Not going to church on Sunday: sin or not?

[Peter_J]

Not really.
A non-Catholic would ask “why in the world do I need to ask permission to not go to church?”

“Holy Day of Obligation” is a Catholic concept and doesn’t really apply to non-Catholics.

Certainly. Hence why I said (emphasis added):

even within Catholicism, my bishop could give me a dispensation to miss mass.

 

[rcwitness]

No, it is not a sin. If by obligation you mean someone is keeping tabs on you, no. If you desire to go, there is no obligation. If you mean by"no longer considered a commandment" you mean the verses in Hebrews that says to not forsake or neglect the coming together for worship then I would say it never was a commandment that you can never miss a service. To me it says keep it a priority to attend faithfully.

It’s not simply “missing a Mass” that is sinful. It’s the reasons why coming together for the Holy memorial was not a higher priority than something else. The sinful reasons are laziness, indifference, lack of love, shame, etc.

So if one of these reasons becomes a higher “priority” as you say, it is wrong, and sorrow/remorse should be expressed.

 

[RebeccaJ]

Not really.
A non-Catholic would ask “why in the world do I need to ask permission to not go to church?”

Are there not ramifications for an adult Mormon, for not attending on Sunday? Isn’t it required to maintain temple worthiness? Isn’t a prospective convert required to attend? Isn’t someone who has been ex’d and wants to return required to attend? Isn’t a child who is going to be baptized required to attend?

What if the person cannot attend for an extended period of time?

 

[ajcstr]

Admittedly, Orthodoxy is not a faith I know much about.

Note: the idea of a “dispensation” is fairly unique to Catholicism. I don’t know any Protestant or other Christian faith which as such an idea. Again- I don’t really know Orthodox.

True, but there would be no need for a dispensation if there is no requirement to attend in the first place.

I know sometimes if there a heavy snowfall, the bishop will issue the dispensation for the diocese.

 

[jane_doe]

Are there not ramifications for an adult Mormon, for not attending on Sunday? Isn’t it required to maintain temple worthiness? Isn’t a prospective convert required to attend? Isn’t someone who has been ex’d and wants to return required to attend? Isn’t a child who is going to be baptized required to attend?

My impression of the OP and subsequent postings was this thread was asking about a single Sunday. In that framework the answer to all of your questions are “no”. For example,

I know sometimes if there a heavy snowfall, the bishop will issue the dispensation for the diocese.

In LDS church this is completely unnecessary. If there’s a snow storm and you can’t make it to church, don’t worry about it. If it’s bad enough they’ll cancel church that day completely.

You know all this Rebecca, so I’m not sure why you are asking.

 

[Peter_J]

In LDS church this is completely unnecessary. If there’s a snow storm and you can’t make it to church, don’t worry about it. If it’s bad enough they’ll cancel church that day completely.

That’s true in RCism as well. But there have been times when the bishop issues a general statement – that way nobody is worrying about whether the weather is so bad that they should stay home.

 

[RebeccaJ]

My impression of the OP and subsequent postings was this thread was asking about a single Sunday. In that framework the answer to all of your questions are “no”. For example,

In LDS church this is completely unnecessary. If there’s a snow storm and you can’t make it to church, don’t worry about it. If it’s bad enough they’ll cancel church that day completely.

You know all this Rebecca, so I’m not sure why you are asking.

I ask because your replies strike me as odd. You make it sound like no Mormon leader is ever concerned about people who do not attend and that there are no ramifications for not attending. When you know this isn’t the case.

If one can’t make it to Mass because of sickness, travel problems, or other unforseen circumstances, that is not a sin. If one is in a location where Mass is not celebrated, it is not a sin to miss a Mass that didn’t exist in the first place. For example, a vacation on a cruise ship.

 

[adf417]

My impression of the OP and subsequent postings was this thread was asking about a single Sunday. In that framework the answer to all of your questions are “no”. For example,

In LDS church this is completely unnecessary. If there’s a snow storm and you can’t make it to church, don’t worry about it. If it’s bad enough they’ll cancel church that day completely.

You know all this Rebecca, so I’m not sure why you are asking.

No Jane my purpose of this thread was not for any spacific Sunday but attending worship “services” in general. RebeccaJ’s questions were good follow up questions for a deeper understanding of how the position of passiveness could possibly be acceptable for today’s Christians.

Peace!!!

 

[CourtingTex]

As a Mormon speaking for myself, no issues with not going to church, when it is understood whether LDS, Catholic, or even Protestant ---- free to attend or not. Dogma I submit is what has some lost or with fear.

 

[adf417]

As a Mormon speaking for myself, no issues with not going to church, when it is understood whether LDS, Catholic, or even Protestant ---- free to attend or not. Dogma I submit is what has some lost or with fear.

Hi CourtingTex,
Do you, or would you, allow you children the same freedom? If not at what time does this commandment become relaxed into such freedom without consequence?

Peace!!!

 

[CourtingTex]

Regardless of being a parent or child, freedom to choose.

Most parents through their example will hope their child or children goes to church, nonetheless the “good news” has to be confirmed to those sincere in knowing for themselves – versus I submit other methods, different their Jesus Christ’s example. Christ did not force anyone to accept him.

 

[jane_doe]

No Jane my purpose of this thread was not for any spacific Sunday but attending worship “services” in general. RebeccaJ’s questions were good follow up questions for a deeper understanding of how the position of passiveness could possibly be acceptable for today’s Christians.

Peace!!!

Ah, I misunderstood, my apologies. I thought you were asking since (to my limited understanding) Catholics consider ditching church a for even a single Sunday grave matter. Ditching = not going for no good reason.

Not going to church at all is a entirely different matter, and will get you much different answers from groups, including LDS. Yes, LDS believe a person should go to church, partake of the Lord’s Supper, hear the word of God, and be involved in the community. That doesn’t mean you’re in a horribly sinful for not going a single week, but is speaking in general.

In fact… thinking about it, I don’t know a single Christian group who won’t encourage going to church and being involved in general. Granted, how one the beliefs of how one is nurtured at church do vary.

 

[eddie_too]

attending mass on holy days and sunday is a commandment of the Church.

it is a serious obligation and to defy the Church in this matter is a deadly sin, all other elements of what makes a sin deadly being relevant in estalbishing the individual’s culpability.

 

[adf417]

Regardless of being a parent or child, freedom to choose.

Most parents through their example will hope their child or children goes to church, nonetheless the “good news” has to be confirmed to those sincere in knowing for themselves – versus I submit other methods, different their Jesus Christ’s example. Christ did not force anyone to accept him.

I never used the words “force someone” i asked is it considered a sin by you and/or your authority. If not when did this commandment change?

Peace!!!

 

[adf417]

Ah, I misunderstood, my apologies. I thought you were asking since (to my limited understanding) Catholics consider ditching church a for even a single Sunday grave matter. Ditching = not going for no good reason.

Not going to church at all is a entirely different matter, and will get you much different answers from groups, including LDS. Yes, LDS believe a person should go to church, partake of the Lord’s Supper, hear the word of God, and be involved in the community. That doesn’t mean you’re in a horribly sinful for not going a single week, but is speaking in general.

In fact… thinking about it, I don’t know a single Christian group who won’t encourage going to church and being involved in general. Granted, how one the beliefs of how one is nurtured at church do vary.

How many weeks missed is considered sinful? Who decides this?

Peace!!!

 

[jane_doe]

How many weeks missed is considered sinful? Who decides this?

Not a set number. It more depends on the person, their circumstance, their needs, etc. It is something that person should listen to the Spirit about, though their local Bishop may be helpful in discerning.
(An LDS bishop is roughly equivalent to a Catholic priest).

 

[adf417]

Not a set number. It more depends on the person, their circumstance, their needs, etc. It is something that person should listen to the Spirit about, though their local Bishop may be helpful in discerning.
(An LDS bishop is roughly equivalent to a Catholic priest).

Happy Thanksgiving Jane,

So it seem you are saying sin is now subjective. Is my understanding correct?

Peace!!!

 

[jane_doe]

Happy Thanksgiving Jane,

So it seem you are saying sin is now subjective. Is my understanding correct?

No, because subjective means “based on or influenced by personal feelings, tastes, or opinions”. Sin isn’t something a person can decide.

 

[Vico]

I don’t have a problem with going to church on sunday, but I have a form of PTSD and I have a stress trigger – people talking before Mass and during Mass – and distracting me.

the Mass is so important, and it drives me crazy – I’m no longer participating in Mass – when there are people talking around me. There are people talking out loud in our local small adoration chapel, even though it is POSTED that there should be silence in this chapel.

Read Canon Law, canons 1200 through about 1206, as I recall – what it says about “sacred places.” Read GIRM 45 which recommends that there be silence before Mass, to properly prepare ourselves for what is about to happen.

I complained to my Bishop about this and asked for a dispensation from Mass, which he would not grant. But, he said that if I didn’t go to Mass, I didn’t have to confess it.

I have tried using very good earplugs before Mass or listening to the Rosary on an MP3 player, to stay focused on something holy. My last resort is to decide in advance, that I will not be able to worship properly. I have sometimes made that decision based on what happened the most recent times I have attended Mass – surely I can’t see the future and what would happen. But, when I go to church, it usually happens that way – very chatty people, and loud too. The bishop questioned how I would have access to the Eucharist. I make the same attempt to attend Mass on a weekday, for that purpose.

Various priests themselves ignore Canon Law and GIRM 45, to tell jokes, etc. before Mass.

Note, that the canons I referred to above, don’t say anything about whether the Blessed Sacrament is in repose in a tabernacle. That’s not what triggers the canon; it’s just being IN the sacred place. It’s all the MORE irritating to me when people are talking, laughing, and so forth when we are in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. Most of the people in my parish are older people, who grew up with the discipline of the nuns in Catholic school, who should know better how to behave in church.

Look up paragraph 1735 in the catechism for other related information.

I believe that the bishop is saying that he wants the obligation to remain for you, but that if your psychological condition causes you against your will to not participate, it will not be mortal sin.

 

[adf417]

Not a set number. It more depends on the person, their circumstance, their needs, etc. It is something that person should listen to the Spirit about, though their local Bishop may be helpful in discerning.
(An LDS bishop is roughly equivalent to a Catholic priest).

No, because subjective means “based on or influenced by personal feelings, tastes, or opinions”. Sin isn’t something a person can decide.

Jane please help me understand how your 1st quote above does not contradict the 2nd quote.

Peace!!!