Visiting Protestant churches?

[Monica4316]

Hi
I think I must have asked this question so many times… but I keep on getting different answers, and I can’t figure out what the truth is…

I read a canon from 1917 that said that worshipping in a non Catholic church leads to excommunication… is that canon still in place??

I was invited to visit a Protestant church (once), and I was wondering if it would be wrong for me to go… it’s not for a wedding or a funeral… if I fulfill my Sunday obligation at a Catholic Church, and don’t *actively *participate in the Protestant church, (rather just observe) - would that be a sin? would I be excommunicated? is ‘passive’ participation allowed?

thanks

 

[FirstCalled]

I don’t know if you’d be breaking Canon Law but realize that their purpose is to evangelize YOU by having you attend their “service.”

 

[GetToMass]

I can’t speak definatively on this, but I would say are you attending to “worship” ? or are you attending to be friend and to help dialog with your friend about the Catholic faith.

Weddings and Funerals are a different story I think. Although I would not attend a Wedding of a known Catholic in a Protestant parish without the Catholic Church having and official at that service.

I believe the cannon is there so that you don’t think you can fulfill your Sunday obligation at a Protestant service and if you truly "worshiped’ at a Protestant service you could cause scandal hence the need for the cannon in my opinion. I look forward to seeing what others write.

God Bless,
John 6:54
www.GetToMass.com

 

[FirstCalled]

Stumbling on this baby will make me think twice about paraphrasing Church documents…
Can. 1391 The following can be punished with a just penalty according to the gravity of the delict:

1/ a person who produces a false public ecclesiastical document, who changes, destroys, or conceals an authentic one, or who uses a false or altered one;

 

[ConstantineTG]

You can attend as an observer or if you know someone who is receiving baptism or getting married. But you cannot be a participant, except maybe in marriage and with proper dispensation.

I was at a Pentecostal church once because a friend invited me to a “Filipino gathering”. Well, surely everyone there was Filipino except for an American Caucasian who apparently is a minster/missionary who has spent considerable time in the Philippines. So I stayed because I can’t say no for free food, besides, it was indeed a gathering. Then they moved to the church proper and the minister/missionary told his stories. So I stayed because I was curious what he did in the Philippines (convert fallen away Catholics, what else). Then sometime later he raised his hands and started shaking, “I FEEL THE HOLY SPIRIT COMING UPON ME!!!” My and my wife looked at one another and both said, “okay, its time to go.”

 

[FirstCalled]

Found this response on yahoo answers that’s pretty good.

============================================
Wait a second - why would a Catholic want to attend a Protestant worship service?

Every Catholic, under pain of sin, must fulfill his Sunday obligation by attending Mass where Christ is physically present in the Eucharist, where prayers are offered for the living and the dead and where reparation is made for sin.

Catholicism is a religion based on divine, infallible teaching; therefore each Catholic is logically a possessor of the Truth in its fullness.

So WHY would a Catholic seek to worship elsewhere? No one mentioned here the confusion and doubt that might arise due to heretical doctrines taught in many Protestant churches. Furthermore, a Catholic at a Protestant worship service sends the message that there is something lacking at Holy Mass, and this is a terrible witness to others.

We should be inviting Protestants to Mass, not acting like all worship services are “on equal terms.”

Now, having said all this, there are a “few” exceptions to this, such as attending weddings and baptisms, or in the very rare case, having to attend a Protestant church while out of town because there is absolutely NO Catholic or Orthodox Church in the vicinity.

And I know some Catholics and Protestants study the bible together, but this should be done outside of church. Again, the Catholic should never give the impression that they are seeking infallible truth in other denominations. The Catholic Church alone possesses the fullness of truth.

Pax Vobiscum+

 

[MarkThompson]

Stumbling on this baby will make me think twice about paraphrasing Church documents…
Can. 1391 The following can be punished with a just penalty according to the gravity of the delict:

1/ a person who produces a false public ecclesiastical document, who changes, destroys, or conceals an authentic one, or who uses a false or altered one;

That’s a canon about forging or falsifying Church documents. It would apply if, for instance, you were a publisher licensed to print the Missal, and you surreptitiously inserted material of your own into the text. This doesn’t cover run-of-the-mill internet misinterpretations or misrepresentation of what some document on the Vatican’s website says.

