SHOULD Catholics attend Protestant services?

[SnorterLuster]

I am a cradle Catholic old enough to have been around before Vatican II. I have never attended a Sunday service at a non-Catholic Church. I have attended weddings and funerals at Protestant churches and had the permission of the priest to do so.

I must admit that I have never understood Catholics who are compelled to attend Protestant services. Once I was confirmed, I made my commitment to the Catholic Church for life. Likewise, when I received the Sacrament of Marriage, I made a commitment to God & my wife for life. I quit seeing old girlfriends and I quit dating.

Going to Protestant services seems to me to be like the convert who cannot give up his old girlfriend. She’s comfortable and surely she wouldn’t lead you astray. Likewise, a cradle Catholic who attends Protestant services is like the husband who continues dating. The ole wife is OK, but there might be something better out there.

 

[jbuck919]

Br. Rich SFO:

Communion even if symbolic or otherwise is always a sign of unity (communion) either visible or spiritual. Catholics and protestants do not have visible, doctrinal or spiritual unity. Many Baptist churches require new members to be re-Baptized even if they are moving there from another Baptist congregation.

Thank you brother. I was just waiting for someone to give me a preachy answer.

 

[Anonimous]

SnorterLuster:

Once I was confirmed, I made my commitment to the Catholic Church for life. Likewise, when I received the Sacrament of Marriage, I made a commitment to God & my wife for life. I quit seeing old girlfriends and I quit dating.

WAMO!!! GREAT ANSWER!!! :clapping:
Although I would suggest you take the word “Luster” out of your Username! LOL! Your wife might not be so understanding (unless you’ve been snorting somthing)

Well, that about wraps up this discussion…I suppose the moderators will LOCK IT UP NOW. hehehehehehe

 

[Anonimous]

Ave Maria!:

Ave Maria!
So I would not go to a wedding if it was a Catholic marrying outside of the Church.

THANK YOU AVE MARIA!

You bring up another IMPORTAN POINT…

Many Catholics believe it is OK to attend ANY wedding, because HEY! IT’S A WEDDING…FREE CAKE FREE FOOD RIGHT?

Well usually that’s not the reason (but admit it…it’s part of the reason!) Usually people know family or friends who LEFT THE CHURCH and who are MARRYING OUTSIDE THE CHURCH… Should Catholics attend these “services”???

REMEMBER SCANDAL??? THAT SEVEN-LETTER WORD THAT WE ALL FORGET ABOUT SOMETIMES!!! Plus people today are so worried about hurting someone’s “feelings” that they end up giving scandal or EVEN denying their Faith.

 

[KCT]

Depends . . . last weekend we were in Mississippi for the wedding of a cousin (son of dh’s cousin The father of the groom is a Presbyterian pastor.

On Sunday morning, we went to Mass and then to the groom’s church for their service and lunch afterwards. It was the last get together before everyone flew home.

Do we go to protestant services any other time? No. When we’re wtih dh’s family? Yes, but only after Mass

By the way, those Presbyterians stand and sit and stand and sit almost more often than we Catholics do! —KCT

 

[coyote]

Deo Volente:

Grace & Peace!

To know the ways in which people worship, how they believe and how they practice their belief. The fruit of which is understanding, which understanding, if properly cultivated, can in fact lead to compassion and a growing knowledge of the ways in which we of different faith communities agree and disagree. This may then lead to dialogue rather than knee-jerk condemnation or smug superiority.

Under the Mercy,
Mark

Deo Gratias!

Bless you Mark.
Knowledge and understanding I think is noble reason enough.

I have had to attend non-Catholic services as consequence of my job working with DD adults. I don’t really get the same level of communion at these services and the worship style leaves me wanting. I do not, and am not interested in, participating in the “communion” services.

 

[johntkd]

palmas85:

Unless you are attending a wedding, funeral or some other “special occasion” why would you even want to?

Thats the real question.

