Thoughts on taking the kids to Episcopalian mass?

[Peter_J]

What is interesting is that Catholics make up the highest number of converts to the Episcopal Church, so I understand.

I think the more important question is: do Episcopalians seek to proselytize Catholics? I’m not 100% certain, but I believe the answer is No, at least in terms of official policy (a church/denomination can’t be expected to have every single member follow its rules), just as Catholic do not (at least in terms of official policy) proselytize Episcopalians/Anglicans (and yes, I am including Anglicanorum Coetibus).

 

[QNDNNDQDCE]

On another point- I don’t see how anyone who professes the Trinity, declares that God is omnipresent, omnipotent and omniscient, worships Jesus Christ as God, believes in His Resurrection, etc- which just about all Protestants do- can be sinning against the First Commandment, but whatever…

He is referring to the fact that they do not have a valid Eucharist. If they are adoring the sacrament as Christ, they are in fact only adoring a piece of bread! Baptists, for example, would say the same thing about both Catholics and real-presence-believing Anglicans. Somehow, I think even if someone were mistaken about the real presence in a particular instance, God would understand their good intentions and it would not be imputed as sin.

 

[Peter_J]

**This is outdated information. **One priest’s examination of conscience from the 1920’s is not the same thing as current canon law, after all. What may have been forbidden under the old canon law may be permissible under the new.

Hi. I’m glad that I wasn’t the only one who noticed that sin-to-attend-an-Episcopal-liturgy idea that was being promoted here. However, I think “outdated” could be misleading … After all, one priest’s opinion back in the 1920s doesn’t mean that he was correct in the 1920s either.

 

[Della]

Hi. I’m glad that I wasn’t the only one who noticed that sin-to-attend-an-Episcopal-liturgy idea that was being promoted here. However, I think “outdated” could be misleading … After all, one priest’s opinion back in the 1920s doesn’t mean that he was correct in the 1920s either.

Indeed. This was and is a matter of discipline, not of doctrine, so canon law regarding this, and many other issues, have been/can be/are changed as the Magisterium sees fit. I believe the latest canon was promulgated in 1983? Anyway, the discipline (with the limitations I cited) no longer exists which forbade Catholics from attending Protestant services. I’m not a canon lawyer nor can I quote the exact citation, but I thought since the poster made the statement that this was still in effect, it is up to him to provide the proper current documentation rather than citing one priests’ examination of conscience from 1923.

 

[Credo_in_Deum]

Indeed. This was and is a matter of discipline, not of doctrine, so canon law regarding this, and many other issues, have been/can be/are changed as the Magisterium sees fit. I believe the latest canon was promulgated in 1983? Anyway, the discipline (with the limitations I cited) no longer exists which forbade Catholics from attending Protestant services. I’m not a canon lawyer nor can I quote the exact citation, but I thought since the poster made the statement that this was still in effect, it is up to him to provide the proper current documentation rather than citing one priests’ examination of conscience from 1923.

No, need. I have looked this up further and acknowledge that the current canon is not the same and does indeed allow Catholics to be at Protestant services but to not partake in their communion services. Thank you for your correction and patience.

I still doubt that a preschooler would have enough knowledge to be able to know the differences between the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and an Episcopalian service. I also still hold the opinion that it is a bad idea to join in such services even though it is permitted.

God Bless

 

[EvangelCatholic]

No, need. I have looked this up further and acknowledge that the current canon is not the same and does indeed allow Catholics to be at Protestant services but to not partake in their communion services. Thank you for your correction and patience.

I still doubt that a preschooler would have enough knowledge to be able to know the differences between the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and an Episcopalian service. I also still hold the opinion that it is a bad idea to join in such services even though it is permitted.

God Bless

And yet Francis and many popes before him have worshiped with Anglicans

 

[Credo_in_Deum]

And yet Francis and many popes before him have worshiped with Anglicans

And by canon law they can do this. I on the other hand would not because I believe it gives the impression that these Churches are equal. I think this “ecumenism” leads to scandals like the one in Houston where the Catholic Co-Cathedral was used to host the ordination of a woman Bishop.

 

[EvangelCatholic]

And by canon law they can do this. I on the other hand would not because I believe it gives the impression that these Churches are equal. I think this “ecumenism” leads to scandals like the one in Houston where the Catholic Co-Cathedral was used to host the ordination of a woman Bishop.

So you don’t follow the example of the holy Father?

 

[SyroMalankara]

Don’t forget that with Episcopalians, one can get any of the spectrum or any combination, from extremely liberal gay-marriage, female episcopacy, types to Evangelical denouncing ‘Mass’ as pagan nonsense (Sydney Anglican types) to High-church female presider types to all-Christians are equal types AND any combination of one or all.

There’s a bishop in Portland who came out of the Anglican branch of the “Church of South India”, which is a Union Church of various protestant bodies from Episcopalian to Bretheran and Presbyterian and others - none of which were ‘reordained’ nor forced to comply with the customs of the “Church of England”, some still claim their non-Anglican protestant roots. SO while the “Dutch Touch” may have leaned toward the Anglo-Catholic succession, the pendulum is so far the other way, the “Dutch Touch” is practically meaningless as far as Catholics and Orthodox are concerned.