 

[ConstantineTG]

That’s a canon about forging or falsifying Church documents. It would apply if, for instance, you were a publisher licensed to print the Missal, and you surreptitiously inserted material of your own into the text. This doesn’t cover run-of-the-mill internet misinterpretations or misrepresentation of what some document on the Vatican’s website says.

Imagine if it did. I wonder how many of us here are already excommunicated

 

[Lutheranteach]

Found this response on yahoo answers that’s pretty good.

============================================
Wait a second - why would a Catholic want to attend a Protestant worship service?

Every Catholic, under pain of sin, must fulfill his Sunday obligation by attending Mass where Christ is physically present in the Eucharist, where prayers are offered for the living and the dead and where reparation is made for sin.

Catholicism is a religion based on divine, infallible teaching; therefore each Catholic is logically a possessor of the Truth in its fullness.

So WHY would a Catholic seek to worship elsewhere? No one mentioned here the confusion and doubt that might arise due to heretical doctrines taught in many Protestant churches. Furthermore, a Catholic at a Protestant worship service sends the message that there is something lacking at Holy Mass, and this is a terrible witness to others.

We should be inviting Protestants to Mass, not acting like all worship services are “on equal terms.”

Now, having said all this, there are a “few” exceptions to this, such as attending weddings and baptisms, or in the very rare case, having to attend a Protestant church while out of town because there is absolutely NO Catholic or Orthodox Church in the vicinity.

And I know some Catholics and Protestants study the bible together, but this should be done outside of church. Again, the Catholic should never give the impression that they are seeking infallible truth in other denominations. The Catholic Church alone possesses the fullness of truth.

Pax Vobiscum+

Why would a Catholic go to a protestant church?

1. Because they were invited and wish to be friendly
2. Because they wanted to understand their friend or neighbor better
3. Because they had to for class
4. Because their neighbor was singing a solo in the choir that day and was nervous about it
   I think worship in a protestant church for a Catholic is still worship, but I don’t feel it should take the place of mass in a Catholic’s life. I can’t think of anything I’ve heard said during a Lutheran service that would be of issue. All the Catholics I’ve ever had visit church with me have always remarked that it was so similar — that there were just some things missing.

 

[hansard]

You can visit any church as long as you don’t worship there.
If the Pope can visit a Mosque in Jordan and a Synagogue in Rome, the rank and file can hardly be criticized for peeking their head through the door of the local Anglican church, or indeed, for walking inside and greeting the Reverend.

 

[roveau]

I don’t think it is wrong to visit Protestant churches for a whole number of reasons, some of which Lutheranteach lists. I feel strong enough in my Catholic faith not to be converted to the Protestant faith just by walking into a church or even a service.

The Catholic Church often co-operates with Protestant churches. We have had major debates held by the Anglican and Catholic churches in our part of the country, hosted by the bishops.

When travelling in northern Europe I visited scores of Protestant cathedrals/churches - most of which were once Catholic.

I have to admit that I love many of the traditional Protestant hymns, all of the ones I know and sing are compatable with the Catholic church - mainly because they are bible based or in praise of God.

 

[Monica4316]

thanks for the replies everyone…

maybe i should clarify, the person who invited me is not Protestant, and they’re NOT looking to convert to Protestantism, they just want to visit once to listen to the music at a Protestant church. They asked me to go with them, for company. Would this be wrong, if I don’t actively participate and just watch? (ie: don’t sing along)

 

[FirstCalled]

Most of that stuff you can find at a Life Teen parish, see if there’s one in your area.

 

[ConstantineTG]

thanks for the replies everyone…

maybe i should clarify, the person who invited me is not Protestant, and they’re NOT looking to convert to Protestantism, they just want to visit once to listen to the music at a Protestant church. They asked me to go with them, for company. Would this be wrong, if I don’t actively participate and just watch? (ie: don’t sing along)

Actually, that is what the Church expects of you in such situations. That you just watch and not actively participate.

 

[Contra_Mundum_1]

Interesting question. I’m thinking about going to a Church of Scotland service just to see what goes on there, what they consider to be sunday worship. I find Calvinism so totally weird so in this case it is genuine curiosity, without any intention to worship.
Never occured to me it would be a sin. Good to know.