I think that question was also answered to see friends and relatives.
But i will add to meet new people,make new Friends the list goes on and on,

But ill add one more, so when you are “cutting down” the other religions its from first hand knowledge instead of hear say…

I have been to services in many different denominations over my lifetime and some of the things i see Catholic say on this board about the other denominations makes me laugh so hard because they are so far off based its not funny…

 

[johntkd]

KCT:

Depends . . . last weekend we were in Mississippi for the wedding of a cousin (son of dh’s cousin The father of the groom is a Presbyterian pastor.

On Sunday morning, we went to Mass and then to the groom’s church for their service and lunch afterwards. It was the last get together before everyone flew home.

Do we go to protestant services any other time? No. When we’re wtih dh’s family? Yes, but only after Mass

By the way, those Presbyterians stand and sit and stand and sit almost more often than we Catholics do! —KCT

same with the Lutheran church I went to a few times.

Last I knew Jesus would associate with anyone anywhere and we are called on to be as much like Jesus as Possible…
to me that means even occasionally going to another denominations services if i feel the urge to,I dont feel its denying anything…

 

[mosher]

johntkd:

same with the Lutheran church I went to a few times.

Last I knew Jesus would associate with anyone anywhere and we are called on to be as much like Jesus as Possible…
to me that means even occasionally going to another denominations services if i feel the urge to,I dont feel its denying anything…

Fortunatley it has nothing to do with feelings but rather with obedience to the Church and the desire to not scandalize those who are weaker in faith than you may be. When it came to the worship of God there is not one instance of Jesus worshiping with the Samaritans but there are many accounts of Him being in the synagogue and temple.

 

[Yerusalyim]

As long as your Sunday obligation is met, and your obligation to Holy Days, and if you’re attending to support a friend, hear an interesting sermon topic, etc, and NOT to convert there is absolutely NO PROBLEM with attending a Protestant worship service, praying with Protestants, etc. Receiving bread during one of their communion services would be wrong.

 

[MaryD7]

For myself, I don’t see it being a problem. My faith and love for the Catholic Church is strong enough that no amount of Protestant church services are going to sway me enough to go back. As for being scandalous … what’s there to be scandalized about? I’m attending a service where the word of God is talked about and I am taking up a seat to listen. I’m not participating in Communion or answering an alter call … I’m just there to attend the service.

In my eyes, there are many more scandalous places I could go.

I also feel that if I went to a Protestant church, it would most likely be with my family. I want to be able to show them that I didn’t grow two heads since I turned Catholic but I believe enough in my RC faith that I won’t sway in my convictions. By my being willing to enter into their house of worship then I hope that they would enter into mine and maybe begin to understand why I have the love that I have for the Catholic faith.

And to be honest, I think my approach is working because my 81 year old father, a lifelong Protestant recently said to me, “I think you Catholics got it right. Nothing sways your church from what they think is right.” At first, I about dropped my teeth, but then said a silent prayer of thanks.

 

[johntkd]

MaryD7:

For myself, I don’t see it being a problem. My faith and love for the Catholic Church is strong enough that no amount of Protestant church services are going to sway me enough to go back. As for being scandalous … what’s there to be scandalized about? I’m attending a service where the word of God is talked about and I am taking up a seat to listen. I’m not participating in Communion or answering an alter call … I’m just there to attend the service.

In my eyes, there are many more scandalous places I could go.

I also feel that if I went to a Protestant church, it would most likely be with my family. I want to be able to show them that I didn’t grow two heads since I turned Catholic but I believe enough in my RC faith that I won’t sway in my convictions. By my being willing to enter into their house of worship then I hope that they would enter into mine and maybe begin to understand why I have the love that I have for the Catholic faith.

And to be honest, I think my approach is working because my 81 year old father, a lifelong Protestant recently said to me, “I think you Catholics got it right. Nothing sways your church from what they think is right.” At first, I about dropped my teeth, but then said a silent prayer of thanks.

Excellent post exactly what i wanted to say but couldnt find words that spounded good last night…
John

 

[Katie1723]

As a show of support for my BF, I accompany him to his church. I sit respectfully. And like the previous poster said, my faith is strong enough that sitting there with him won’t sway me. He knows that and I know that.
Kathy

 

[SnorterLuster]

I have to respectfully disagree with the last few posters. The point of not attending Protestant services is not about you converting, it is about the people that look up to you.

