G
gloraykid
Guest
Here’s the situation. My mom (a Catholic) was visiting my sister (fallen away Catholic-attends a protestant church-the UCC). My sister is actually recently separated from her husband and intends on filing for divorce (due to his adultery), and just had minor outpatient surgery (which is why mom was there- to help her with the care of her 3 kids (ages 9, 7 and 4)). My mom decided that it was the more “loving” thing to do to attend my sister’s Sunday service, than to inconvenience my sister to ask her for a ride to the Catholic mass (only 1 car available). Mom was there over 2 Sundays, and she decided to attend my sister’s protestant services both days.
When she told me about this, I told her that she needed to go to confession b/c she missed her Sunday mass obligation, that she could’ve completted both of what she perceived as her “duties” (1).going to mass; and (2) helping my sister control her kids at her church/not inconveniencing my sister] by attending my sister’s service, but also by simply attending mass either on Sat or at another time on Sunday, calling a cab if necessary (she is a rich woman). She took offense, and told me she thought the higher duty was to “sacrifce” for my sister, as she would’ve preferred to go to Mass (esp since it was during lent). I also told Mom I thought it would’ve been a great witness to my sister, who is kind of waivering in her protestant faith (I think she really needs the Eucharist!), In any event, Mom related to me that she DID go to confession (hurray!), but the priest told her that she probably didn’t commit a sin (huh?) The priest told her that such things weren’t so “black and white”… What do I say to her now? I did tell her to look it up in the Catechism, and I sent her an encyclical that talked about how a protestant service could never be a replacement for the Holy Mass, but unfortunately her own pastor told her otherwise. What do you think? God bless.
When she told me about this, I told her that she needed to go to confession b/c she missed her Sunday mass obligation, that she could’ve completted both of what she perceived as her “duties” (1).going to mass; and (2) helping my sister control her kids at her church/not inconveniencing my sister] by attending my sister’s service, but also by simply attending mass either on Sat or at another time on Sunday, calling a cab if necessary (she is a rich woman). She took offense, and told me she thought the higher duty was to “sacrifce” for my sister, as she would’ve preferred to go to Mass (esp since it was during lent). I also told Mom I thought it would’ve been a great witness to my sister, who is kind of waivering in her protestant faith (I think she really needs the Eucharist!), In any event, Mom related to me that she DID go to confession (hurray!), but the priest told her that she probably didn’t commit a sin (huh?) The priest told her that such things weren’t so “black and white”… What do I say to her now? I did tell her to look it up in the Catechism, and I sent her an encyclical that talked about how a protestant service could never be a replacement for the Holy Mass, but unfortunately her own pastor told her otherwise. What do you think? God bless.