 

[GKC]

Don’t forget that with Episcopalians, one can get any of the spectrum or any combination, from extremely liberal gay-marriage, female episcopacy, types to Evangelical denouncing ‘Mass’ as pagan nonsense (Sydney Anglican types) to High-church female presider types to all-Christians are equal types AND any combination of one or all.

There’s a bishop in Portland who came out of the Anglican branch of the “Church of South India”, which is a Union Church of various protestant bodies from Episcopalian to Bretheran and Presbyterian and others - none of which were ‘reordained’ nor forced to comply with the customs of the “Church of England”, some still claim their non-Anglican protestant roots. SO while the “Dutch Touch” may have leaned toward the Anglo-Catholic succession, the pendulum is so far the other way, the “Dutch Touch” is practically meaningless as far as Catholics and Orthodox are concerned.

Motley Episcopalians are certainly, it is true. But in fairness one must also include in the mix those Episcopalians who are true Anglo-Catholics, with orthodox understanding of the concepts of Orders, and of other doctrinal points. A vanishing breed, but not yet gone.

The Dutch Touch is an interesting concept, oft discussed here. Whatever it might mean, with respect to Anglican Orders (per the logic in Ott, p. 548), I know of no pronouncement on the subject from the RCC.

GKC

 

[PJM]

=trryan5;11874633]I have two preschool-age children who attend an Episcopal school, because there are no Catholic preschools in my area. It’s a good school and even though affiliated with the Episcopal Church, it’s really more of a non-denominational Christian school. The director is Catholic, actually.

My daughter asked me if we could go to mass at the Episcopal church some day, mostly just because she’s curious how it differs from our mass.

I went to an Episcopalian mass once before. It was a tiny rural town with only two churches: Catholic and Episcopal. The pastors decided to promote interfaith dialogue by inviting the congregations to attend the other church one weekend, and I went. Their mass was more different from ours than I expected, but there was nothing I found surprising.

I’ve been thinking of taking the kids to the Episcopal church just to let them experience a different form of Christianity.

Anybody have any thoughts or suggestions? Good or bad idea? Any conversation points for before or after mass?

As a dad, granddad and GREAT granddad, IMO, NOT a good idea, WHY?

You have here what is often called a “Teaching momnet” opportunity.

NOW is the time to teach and instill in your kids that

There is BUT One True God

Who can and DOES have just One True Faith

And Founded only One True Church

Mt. 16:15-19
Eph. 2: 19-20
Eph. 4:1-7
John 10:16
John 17:13-22
Mk. 16:14-15
Mt. 28:18-20

All clarify and support this position.

From our Catholic catechism
2223 Parents have the first responsibility for the education of their children. They bear witness to this responsibility first by creating a home where tenderness, forgiveness, respect, fidelity, and disinterested service are the rule. The home is well suited for education in the virtues. This requires an apprenticeship in self-denial, sound judgment, and self-mastery - the preconditions of all true freedom. Parents should teach their children to subordinate the “material and instinctual dimensions to interior and spiritual ones.” Parents have a grave responsibility to give good example to their children. By knowing how to acknowledge their own failings to their children, parents will be better able to guide and correct them:

He who loves his son will not spare the rod. . . . He who disciplines his son will profit by him. Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord

2226 Education in the faith by the parents should begin in the child’s earliest years. This already happens when family members help one another to grow in faith by the witness of a Christian life in keeping with the Gospel. Family catechesis precedes, accompanies, and enriches other forms of instruction in the faith. Parents have the mission of teaching their children to pray and to discover their vocation as children of God. The parish is the Eucharistic community and the heart of the liturgical life of Christian families; it is a privileged place for the catechesis of children and parents.

2222 Parents must regard their children as children of God and respect them as human persons. Showing themselves obedient to the will of the Father in heaven, they educate their children to fulfill God’s law.

God Bless all of you,

Patrick

 

[Della]

No, need. I have looked this up further and acknowledge that the current canon is not the same and does indeed allow Catholics to be at Protestant services but to not partake in their communion services. Thank you for your correction and patience.

No problem. I’ve been corrected on CAF, too and been happy to learn what’s what, as well. :tiphat:

I still doubt that a preschooler would have enough knowledge to be able to know the differences between the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and an Episcopalian service. I also still hold the opinion that it is a bad idea to join in such services even though it is permitted.

God Bless

The OP’s daughter asked her dad about it, so he was wanting to know if taking her would be a good idea. He later rethought about it and said that she may only have been curious at the time and has no real interest, so he was going to wait to see if she still wanted to go, as I recall. Threads can move so fast, it can be hard to keep track!

Anyway, I wouldn’t attend unless it was a family event or for some really good reason, either. It can send the wrong message, especially to the weak in faith.