Protestant worship

[Eulogos1]

What are the actual rules about attending Protestant worship? I understand one must also attend mass. I know one may not commune there. I converted to Catholicism over 40 years ago and am well educated about doctrinal differences. My husband has not made it all the way to the Church yet and attends a parish of the Anglican Church in North America, a conservative breakaway from the Episcopal Church. May I attend with him, say the liturgical prayers ( many the same ones also approved for use in the Ordinariate) etc? I would like an apologist answer, as precise and official as possible.

 

[Elf01]

For an apologists answer you would be best to ask on the main site linked in the disclaimer.

 

[Eulogos1]

I am having trouble finding where to do that.

 

[OraLabora]

What are the actual rules about attending Protestant worship?

AFAIK there are no specific rules other than making sure you fulfill your Sunday Mass obligation unless you get a dispensation from your pastor for special occasions (say for example attending the baptism of a family member in a ceremony that conflicts with the time of Mass), and refrain from receiving their communion.

You may pray with them inasmuch as the prayers are compatible with the Catholic faith (and most of their liturgical prayers are).

You should of course be firm and well-grounded in your own faith.

I’m in your shoes, my wife is Anglican. I haven’t been to her church in quite a while mind you, as her service conflicts with my Mass, but sometimes go when I can go to an alternate Mass, such as Midnight Mass at Christmas or the Easter Vigil.

 

[Maximilian75]

The old rules of Canon Law in which Catholics could only attend Catholic services no longer exist.

You may go, just make sure to fulfill your Sunday obligation.

While you’re at it, check out Our Lady of Walsingham and see if you can convert your spouse… more and more conservative/High Church Anglicans and Episcopalians are becoming Catholic…

 

[Eulogos1]

Here in the US it would be the Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter. If we lived closer to an Ordinariate parish that might happen. But he is not ready to become Catholic no matter what kind of mass he might have to attend regularly, which means to me that he is not really ready to become Catholic.

 

[Eulogos1]

I was listening last night to utube videos about confession. One included an examination of conscience. I recognized it as tending towards traditionalism ( for instance there was a question whether NFP was used without a grave reason- but let’s not talk about that!). There was a question about attending non-Catholic services with the comment that “we can attend weddings and funerals but may not participate by saying the prayers or singing the songs.” That represents an interpretation of the rule. I would like to know the wording of the law and what an apologist here believes is a reasonable interpretation of it.

 

[Vico]

What are the actual rules about attending Protestant worship? I understand one must also attend mass. I know one may not commune there. I converted to Catholicism over 40 years ago and am well educated about doctrinal differences. My husband has not made it all the way to the Church yet and attends a parish of the Anglican Church in North America, a conservative breakaway from the Episcopal Church. May I attend with him, say the liturgical prayers ( many the same ones also approved for use in the Ordinariate) etc? I would like an apologist answer, as precise and official as possible.

There is an obligation on the part of the Catholic to not give scandal of indifferentism. Ecumenical services are unusual and are not Eucharistic. The Anglicans do not have valid orders per the Catholic Church.
A Catholic will [EDIT:] not fulfill their worship obligation at an Anglican church.

 

[Maximilian75]

I think you left out a ‘not’ in your last sentance

 

[thistle]

What are the actual rules about attending Protestant worship? I understand one must also attend mass. I know one may not commune there. I converted to Catholicism over 40 years ago and am well educated about doctrinal differences. My husband has not made it all the way to the Church yet and attends a parish of the Anglican Church in North America, a conservative breakaway from the Episcopal Church. May I attend with him, say the liturgical prayers ( many the same ones also approved for use in the Ordinariate) etc? I would like an apologist answer, as precise and official as possible.

A Catholic may attend a non-Catholic Christian service for baptisms, weddings and funerals.
They must NOT participate in Communion.
They must NOT attend such a service for the purpose of worship.

 

[1Lord1Faith]

I would like an apologist answer, as precise and official as possible.

Why? Isn’t this an issue between you and your husband? Official answers aren’t designed for the nuances that exist between spouses of different denominations.

Your pastor would be the one who could give you the best answer. He would be able to have a conversation with you about your relationship with your husband, and how that relationship bears on any obligations that the Church puts forth as a norm.

 

[steve-b]

What are the actual rules about attending Protestant worship? I understand one must also attend mass. I know one may not commune there. I converted to Catholicism over 40 years ago and am well educated about doctrinal differences. My husband has not made it all the way to the Church yet and attends a parish of the Anglican Church in North America, a conservative breakaway from the Episcopal Church. May I attend with him, say the liturgical prayers ( many the same ones also approved for use in the Ordinariate) etc? I would like an apologist answer, as precise and official as possible.

Yes, Catholics are required to attend mass on Sundays and other holy days of obligation. If your husband asks why that is, Here is the answer why from scripture What could be done to most improve Sunday Mass attendance? - #293 by steve-b

 

[LoyalViews]

The thing about ACNA is that it is hard to define as Protestant. Anglicanism, itself, is also hard to define as Protestant. You will find, depending on the parish, a close cousin to the Mass we are familiar with. They have all polities, Low, Broad, and High - many have a theology more Catholic than some priests I know.

You should have no fear attending an ACNA service, because they do believe much the same as we do: faith and works, some parishes believe in the real presence, confession, adoration, the Rosary, etc… But at some, you might encounter an evangelical style service - praise and worship, charismatic foolishness, etc - much the same as you might find in the Catholic Church depending on the parish.

You may attend, as long as you fulfil your Sunday obligation, and do not receive communion. Believe it or not, he is one step closer to the Catholic Church since leaving the Episcopal sham.