You may have a neighbor, nephew, or cousin who look up to you because of the way you live your Catholic faith. You may inspire them to investigate Catholicism or to lead a holier life because of your example. When they see you attending other services, they could well conclude that being or believing Catholic is not that important. Our actions speak volumes about what we believe. I believe the Catholic Church is the one, true Church. Me attending other church services could sure lead one to observe that I don’t really believe that, or I wouldn’t attend the other services.

 

[MaryD7]

SnorterLuster:

I have to respectfully disagree with the last few posters. The point of not attending Protestant services is not about you converting, it is about the people that look up to you.

You may have a neighbor, nephew, or cousin who look up to you because of the way you live your Catholic faith. You may inspire them to investigate Catholicism or to lead a holier life because of your example. When they see you attending other services, they could well conclude that being or believing Catholic is not that important. Our actions speak volumes about what we believe. I believe the Catholic Church is the one, true Church. Me attending other church services could sure lead one to observe that I don’t really believe that, or I wouldn’t attend the other services.

If my neighbor, nephew, or cousin look up to me because of the way I live my Catholic faith then I would then assume that they know me and my background. I would also assume that they would know me well enough to ask me what I was doing. And I would say that out of respect for my father, sisters, whatever, that I attended a service. They would know by the way I live my life that I am not straddling both fences.

SnorterLuster:

…I must admit that I have never understood Catholics who are compelled to attend Protestant services. Once I was confirmed, I made my commitment to the Catholic Church for life. Likewise, when I received the Sacrament of Marriage, I made a commitment to God & my wife for life. I quit seeing old girlfriends and I quit dating.

Going to Protestant services seems to me to be like the convert who cannot give up his old girlfriend. She’s comfortable and surely she wouldn’t lead you astray. Likewise, a cradle Catholic who attends Protestant services is like the husband who continues dating. The ole wife is OK, but there might be something better out there.

Given this scenario, if your father respectfully asked you to attend an event that you knew that your old girlfriend would be attending also, would you not go because she was going to be there? I would think that it wouldn’t make a difference since your heart belongs to another. It’s the same with me and my Catholic faith. My heart belongs to the Church … I know it and God knows it.

 

[palmas85]

I will point out something here that many people either do not realize or don’t want to admit. A lot, not all but a lot of Protestants don’t believe that the Catholic Church is even Christian and is really a cult. If you do a google search on anti Catholic apologists you will find literally thousands of sites that specialize in attacking the Catholic faith.

While you who choose to go to a Protestant service may see yourself as being compassionate, caring and setting a good example for them to emulate, they don’t see it that way at all.

They see you as being weak, indecisive and not believing your own churches theology. As a general rule,most of them would not even consider coming to the Mass, which by the way they see as being an abomination and totally unsupported by scripture, and the fact that you, the Catholic , attends their service shows them that the Mass itself is not serving your spiritual needs. If it did, why would you go to their church? Why compromise your beliefs? At least that is how they see it.

Now I’m not talking about the secular Protestants, the ones who like the secular Catholic among us, show up at Church one day a week, or a month or a year and then promptly forget about it until the next time they decide to make an appearance… Since religion is of secondary importance to them they would consider it to mean exactly the same thing to you, next to nothing, so where you go doesn’t really make a difference. They are also the ones who will normally tell you they don’t need to go to church because they carry their church in their heart. A lot of Catholics say that too by the way. No I’m speaking about the hardline protestants who go to church every week and practice their faith.

And yes i know there are those out there who will say that is not the case, that I’m wrong, that I am not ecumenically minded etc etc. Fine, check it out. Don’t take my word for it. Look around, do the research, and then come back and tell me that I’m wrong…

 

[MaryD7]

Palmas, I do understand what you are saying but the way my life is I just don’t see it being a problem. I live in New York City. My parish is a half a block away. I’m in and out of there all the time. I am sure that if someone saw me entering a Protestant church no one would think twice about it. They are part of our landscape and community here. They have preschools that parishioners use. They have afterschool programs for the kids. It’s not a big deal. In fact, I know Protestants are involved in some of our community activities.

