Visiting other churches

[subject97]

So, I was wondering if it would be acceptable to visit other religions regular church services, just to be able to compare theirs and ours together and also so that I can say, “yeah, i’ve been to * religion’s service here*, still like the Catholic one better.” Of course, I wouldn’t receive their communion if they had it, but I would still say the prayers and sing the songs if they weren’t really bad.

On another note, I went to my cousins sunday service. (it was a whole, “you come to mine, i’ll go to yours” type of thing, but he felt sick later on and didn’t end up going to mass) They’re Unity, which is a strange mixture of a bunch of different religions teachings and new age spiritualism. It was basically just a bunch of motivational speakers saying how you’re your own person and in charge of yourself. I sang their songs and said their prayers (seemed very typical protestant with a strange emphasis on the self.) I also half-heartily participated in a weird “blessing” type thing of the congregations children that reminded me of when I was confirmed, the abbot doing the confirmation had the parishioners lift up their hands in calling the holy spirit (or something like that) My question is do I need to go to confession for participating in this (as i read that going to another religion’s church service could be sinful) I have also received communion twice, so if this is a sin, do I also need to confess receiving communion unworthily?

 

[runningdude]

You did not sin. You just feel uncomfortable because their beliefs conflict so strongly with the truth.

 

[Elisabeth51]

I don’t think you can argue for the truth well unless you know what others believe—I’ve been to Protestant churches even after becoming Catholic, usually with friends. I have been to Synagogue services and Muslim prayer. I think as long as you are strong in your beliefs, it is a good thing to see what others do and think.

 

[cheezey]

I don’t think you can argue for the truth well unless you know what others believe—I’ve been to Protestant churches even after becoming Catholic, usually with friends. I have been to Synagogue services and Muslim prayer. I think as long as you are strong in your beliefs, it is a good thing to see what others do and think.

It was very enlightening (informative wise) when I went to a bar mitvah. The one I attended was nearly an all day affair. Before the party!! It was an education, as it prompted many questions from me as to Jesus’ faith.

 

[truthquester]

I don’t think that visiting other churches is a sin either. I believe that God loves the people in that church as much as He loves the people in your church. In my humble opinion, the only thing that can be considered a sin is if you feel that these people are somehow not “as good as you” and you looked down on them because they were different. Maybe we should be concentrating on what we have in common.

I am not a catholic but I have been welcomed and accepted here and feel fortunate to be so. We can learn so much from each other.

 

[cheezey]

I don’t think that visiting other churches is a sin either. I believe that God loves the people in that church as much as He loves the people in your church. In my humble opinion, the only thing that can be considered a sin is if you feel that these people are somehow not “as good as you” and you looked down on them because they were different. Maybe we should be concentrating on what we have in common.

I am not a catholic but I have been welcomed and accepted here and feel fortunate to be so. We can learn so much from each other.

very well stated. Thank you.

 

[CMatt25]

I don’t think that visiting other churches is a sin either. I believe that God loves the people in that church as much as He loves the people in your church. In my humble opinion, the only thing that can be considered a sin is if you feel that these people are somehow not “as good as you” and you looked down on them because they were different. Maybe we should be concentrating on what we have in common.

I am not a catholic but I have been welcomed and accepted here and feel fortunate to be so. We can learn so much from each other.

Well said. God Himself said where 2 or 3 are gathered in His name, there He is with them. Believers have Him in common and Christians have in common, the One most important of all in the Christian faith, Jesus as Lord and Savior. It is He, New Testament Scripture tells us, Who breaks down walls. And I am glad you have been welcomed and accepted here. Indeed you are fortunate. God bless you on your journey. Peace.

 

[Skye_Ariel]

Nothing wrong with it as long as you remember our beliefs and how convenient that your friend could not go to mass, I would make him keep up his end of the bargain.

 

[DexUK]

It used to be that Catholics were prohibited absolutely from visiting other denominations’ religious services. In this age of ecumenism that is no longer the case, however one should always give very careful consideration to the effect that your actions might have, not least in that taking part in other people’s rituals will give, to the observer, the impression that you are a member of their ‘communion’ or that you might be treating it as morally and theologically on the same level as that of a Catholic one.

This is all a matter of prudential judgement in the circumstances at the time, but I would recommend that on visiting other denominations you shouldn’t really be making overt statements or actions that would imply that you were included in that number. Other than standing up and sitting down when the congregation does (which is a simple matter of manners) I would avoid physical participation - i.e. I wouldn’t be holding my arms up or ‘waving them around’ (if it’s a charismatic/pentecostal type church). One should be obviously an observer rather than a participant, and one should never EVER join in with another church’s eucharist since that has a very special meaning for Catholics - i.e. it is a communion service whereby we give a very clear sign that we are in communion with one another. We cannot and must not (and are told by the Church, on pain of sin, not to) do that with other denominations, as you can only be in one Church, even if the other denominations would let you.

I have attended other denominations’ services before. I will stand up, sit down and show due respect for their reverence, but I am strictly observing and not participating.