Is this a sin?

[Margarete_Faust]

First off, it is NOT a sin to attend a Protestant service. Now, allowing the Protestant Sunday service to replace your obligation to go to Mass on a Sunday is a sin. At the same time, if you live in an area where there is no Catholic church (say, for example, you live in a non-Christian country and you cannot attend Mass on a regular basis because the nearest Catholic church is too far away or simply non-existent), you can attend a non-Catholic Christian service as long as it fits into your efforts to keep the Lord’s day holy.
Also, I am pretty sure that Catholics and Eastern Orthodox Christians can attend each other’s services in the absence of a conveniently-located church with no qualms.

I did attend my first Protestant service at university when a Protestant friend and I were in discussion on the similarities and differences between the Catholic and Presbyterian churches. We were attracted to the idea of attending Sunday services together for two Sundays and asking questions over a coffee afterwards. I went to his service first, then went to the 6pm Mass at my church later in the day. The next week, he went to a morning Mass with me, and then went to his service about two hours after the Mass ended (he seemed to think the same thing about attendance at his own church). I say do it if you see the need to (accompanying a non-Catholic relative, asking questions and informing yourself so you can expand dialogue about the Catholic faith at a later time, etc), but always find a way to attend the Catholic Mass.

 

[iloveangels]

First off, it is NOT a sin to attend a Protestant service. Now, allowing the Protestant Sunday service to replace your obligation to go to Mass on a Sunday is a sin. At the same time, if you live in an area where there is no Catholic church (say, for example, you live in a non-Christian country and you cannot attend Mass on a regular basis because the nearest Catholic church is too far away or simply non-existent), you can attend a non-Catholic Christian service as long as it fits into your efforts to keep the Lord’s day holy.
Also, I am pretty sure that Catholics and Eastern Orthodox Christians can attend each other’s services in the absence of a conveniently-located church with no qualms.

I did attend my first Protestant service at university when a Protestant friend and I were in discussion on the similarities and differences between the Catholic and Presbyterian churches. We were attracted to the idea of attending Sunday services together for two Sundays and asking questions over a coffee afterwards. I went to his service first, then went to the 6pm Mass at my church later in the day. The next week, he went to a morning Mass with me, and then went to his service about two hours after the Mass ended (he seemed to think the same thing about attendance at his own church). I say do it if you see the need to (accompanying a non-Catholic relative, asking questions and informing yourself so you can expand dialogue about the Catholic faith at a later time, etc), but always find a way to attend the Catholic Mass.

Catholics are discouraged from attending Protestant services because the Church doesn’t want them to be misled or leave, which is understandable. On the other hand, religious illiteracy is a bad thing as you can see just touring around the Catholic world. If people want to learn more about Protestants, they should also set about learning more about Catholics, because many Catholics are illiterate about both what their own church teaches as well as about what other churches teach. An increase in general religious literacy would be a very good thing. A lot of people, including many Catholics, don’t seem to get the point of religion at all.

 

[Marcalvira]

Not true, if the Catechism or a Pope even, teaches a heresy. For example, if the catechism taught that a belief in Jesus were unnecessary for salvation (as it essentially now does), or if a Pope said that, it would immediately invalidate the code and the Heretic’s position as Pope. This has happened many times throughout history, and is proven true even now… Any true Catholic easily sees the heresy of validating rituals outside the Church as noble and saving. It is incredible that a “Catholic” group would support such whoring(in the biblical sense of course)…
You should look into Church approved Marian apparitions, where the Queen of Heaven describes how the Church will be in Eclipse, a great Harlot, allowing for Aboninations of Desecration (false sacrifices, false worship, etc…) Step into your local roman rite and find an empty dead liturgy, then attend a traditional Byzantine liturgy, be amazed at the reverence, piety and power…
These new catechisms are riddled with nonsense…:
unamsanctamcatholicam.blogspot.com/2007/10/usccb-catechism-teaches-heresy.html?m=1

If this Catholic Answers group forbids discussing these crucial issues, (as the group director privately informed me) please remove me from membership.

Thanks, and God Bless,
Marc A Alvira

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[Marcalvira]

Catholic Philosopher Jean Guitton:
“The intention of Paul VI with regard to what is commonly called the Mass, was to reform the Catholic liturgy in such a way that it should almost coincide with the Protestant liturgy — but what is curious is that Paul VI did that to get as close as possible to the Protestant Lord’s supper … there was with Paul VI an ecumenical intention to remove, or least to correct, or at least to relax, what was too Catholic, in the traditional sense, in the Mass and, I repeat, to get the Catholic Mass closer to the Calvinist Mass.”

 

[october_baby]

While high church Protestants exist here in America, the fact is that our general way of handling Christianity is very mundane and austere. The evangelical IS the mainstream Christian, and even non-believers know that. I mean, it’s saturated our culture to the point where people get all weirded out over high church stuff. Our society hears something like “Christian ritual” as an oxymoron, not to even mention “Christian mysticism”.

Heck, even American Catholics “do” religion in a very banal way.

Quick, think of how many movies you’ve seen where someone gets killed (or anything evil is portrayed) to the tune of Gregorian Chant.

I had not thought about it, but now that you mention it, it does seem that way.