My family lives far away from me, dispersed across the country. If I go to visit them and they ask me to attend one of their services I will go. No one knows me and I honestly don’t know why they would ever think to question what background I came from. I am so & so’s sister, daughter, etc. I don’t have a big RC etched on my forehead so unless they knew of my background somehow, it really shouldn’t be on anybody’s radar. And if it was, so what? I’ll answer any and all questions (at least try to) that they have.

I come from a background where Catholics were considered bad but we also didn’t know any. Surprise, surprise that when I finally met some they weren’t bad and they were open to discussion with me. I didn’t come to the Catholic Church out of the blue. It was because of the example, time, and tutoring of these wonderful people in my life that I was led to the Church. If we segregate ourselves from the world then how are we suppose to reach out to others?

 

[palmas85]

MaryD7:

Palmas, I do understand what you are saying but the way my life is I just don’t see it being a problem. I live in New York City. My parish is a half a block away. I’m in and out of there all the time. I am sure that if someone saw me entering a Protestant church no one would think twice about it. They are part of our landscape and community here. They have preschools that parishioners use. They have afterschool programs for the kids. It’s not a big deal. In fact, I know Protestants are involved in some of our community activities.

My family lives far away from me, dispersed across the country. If I go to visit them and they ask me to attend one of their services I will go. No one knows me and I honestly don’t know why they would ever think to question what background I came from. I am so & so’s sister, daughter, etc. I don’t have a big RC etched on my forehead so unless they knew of my background somehow, it really shouldn’t be on anybody’s radar. And if it was, so what? I’ll answer any and all questions (at least try to) that they have.

I come from a background where Catholics were considered bad but we also didn’t know any. Surprise, surprise that when I finally met some they weren’t bad and they were open to discussion with me. I didn’t come to the Catholic Church out of the blue. It was because of the example, time, and tutoring of these wonderful people in my life that I was led to the Church. If we segregate ourselves from the world then how how we suppose to reach out to others?

You don’t reach out by going to their services and by so doing compromising your own beliefs. I have been invited many times to protestant churches over the years. It was never for a social occasion, never just to hear the preaching. Nope, the reason was to get me into the church and conversely out of the Catholic church. And I can appreciate that. I was touched that they cared enough about my soul to invite me. They were honest in their concern. And to put it bluntly if I invited someone who was not a Catholic to the Mass, I would certainly hope that he or she would want to join the Church and would do everything I could to bring them over to the faith.

And I really hate to say this but you reach out to others by living your faith and demonstrating it to them and exposing them to it. Not by denigrating it and ignoring it in misguided attempts to show respect to them and their faith.

 

[Talitha]

When I first came to Ireland around 4 years ago, the first priest I spoke with about becoming RC and yet being able to receive Communion in an Anglican Church told me about a member of the Irish government having caused an outcry by doing just that. He was a young priest;in his own word, " It doesn’t matter if y ou are RC or Anglican. It is your lifestyle that matters".
The second priest in the parish where I still live said also that it didn’t matter. Both welcomed me at Mass and for Communion. When I asked him specifically about being still able to receive Communion in an Anglican Church, he said that all I would have to do was to go to the Bishop and to tell him that I would find it a " burden" not to be able to do this and that the Bishop would them give his permission.
This was an older priest; a lecturer in theology at a leading Irish university. I assume he knows Canon Law. In America now.

 

[MaryD7]

palmas85:

And I really hate to say this but you reach out to others by living your faith and demonstrating it to them and exposing them to it. Not by denigrating it and ignoring it in misguided attempts to show respect to them and their faith.

I really think that you missed my whole point of view of things. I never deny nor disrespect my faith. If you think that by my going to a church is somehow denying and disrespecting my faith then so be it. That is your point of view. I know that this is not the case.

If I am with family sometimes being charitable, open and respectful is enough demonstration of my beliefs.

And, by the way, are they being disrespectful to their beliefs by attending Mass with me? I don’t think so. God will lead them where they are to be. I am where I am supposed to be.