion at all, so the only reason I would be going is to foster family unity and whatnot (give my parents and grandparents the joy of EVERYONE in church together). Is that a good enough reason, or should I avoid going since there’s no way they’d ever come to Mass with me?
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I think it’s a good reason, as long as you feel comfortable with it. I take my daughter to the Lutheran church that my parents and grandparents go to a couple of times a year, so that they can show her to all their friends, instead of just bringing pictures.
 
RedSoxWife said:
I think it’s a good reason, as long as you feel comfortable with it. I take my daughter to the Lutheran church that my parents and grandparents go to a couple of times a year, so that they can show her to all their friends, instead of just bringing pictures.
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SInce you have great taste in baseball teams, i will take your advice 🙂
 
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