Should I go to my friend's confirmation in the Episcopal Church?

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If you click on this link Can a priest give permission to have communion at an Episcopal church one time??? , you’ll see that Fr Serpa told me that it is a big no no to even think about having communion in an Episcopal church, and that any priest worth his salt would not OK it. So, I guess that idea is out, and I won’t approach my parish priest.

So, is it wrong to attend this event? My friend is a wonderful gal who has found a lot of solace in the Episcopal church, and for whatever reason, doesn’t seek out the Catholic church. I’ve never discussed the matter, as she is a work friend with whom I only occasionally socialize with out of work.

So, should I consider going?
 
If your friend is not and never has been a Catholic, then why wouldn’t you attend this event which is a reflection of her growing love for God. I’ve heard that one of the best ways to bring someone all the way home to Rome is to encourage them on their own faith journey towards God. The Holy Spirit will do the work of converting their heart if they remain open to His work.

Keep her in your prayers and perhaps give her a beautiful book of prayers or spiritual thoughts for her confirmation gift. Something that is ecumenical in nature, but with a Catholic origin.

CARose
 
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CARose:
If your friend is not and never has been a Catholic, then why wouldn’t you attend this event which is a reflection of her growing love for God. I’ve heard that one of the best ways to bring someone all the way home to Rome is to encourage them on their own faith journey towards God. The Holy Spirit will do the work of converting their heart if they remain open to His work.

Keep her in your prayers and perhaps give her a beautiful book of prayers or spiritual thoughts for her confirmation gift. Something that is ecumenical in nature, but with a Catholic origin.

CARose
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Well said - Joe
 
By all means go!

DO NOT do the following though (they often contain herisey):
Sing any songs.
Partake in any part of the ritual/worship service.
Take their ‘unbiblical’ communion.
DO NOT TITHE to them during the collection.

Pray with them but only make the sign of the cross if the prayer is herisy free. (When I attended a Baptist schism church my friends would look after the preachers prayer to see I ‘signed’ myself to show my agreement with his prayers. I often explained the herisey in the preachers prayers when they asked or smiled at me for this)

Show your friend support and be happy for her. They are Christian too and Jesus did come to save the sinners - or is that all of us;) . But, if she asks, share your Faith with her and let her see your light. Someday she may shed the scales from her eyes and come home to the Catholic Church, Christs body. I came home so there is hope for her too.

If you don’t show your light in the darkness, how will others ‘see’ it? Go to the service! Enjoy yourself and see what we have in common too.
 
It should be put into perspective. My parents were in a “mixed marriage”. In 1947 they had to get permission from the archbishop of New Orleans to get married. My mother was RC and my father was Protestant. My father’s father (my grandfather) had been raised RC but he married my grandmother who was Protestant and divorced. This was a huge issue in 1918. My father had to agree that any children would be raised Catholic. We were.

When my grandmother died in 1967 we had to petition our parish priest to be allowed to attend her memorial service. We did. We don’t need such permission now. I was a member of our cathedral choir for over 18 yrs. One of our choristers married an Episcopalian and the choir sang at their wedding. Our rector (pastor of a cathedral parish) con-celebrated their marriage. They may not be united with us, but they are still our brothers and sisters in Christ. You are there as an observer not a particpant.
 
go. do what your conscience dictates, and have a good time. and if there’s a little party afterward, be sure to enjoy some of those nice cucumber sandwiches.
 
So, I’m very surprised at the, thus far, unanimous support for my attending this event. I figured that folks would be more against it. I’m considering strongly going. Do you think I should explain to my friend about the no communion rule before hand? But, I imagine I’ll be sitting apart from her and she won’t really know about that.

I think I’ll drive separately if I go. It’s about 200 miles to Spokane. We can go on Saturday and check out the Catholic Cathedral for the vigil Mass, then go to my friend’s ceremony.

How’s that sound?
 
I wouldn’t even bother mentioning the communion thing, that’s a personal decision. The only time you’d need to say anything would be if you invited her to attend a catholic Mass, and then you’d want to explain why it would be inappropriate for her to receive communion.

In the meantime, I wouldn’t bring it up. But that’s just my personal opinion. I’d be open to hearing from others.

