Non-Catholics attending Mass; Catholics attending non-Catholic services

[palmas85]

What are our rules regarding having non-Catholics attend Mass? This is an inevitable problem with Weddings and Funerals. For example, do we expect protestants and non-Christians to kneel, stand, etc.?

I would guess that they’re free to just not participate; I know I wouldn’t want to be forced to follow the rituals of a religion I don’t believe in. I’m happy to do it with Orthodox Churches, and perhaps joining in prayer when protestants preside, but that’s pretty much it. I wouldn’t bow down to Mecca.

I once had to take a class in Buddhism, and the professor took us to a Buddhist temple. She told us to bow to the statue of the Buddha as we took our seats. I refused to. I mean, I didn’t make a big stink about it, but I just discreetly said that I can’t do that, and without bowing took my seat respectful of the other people there, but not in any reverence for the Buddha. It was particularly revolting because it was a Catholic university. She later said that it is a custom, like shaking hands; but whatever they say, I don’t care, I’m really just not gonna do it.

Since I wouldn’t do those things, I can’t imagine prescribing them to participate in our rituals. I don’t think it pleases God to have people who don’t believe in Him kneel down at Eucharist. Kneeling should be the outward physical action of the heart’s devotion; if the heart doesn’t feel it, the body shouldn’t budge.

But then this would seem to create a liturgical distraction. If, for example, in a Mass, a group of people were to remain seated, it would be distracting to the faithful and it would put them under the impression that there are people who came to the Mass just to be rude.

It could also cause problems when the faithful kneel but their views are obstructed by people who are standing or sitting.

I suppose a solution would be to keep non-Christians seated in a particular section of the church, so that their non-participation would not be a distraction. But it doesn’t seem like this ever happens. Among other reasons, that would also make the Catholic Church, in the minds of many, look uncharitable toward outsiders – something that the post-Conciliar Church won’t prepetuate. We really just can’t tell them to “sit over there.”

What are the solutions to these cases? Are there any customs out there that have dealt with this?

These things happen all the time. I don’t see their participation or non participation as being distracting at all. Even if they receive Holy Communion that is certainly between them and God and is really not my problem. If I have non Catholics come to Mass with me, I tell them it is probably better if they just watch rather than try to participate. And that is exactly what I do if I happen to attend some protestant community gathering. I watch. Thats it. I watch. I could expect no more from a non Catholic at Mass.

 

[John_Lilburne]

Pope Benedict referred to non-Catholics attending in the 2007 Apostolic Exhortation “Sacamentum Caritatis”:

“50. … In this regard, I would like to call attention to a pastoral problem frequently encountered nowadays. I am referring to the fact that on certain occasions – for example, wedding Masses, funerals and the like – in addition to practising Catholics there may be others present who have long since ceased to attend Mass or are living in a situation which does not permit them to receive the sacraments. At other times members of other Christian confessions and even other religions may be present. Similar situations can occur in churches that are frequently visited, especially in tourist areas. In these cases, there is a need to find a brief and clear way to remind those present of the meaning of sacramental communion and the conditions required for its reception. Wherever circumstances make it impossible to ensure that the meaning of the Eucharist is duly appreciated, the appropriateness of replacing the celebration of the Mass with a celebration of the word of God should be considered.”

He is not saying that people of other religions should not attend. But he indicates the problem of ensuring respect for the eucharist.

Perhaps the Directory on Ecumenism may also be helpful in considering these things. It is at vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/documents/rc_pc_chrstuni_doc_25031993_principles-and-norms-on-ecumenism_en.html . It includes:
“107. Catholics ought to show a sincere respect for the liturgical and sacramental discipline of other Churches and ecclesial Communities and these in their turn are asked to show the same respect for Catholic discipline. One of the objectives of the consultation mentioned above should be a greater mutual understanding of each other’s discipline and even an agreement on how to manage a situation in which the discipline of one Church calls into question or conflicts with the discipline of another.”

 

[Mintaka]

Re: “sitting like a lump and blocking my view of the Consecration”

Personally, I wouldn’t notice one way or the other. I’m short. Tall guys block my view of the Consecration all the time. I’m shocked that anybody would automatically expect to have a perfect view.

But if I saw someone sitting, and even bothered to think about it instead of paying attention to Mass, I would assume first that it was someone whose leg was hurting him. If I noticed that the person didn’t seem to understand everything, I’d be glad he came.

 

[rayne89]

I wonder if there is a rubric saying that you can’t touch a non-Catholic during the sign of peace? I appreciate CAT comments, but RCIA aside, “catholic” means “universal” which I think implies inclusive. That way precedes RCIA, even precedes CCD.

Personally, when someone “withdraws” from me during communal prayer, I am reluctant to “play” at friendliness during the Peace.

There is absolutely no such rubric the sign of peace is for all.

As for your second comment this attitude saddens me. You shouldn’t be playing at anything during Mass. The sign of peace is exactly that and hold someone’s prayer posture against them in midst of Mass and thus holding it against them during the sign of peace is just astonishing. You talk of inclusiveness and yet you wish to exclude those who don’t wish to pray in the exact manner that you do? Talk about the pot calling the kettle black.:tsktsk:

 

[JesuXPIPassio]

Pope Benedict referred to non-Catholics attending in the 2007 Apostolic Exhortation “Sacamentum Caritatis”:

“50. … In this regard, I would like to call attention to a pastoral problem frequently encountered nowadays. I am referring to the fact that on certain occasions – for example, wedding Masses, funerals and the like – in addition to practising Catholics there may be others present who have long since ceased to attend Mass or are living in a situation which does not permit them to receive the sacraments. At other times members of other Christian confessions and even other religions may be present. Similar situations can occur in churches that are frequently visited, especially in tourist areas. In these cases, there is a need to find a brief and clear way to remind those present of the meaning of sacramental communion and the conditions required for its reception. Wherever circumstances make it impossible to ensure that the meaning of the Eucharist is duly appreciated, the appropriateness of replacing the celebration of the Mass with a celebration of the word of God should be considered.”

He is not saying that people of other religions should not attend. But he indicates the problem of ensuring respect for the eucharist.

Perhaps the Directory on Ecumenism may also be helpful in considering these things. It is at vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/documents/rc_pc_chrstuni_doc_25031993_principles-and-norms-on-ecumenism_en.html . It includes:
“107. Catholics ought to show a sincere respect for the liturgical and sacramental discipline of other Churches and ecclesial Communities and these in their turn are asked to show the same respect for Catholic discipline. One of the objectives of the consultation mentioned above should be a greater mutual understanding of each other’s discipline and even an agreement on how to manage a situation in which the discipline of one Church calls into question or conflicts with the discipline of another.”

Thanks! That was the sort of answer for which I was looking. It took 40 posts for me to get it – I as much as gave up already.

Interesting though, because having no Liturgy of the Eucharist would seem to shortchange the couple to be married or the deceased person of the funeral.

Or then again, there could be separate services – one public with the Liturgy of the Word, and one private with the whole Mass for the benefit of the faithful. But, I guess I’ll just take a better look at the document and see if it amplifies on that.