 

[october_baby]

ummm… ok. I was just pointing out that Protestant denominations vary greatly. Also depending on the are you will find more of a certain group than another. I use to live on the West Coast and in that area it was mostly Evangelicals/Non-denominational (I grew up as one), I moved to the North East and most people there were Catholic, now I live in Louisiana and most are either Baptist or Catholic. I think you would be surprised how much Christianity varies. I grew up in an anti-Catholic group, so you don’t have to tell me the fear surrounding high Church practices. lol. I think many Catholics, especially cradle Catholics tend to lump Protestants all in the Evangelical category. It may be true that there are large numbers in the states, but they are nowhere near all the Protestants and it isn’t fair to lump them all up especially when Protestant views vary greatly.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_the_United_States#Christianity You can see the breakdown under the Christian section.

As a former protestant, I can tell you, your right on the money!

 

[PJM]

=MyPseudonym;10166769]I am in RCIA. Is it a sin to occasionally attend a Protestant service?

Depends mostly on your motive in choosing to do so.

RCIA in its first half is to permit you to gain [God Willing] enough information to decide if God IS CALLING you Home? You don’t want to commit until your qustons and concerns have been addressed.

Until you make that commitment; your free to do as you deem right. However; IF you seriously feel called by God to the Catholic Church; it would be prudent and beneficial to Worship there. After all:

There is but One God
Therefore there ought logically be only His One set of Faith beliefs
And Christ founded only His One Church; todays Catholic Church.

STILL YOU MUST make the choice and be firm in your decision.

The only possibility of sin [IMO!] would be if you do this for fear of offending friends or family? I don’t think God would find that sufficient cause to do so?

Luke.9: 23 And he said to all, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me

Luke.14: 7 "Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple.”

ONCE you have passed the 'Rite of Acceptance"
http://www.ecatholic2000.com/rcia/rcia.shtml

In this Rite one is asked:

WHAT DO YOU ASK OF THEE CHURCH RESPONCE IS “FAITH”

AND WHAT DOES [TRUE IMPLIED] FAITH BRING RESPONCE IS “SALVATION”

You have then accepted the call to Catholism. A serious BUT NOT a final comitment. From that point onward; [DICUSSS THIS WITH YOUR RCIA TEACHERS] is could be sinful to continue Protestant worship.

Prior to this point IMO, no sin exist. After this point; it might.

My friend If your having doubts; that’s OK! Now is the time to ask the questions; to SEEK the get the answers to your doubts and concerns. We here at CAF can and are delighted to be of assistance to you.

God’s CONTINUED Blessings.

pat/PJM

 

[Moore11]

Mortal sin?
no, as long as you are fulfilling your obligation to attend Mass as well and as long as you don’t partake in any “communion” or other sacraments. and as long as you are not being led to any anti Catholic ideas.

Dumb idea for an RCIA attendee?

Probably. With the possible exception of a family situation where one spouce is not converting. A good book about this very scenario is Scott Hahn’s Rome sweet Home.

Perhaps some more information from you would be appropriate.
Why do you want to attend?
Will you still go to Mass?
What denomination is it? What do they believe?
Is this your old faith?
What does your priest or RCIA director or your sponsor say? Are they orthodox?

help us out!

 

[iloveangels]

Mortal sin?
no, as long as you are fulfilling your obligation to attend Mass as well and as long as you don’t partake in any “communion” or other sacraments. and as long as you are not being led to any anti Catholic ideas.

Dumb idea for an RCIA attendee?

Probably. With the possible exception of a family situation where one spouce is not converting. A good book about this very scenario is Scott Hahn’s Rome sweet Home.

Perhaps some more information from you would be appropriate.
Why do you want to attend?
Will you still go to Mass?
What denomination is it? What do they believe?
Is this your old faith?
What does your priest or RCIA director or your sponsor say? Are they orthodox?

help us out!

I’m pretty sure she didn’t want people jumping all over her, Moore11. It sounds like she just wanted an answer to a pretty frequent question. Easy does it.

 

[Moore11]

I’m pretty sure she didn’t want people jumping all over her, Moore11. It sounds like she just wanted an answer to a pretty frequent question. Easy does it.

I didn’t jump all over anyone. In fact I thought my answer was complete, logical, and Catholic.


I appreciate when people give it to me strait and that is how I roll as well. Some people don’t work that way and some do. Maybe she does. maybe not. Either way, what I wrote was actually tame compared to other posts around here.

What did you think was “jumping all over her?” I’m curious.

Was my answer wrong?

 

[PJM]

=WoundedIcon;10171207]While high church Protestants exist here in America, the fact is that our general way of handling Christianity is very mundane and austere. The evangelical IS the mainstream Christian, and even non-believers know that. I mean, it’s saturated our culture to the point where people get all weirded out over high church stuff. Our society hears something like “Christian ritual” as an oxymoron, not to even mention “Christian mysticism”.

Heck, even American Catholics “do” religion in a very banal way.

Quick, think of how many movies you’ve seen where someone gets killed (or anything evil is portrayed) to the tune of Gregorian Chant.

Really?

***So it’s possible to REALLY make God Present in our midst and its still “banal”:***shrug: