Permitted use of the Sanctuary by non-Catholics holding Sunday Services in Catholic Churches

[TheMc]

Aye

Common sense dictates that you don’t use a Baptismal Font as a table.

For something that is supposedly “in the name of ecumenism” one would think there would be some sort of understanding of Catholicism and how sacred we hold everything that one would err on the side of caution and treat the area with the utmost of respect and dignity? I know I don’t walk into places of worship for protestant weddings and treat them like any ol’ building because I’m Catholic and therefore do not hold that the area is a Church. The same thing with LDS Temples. To me most of them are just amazing-looking buildings, but I still respect that they treat them as the place of the Holiest of the Holies don’t do something that migh upset them.

Blind igornance about these types of things is not really an excuse anymore. We live in the world of the internet. If you’re going to use a Catholic Church for your services, especially regularly, would you not educate yourself on where you’re holding your services?

People may get mad at me saying this, but I must say that most of what is called “ecumenism” is a sham. In my old parish, they would have “inter-faith” events. What were these? Protestant events, calling themselves interfaith events. What a sham. Catholics need to be proud of their catholicism, not water it down for everyone around them.

 

[valentino]

No, what’s going on is we’re building a new Cathedral and moving in there at the end of the year. Our Church is too small for the area, so the diocese decided to sell it. We still have possession of it, our collections are going towards the monthly cost of the church, and it’s still a consecrated Catholic Church.

It’s hard to say how our priest would feel about it. He doesn’t exactly treat it as the most holiest place himself. I’m unsure if he even knows about it. The pictures were from a couple years old, but unless anyone from the Church saw what was going on, no one would know about it.

The tabernacle is kept in a side adoration chapel next to the baptismal font. They can get in it, but as long as no one forgot the key in the tabernacle, or on the side table on the altar, they shouldn’t be able to get to the consecrated hosts.

It would be nice to know if there’s some official guidelines for these situations. All I can find are guidelines for concerts. I’m unsure if that includes concert-like church services.

Its probably been deconsecrated since no Catholic services are being held.Your paying rent until the new church takes over the bills.Im surprized that your priest left the font and other items there if he knew he wouldn’t be returning.

 

[Love_Divine]

Its probably been deconsecrated since no Catholic services are being held.Your paying rent until the new church takes over the bills.Im surprized that your priest left the font and other items there if he knew he wouldn’t be returning.

No, we’re not paying rent. We still own it. We have daily Mass and four weekend Masses there every week as well as celebrate the sacraments. THEY’RE the ones who are borrowing it for their Sunday service. It’s still our property until December 1, 2011.

I don’t understand why people are having such a difficult time understanding that It is still a Catholic Church. It has not been deconsecrated yet.

 

[TheMc]

No, we’re not paying rent. We still own it. We have daily Mass and four weekend Masses there every week as well as celebrate the sacraments. THEY’RE the ones who are borrowing it for their Sunday service. It’s still our property until December 1, 2011.

I don’t understand why people are having such a difficult time understanding that It is still a Catholic Church. It has not been deconsecrated yet.

Well then can you remind me why they are using it?

 

[Mrs_Sally]

No, we’re not paying rent. We still own it. We have daily Mass and four weekend Masses there every week as well as celebrate the sacraments. THEY’RE the ones who are borrowing it for their Sunday service. It’s still our property until December 1, 2011.

I don’t understand why people are having such a difficult time understanding that It is still a Catholic Church. It has not been deconsecrated yet.

It sounds like you should ask your pastor. “How are things going with the sale? I ask because I’m worried about how the other group is using the space. I have seen photos on their website of band members drinking coffee on the altar…”

It may be that the agreement is that they can use the sanctuary as an “auditorium” as long as they don’t go into or disturb the tabenacle in the adoration chapel.

 

[valentino]

No, we’re not paying rent. We still own it. We have daily Mass and four weekend Masses there every week as well as celebrate the sacraments. THEY’RE the ones who are borrowing it for their Sunday service. It’s still our property until December 1, 2011.

I don’t understand why people are having such a difficult time understanding that It is still a Catholic Church. It has not been deconsecrated yet.

From all you’ve related it sounds kind of negilent to allow this other church to do what its doing.However the priest obviously knows about it and okays it.I don’t know if the priest’s is actually breaking any Church laws though.

 

[John_Lilburne]

From the Directory on Ecumenism at vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/general-docs/rc_pc_chrstuni_doc_19930325_directory_en.html :

"Sharing Other Resources for Spiritual Life and Activity

1. Catholic churches are consecrated or blessed buildings which have an important theological and liturgical significance for the Catholic community. They are therefore generally reserved for Catholic worship. However, if priests, ministers or communities not in full communion with the Catholic Church do not have a place or the liturgical objects necessary for celebrating worthily their religious ceremonies, the diocesan Bishop may allow them the use of a church or a Catholic building and also lend them what may be necessary for their services. Under similar circumstances, permission may be given to them for interment or for the celebration of services at Catholic cemeteries.
2. Because of developments in society, the rapid growth of population and urbanization, and for financial motives, where there is a good ecumenical relationship and understanding between the communities, the shared ownership or use of church premises over an extended period of time may become a matter of practical interest.
3. When authorization for such ownership or use is given by the diocesan Bishop, according to any norms which may be established by the Episcopal Conference or the Holy See, judicious consideration should be given to the reservation of the Blessed Sacrament, so that this question is resolved on the basis of a sound sacramental theology with the respect that is due, while also taking account of the sensitivities of those who will use the building, e.g., by constructing a separate room or chapel.
4. Before making plans for a shared building, the authorities of the communities concerned should first reach agreement as to how their various disciplines will be observed, particularly in regard to the sacraments. Furthermore, a written agreement should be made which will clearly and adequately take care of all questions which may arise concerning financial matters and the obligations arising from church and civil law."

 

[The_Old_Medic]

If the building has been sold, AND the church that purchased it has the legal right to hold services in that building, then there is absolutely nothing that you, the Bishop or anyone else can do about HOW they choose to use it.

Unless there is a LEGAL AGREEMENT that limits how they can use it, they are free to do virtually anything in that building during their allotted time.

The Church powers that sold the building knew this, when they signed the agreement. This agreement would have had to be approved by the Diocese, so whatever it being done is, in effect, with the approval of the diocese.

You may not like it, but there isn’t a darn thing you, your pastor, and anyone in YOUR church can do about it. You can speak to THEIR Pastor, and if HE feels this is disrespectful, then HE can do something about it.

My parish was in a somewhat similar position. We sold our entire campus to a Baptist Church that was located next door. We made our agreement that they could make changes to the OUTSIDE property, parking lots, etc., but they were NOT allowed to either use, or change anything inside the Church, the parish hall, the rectory, etc.

They deposited the sales price into an escrow account. The interest earned was theirs, the principle was ours. We got a loan, using that escrow account as collateral, and built our new Church, offices, parish hall, etc.