Is there a place in the church for non-believers

[vstead]

Aside from the obvious contradiction, is there a place in the church for non-believers who value the moral teachings, family values etc of the catholic church.

 

[JackieMom]

I think so. That’s what my dad was, as the non-believing but supportive spouse of a Catholic.

 

[Oxford_Cleric]

And of course, Christianity is not only an intellectual assent to a body of propositions, but also a spiritual encounter with the Body of a Person! Surely a non-believer is more likely to encounter Christ in a meaningful way in the Church instead of somewhere else.

 

[EasterJoy]

I’m not sure I understand the question. In one sense, no. Baptism is utterly inappropriate for someone who does not share the core beliefs of the Catholic Church, as expressed in the Creed. Without baptism or the desire for baptism–that is to say, without being given over to faith in the veracity of the Church’s core beliefs–the person does not and cannot belong to the Church.

In another sense, though, the Church totally welcomes the person who is presently only attracted to the Church’s moral teachings, and would be happy to let that person remain and witness the worship and life of the Church. The Church even gives permission for Catholics to marry non-believers, provided the Catholic is willing to take steps to not lose their own faith. So in that sense, the non-believer could say, “You know I don’t believe the theology and I don’t think I ever will?” and the pastor could say, “I know that is what you think, but as long as you are willing to respect that this is a place where we all act according to that belief, sure, you can stay. After all, since you are an honest seeker of the truth and have a desire to live according to what is morally right, you may not be as impermeable to faith as you think!” That person could not take on the roles of the initiated, such as receiving the sacraments, being a lector, and so on, but the person could definitely attend Mass or volunteer to help with the charitable work of the parish, and so on. In that sense, yes, there is a place in most parishes for non-believers. I’d wager that nearly every parish in Oregon of any reasonable size has at least a few!

If you are baptized person who never believed (because you were baptized as an infant) or have fallen away from your belief, to the point that you do not even have a desire to give intellectual assent to what the Church teaches, you ought to keep coming, but you ought to refrain from sacramental actions that imply you believe–such as going to Holy Communion or taking a prominent role in helping the priest at Mass–as well as words that might dissuade anyone else. It is a sacrilege to pretend at the sacraments.

 

[SonCatcher]

All are welcome to visit with us as frequently as they like. Non-Catholics would only be restricted from participating in the Sacraments.

St. Augustine was actually such a person. He was a student of St. Ambrose for considerable time prior to his conversion.

 

[BettyBoop416]

My non-beliving husband attends Mass with me almost every Sunday. While he does not partake of the sacraments, he is a fairly active member of the parish community.

So, the answer to your question, in my experience, is yes.

 

[SusanneT]

Aside from the obvious contradiction, is there a place in the church for non-believers who value the moral teachings, family values etc of the catholic church.

Totally - the more I discuss Catholic moral teaching with close, but secular girlfriends the more they say how much they are attracted to them.

 

[EasterJoy]

My non-beliving husband attends Mass with me almost every Sunday. While he does not partake of the sacraments, he is a fairly active member of the parish community.

So, the answer to your question, in my experience, is yes.

I know a non-Catholic husband of a Catholic who was so active in their parish that he was asked to be on the parish counsel. He was a little amused when he had to turn them down on the grounds that he wasn’t technically Catholic.

 

[jwinch2]

“in the Church” to me implies someone that is Catholic. In that sense, no. If you do not believe this…

I believe in one God,
the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.

I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the Only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,
and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
he suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead
and his kingdom will have no end.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.

I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.
I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins
and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come. Amen.

… you aren’t Catholic, period, end of story. No matter how much someone appreciates the family values of the Church, etc. they must assent to that doctrine completely, or the answer is no.

 

[Mulligan2]

I’ve known a number of non-believers who are extremely moral people. I have a tremendous amount of respect for people who live a productive and positive life - not because they believe God wanted them to - but simply because “they” wanted to.

 

[Sarcelle]

I’ve known a number of non-believers who are extremely moral people. I have a tremendous amount of respect for people who live a productive and positive life - not because they believe God wanted them to - but simply because “they” wanted to.

I agree, My father is an example of this. He is an atheist but he adheres to a set of moral principles.

 

[EasterJoy]

I’ve known a number of non-believers who are extremely moral people. I have a tremendous amount of respect for people who live a productive and positive life - not because they believe God wanted them to - but simply because “they” wanted to.

It is wrong to avoid baptism or membership in the Church because it asks too much, but Heaven is aware who has and has not yet been given the grace to believe. God, knowing this, can pardon someone who was only kept out of the Church by invincible ignorance. It could be that many outside of the Church will say, as the Lord described, “'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?” (Matt. 25:37-39) and they will come into eternal life because they saw Christ in their fellow human beings, not even knowing who it was, but knowing only what He needed.