 

[Just_Lurking]

I read a canon from 1917 that said that worshipping in a non Catholic church leads to excommunication… is that canon still in place??

No, it is no longer in place. The 1917 canon law was replaced by the 1983 canon law.

Here is a link to the current canon law.

The 1983 code revokes the 1917 code:
Can. 6 §1. When this Code takes force, the following are abrogated:

1/ the Code of Canon Law promulgated in 1917;
The 1983 code says the following about ecumenism:
Can. 755 §1. It is above all for the entire college of bishops and the Apostolic See to foster and direct among Catholics the ecumenical movement whose purpose is the restoration among all Christians of the unity which the Church is bound to promote by the will of Christ.

§2. It is likewise for the bishops and, according to the norm of law, the conferences of bishops to promote this same unity and to impart practical norms according to the various needs and opportunities of the circumstances; they are to be attentive to the prescripts issued by the supreme authority of the Church.

For the prescripts mentioned in canon 755, the Vatican has issued a document called Directory for the Application of Principles and Norms on Ecumenism (see here).

This directory states the following about worshiping at a Protestant service:
118. In liturgical celebrations taking place in other Churches and ecclesial Communities, Catholics are encouraged to take part in the psalms, responses, hymns and common actions of the Church in which they are guests. If invited by their hosts, they may read a lesson or preach.

 

[ConstantineTG]

Interesting question. I’m thinking about going to a Church of Scotland service just to see what goes on there, what they consider to be sunday worship. I find Calvinism so totally weird so in this case it is genuine curiosity, without any intention to worship.
Never occured to me it would be a sin. Good to know.

It is not a sin if you are merely observing and not worshiping.

 

[JacktheCatholic]

No, it is no longer in place. The 1917 canon law was replaced by the 1983 canon law.

Here is a link to the current canon law.

The 1983 code revokes the 1917 code:
Can. 6 §1. When this Code takes force, the following are abrogated:

1/ the Code of Canon Law promulgated in 1917;
The 1983 code says the following about ecumenism:
Can. 755 §1. It is above all for the entire college of bishops and the Apostolic See to foster and direct among Catholics the ecumenical movement whose purpose is the restoration among all Christians of the unity which the Church is bound to promote by the will of Christ.

§2. It is likewise for the bishops and, according to the norm of law, the conferences of bishops to promote this same unity and to impart practical norms according to the various needs and opportunities of the circumstances; they are to be attentive to the prescripts issued by the supreme authority of the Church.

For the prescripts mentioned in canon 755, the Vatican has issued a document called Directory for the Application of Principles and Norms on Ecumenism (see here).

This directory states the following about worshiping at a Protestant service:
118. In liturgical celebrations taking place in other Churches and ecclesial Communities, Catholics are encouraged to take part in the psalms, responses, hymns and common actions of the Church in which they are guests. If invited by their hosts, they may read a lesson or preach.

Very interesting…

 

[Sandalwood]

Hi
I think I must have asked this question so many times… but I keep on getting different answers, and I can’t figure out what the truth is…

I read a canon from 1917 that said that worshipping in a non Catholic church leads to excommunication… is that canon still in place??

I was invited to visit a Protestant church (once), and I was wondering if it would be wrong for me to go… it’s not for a wedding or a funeral… if I fulfill my Sunday obligation at a Catholic Church, and don’t *actively *participate in the Protestant church, (rather just observe) - would that be a sin? would I be excommunicated? is ‘passive’ participation allowed?

thanks

I had wondered this as well. When I visit my mother, who lives in another state, she always wants me to go to her church, a Lutheran church. I know I can attend a Catholic service as well, she has one across the street from her home. I feel obligated to go with her though because it means so much having me there.

 

[ConstantineTG]

I had wondered this as well. When I visit my mother, who lives in another state, she always wants me to go to her church, a Lutheran church. I know I can attend a Catholic service as well, she has one across the street from her home. I feel obligated to go with her though because it means so much having me there.

Yes, you can go. But you will still have an obligation to go to a Catholic church to fulfill your holiday obligation (be it Sunday or another Holiday of Obligation). So schedule it carefuly so you can go with your mother and at the same time still able to attend Mass