Was this a problem; sinful?

[jreilly]

I was asked to bagpipe (and did) for a local Presbyterian Church as it is Reformation Sunday. I know that we’re not supposed to participate in other religions church services. I played before the service, sat through their service, and then played afterwards.

Is there anything wrong with what I did?

 

[1ke]

It probably wasn’t the most prudent thing to play for an event that celebrates the destruction of Christian unity.

 

[jreilly]

Not good.

 

[R_C]

Indeed we should not participate in any ways to any such celebration. I’d ask my confessor just to be on the safe side and receive some advice on what to do in the future

P.s.: you must be a good bagpiper I’ve always wanted to learn how to play this wonderful instrument.

 

[jreilly]

Thank you, I’ll be sure to speak to my priest on Thursday during confession, if not before. I love playing the pipes and it brings people a lot of enjoyment (unless of course they hate them, in which case it is really annoying).

 

[IronMIke]

Outstanding!

Celebrating Christ and enjoyment! This is great that you stopped the needless petty fights about some disagreements on secondary Christian issues is just super! You led by example and we all should try to be united and stop pointing fingers and silly pride in I am right and you are wrong.

Great job!

 

[Byrnwiga]

I was asked to bagpipe (and did) for a local Presbyterian Church as it is Reformation Sunday. I know that we’re not supposed to participate in other religions church services. I played before the service, sat through their service, and then played afterwards.

Is there anything wrong with what I did?

A fellow bagpiper! :thumbsup:

No, I don’t think playing on Reformation Sunday was sinful, but helping a cause of Christian disunity may not be the greatest idea, as 1ke said.

I stick to playing at Remembrance Day (Veteran’s Day in the US) events (which are normally at my parish).

-Byrnwiga

 

[underacloud]

Outstanding!

Celebrating Christ and enjoyment! This is great that you stopped the needless petty fights about some disagreements on secondary Christian issues is just super! You led by example and we all should try to be united and stop pointing fingers and silly pride in I am right and you are wrong.

Great job!

How ironic!

He should celebrate Christian unity by participating in Reformation Sunday celebrations? Do you understand what is being celebrated on Reformation Sunday? It is not something a Catholic should be involved in.

 

[IronMIke]

How ironic!

He should celebrate Christian unity by participating in Reformation Sunday celebrations? Do you understand what is being celebrated on Reformation Sunday? It is not something a Catholic should be involved in.

Disagree. Plenty more in common than not.

Too much pride gets in the way of celebrating Christ which is the big picture.

 

[jreilly]

A fellow bagpiper! :thumbs:thumbsup:

-Byrnwiga

 

[underacloud]

IronMIke, do you understand what Reformation Sunday is?

 

[Skye_Ariel]

It probably wasn’t the most prudent thing to play for an event that celebrates the destruction of Christian unity.

Exactly. I don’t know if it was a sin but it definitely wasn’t the wisest thing to do. It’s like playing for some kind of celebration for the destruction of the world trade center towers on 9/11 or something like that.

 

[IronMIke]

Exactly. I don’t know if it was a sin but it definitely wasn’t the wisest thing to do. It’s like playing for some kind of celebration for the destruction of the world trade center towers on 9/11 or something like that.

You are comparing this to the trade center towers falling, wow.

 

[jreilly]

I appreciate your perspective and now that I’ve researched the Reformation I can see that it was not the right place to be.

 

[R_C]

Disagree. Plenty more in common than not.

Too much pride gets in the way of celebrating Christ which is the big picture.

You do realize that it’s not a matter of pride, but of obedience, don’t you?

#2 Mar 28, '08, 2:30 pm
Fr. Vincent Serpa
Catholic Answers Apologist Join Date: May 4, 2004
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 2,610

Re: Protestant Communion

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Hi,

In the first place a Catholic has no business attending Protestant church services even occasionally. To participate in a heretical worship service and especially a communion service can be sinful for a Catholic because such an act is an affirmation of what we believe to be untrue.

To attend an ecumenical service or a wedding or baptism is allowed, but Catholics are not allowed to attend such churches for the main reason of worship.

Now if there are no Catholic churches in the vicinity on a Sunday, Catholics are allowed to participate in the Liturgy of Churches whose clergy are validly ordained such as the Eastern Orthodox Churches—including the reception of the Eucharist.

Although we consider them to be in schism (not in union with the Pope) with the Catholic Church, such Churches are not heretical and share our basic beliefs.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.