CARose
 
Don’t mention the communion thing, it may only cause problems, it is her event, don’t draw the attention onto yourself.

Have fun.
 
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WhiteDove:
The Catholic Cathedral of Spokane has a nice site…

http://www.cathedralourladyoflourdes.org/images/navchurch.jpg

Our Lady of Lourdes Cathedral, Spokane, WA

Here is the Episcopal Cathedral…

http://www.stjohns-cathedral.org/images/visitors1_1.jpg

The Cathedral of Saint John the Evangelist Cathedral Church of the Episcopal Diocese of Spokane
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Hey, go and pray for the young woman that she may eventually come Home to Rome. As for bringing up the disparity on Communion, you’d have to gauge the situation. If you are around the friend and she would likely notice, you may want to say something or even wait until later if it comes up. Good to see you have Mass arranged at the Vigil. We may even run into each other anonymously as my family normally attends the Cathedral Saturday evenings due to my fiance’s work as a NAC. Thanks and God Bless.
 
As a Protestant, I’ve been in a few situations where I could not be communed by other Protestants. I went forward, during commuion, and received a blessing. Would this be permissible for a Catholic at a Protestant worship service?
 
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WhiteDove:
So, I’m very surprised at the, thus far, unanimous support for my attending this event. I figured that folks would be more against it. I’m considering strongly going. Do you think I should explain to my friend about the no communion rule before hand? But, I imagine I’ll be sitting apart from her and she won’t really know about that.

I think I’ll drive separately if I go. It’s about 200 miles to Spokane. We can go on Saturday and check out the Catholic Cathedral for the vigil Mass, then go to my friend’s ceremony.

How’s that sound?
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Episcopalians are supposed to have closed communion. They understand why Catholics cannot receive. A knowledgeable Episcopalian will think you are ignorant of your own faith if you receive.

Indeed, if your friend has never been Catholic, then by all means share this important event with her.
 
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savone:
As a Protestant, I’ve been in a few situations where I could not be communed by other Protestants. I went forward, during commuion, and received a blessing. Would this be permissible for a Catholic at a Protestant worship service?
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Receiving a “blessing” would create the appearance of affirming the authority of that denomination. A Catholic could not in good conscience participate in creating such confusion, even if the intent were to affirm the common brotherhood we all share as believers in Jesus Christ.
 
In a Protestant church, it is very unlikely that everyone will go forward to recieve communion…We Methodists, for example, have a majority who do, but there are others who don’t. Nobody thinks anything of it–& unlike the Episcopal church, we have open communion. You won’t stand out as not recieving & it will not appear as rude or anything…I wouldn’t worry about that part of it at all.
 
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mercygate:
Episcopalians are supposed to have closed communion. They understand why Catholics cannot receive. A knowledgeable Episcopalian will think you are ignorant of your own faith if you receive.

Indeed, if your friend has never been Catholic, then by all means share this important event with her.
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Episcopalians don’t have “closed communion.” Any baptized Christian is welcome to participate.

The term “open communion” is a bit of a misnomer. United Methodists don’t have “open communion” in the sense that “y’all come.” An invitation is given first: “Christ our Lord invites to his table all who love him, who earnestly repent of their sin and seek to live in peace with one another. Therefore, let us confess our sin before God and one another.” And a prayer of confession is prayed, a pardon is given, and then the peace is passed.

Anyone who does not respond to the invitation; that is, does not love Christ, does not repent of their sin nor want to live in peace with others, would not be invited. I don’t think they’d be tackled by a eucharistic bouncer, but I think it’s a misnomer to say that we have “open” communion.

From This Holy Mystery, an official document of the United Methodist Church:
All who respond in faith to the invitation are to be welcomed. Holy Baptism normally precedes partaking of Holy Communion. Holy Communion is a meal of the community who are in covenant relationship with God through Jesus Christ. As circumcision was the sign of the covenant between God and the Hebrew people, baptism is the sign of the new covenant (Genesis 17:9-14; Exodus 24:1-12; Jeremiah 31:31; Romans 6:1-11; Hebrews 9:15).
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O+
 
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