When to say "parish" and when to say "church"

[Lauralina]

This summer I’m working with many Protestant people and I noticed that in general they are very careful to refer to Catholic Churches as “parishes” and Protestant churches as “churches”.

Is this a personal thing some people choose to do? I’ve always referred to Catholic churches as churches and don’t know if there’s some reason behind this.

 

[SyroMalankara]

Maybe they took a sensitivity class or something, or someone explained to them that the Catholic Church sees herself as One.

 

[FrDavid96]

In Catholic vocabulary, the church is the building while the parish is either the community (ie people) or the territory (a parish is actually a portion of the People of God, together with their pastor, in a defined territory). One parish might have several church buildings (not uncommon today with all the merging). On the other hand, in (some) Protestant vocabulary the word church is often used to refer to both the building and the community.

I rarely hear Protestants use the word “parish.” Perhaps they are simply being courteous in using what they perceive as the Catholic vocabulary?

 

[porthos11]

This summer I’m working with many Protestant people and I noticed that in general they are very careful to refer to Catholic Churches as “parishes” and Protestant churches as “churches”.

Is this a personal thing some people choose to do? I’ve always referred to Catholic churches as churches and don’t know if there’s some reason behind this.

It’s not exact. Catholic parishes are not “churches” if they’re referring to the building. The parish is either territorial, personal, or both. The building is the “parish church”.

Further, not all Catholic churches are parish churches. Some churches, for example, are shrines–places of pilgrimage. They could normally hold Masses there where people fulfill their obligations, even regularly, but would lack the faculties of the parish church, such as being a proper venue for a Catholic wedding or Baptism, unless authorized by the bishop. Other churches are conventual; attached to a monastery.

 

[Erich]

in general they are very careful to refer to Catholic Churches as “parishes” and Protestant churches as “churches”

Of course, it’s impossible to tell orally whether they are referring to Protestant “churches” or Protestant “Churches” – but they’re definitely not “Churches” as Catholicism uses the term (i.e. magisterial documents use the term church for the Catholic Church and for Christian denominations that maintain valid apostolic lines of succession – e.g. Eastern Orthodoxy. Those Christian denominations that have not maintained valid apostolic succession – e.g. Protestant denominations – are called ecclesial communities).

 

[ProVobis]

Of course, it’s impossible to tell orally whether they are referring to Protestant “churches” or Protestant “Churches” – but they’re definitely not “Churches” as Catholicism uses the term (i.e. magisterial documents use the term church for the Catholic Church and for Christian denominations that maintain valid apostolic lines of succession – e.g. Eastern Orthodoxy. Those Christian denominations that have not maintained valid apostolic succession – e.g. Protestant denominations – are called ecclesial communities).

I just think of unam Ecclesiam (as in the Creed). This is also recited by the Protestants, as the Church Christ founded. However, I think Catholics think of only the Catholic Church when they refer to the Church.

 

[Erich]

This is also recited by the Protestants, as the Church Christ founded.

Christ did *not *found Protestantism in any of its forms. Rather, He prayed for the unity of his disciples: “That they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be one in us, . . . so that the world may know that you have sent me.”

That said, by virtue of their baptism Protestants are members (though not fully) of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church founded by Christ.

 

[otjm]

Of course, it’s impossible to tell orally whether they are referring to Protestant “churches” or Protestant “Churches” – but they’re definitely not “Churches” as Catholicism uses the term (i.e. magisterial documents use the term church for the Catholic Church and for Christian denominations that maintain valid apostolic lines of succession – e.g. Eastern Orthodoxy. Those Christian denominations that have not maintained valid apostolic succession – e.g. Protestant denominations – are called ecclesial communities).

Which is theologically correct; howeve, when talking with a “pew warmer” of Protestant tradition, you might want to use the term "what church do you go to (belong to, worship at, etc).

Maybe it is just a West Coast thing, but a whole lot of Catholics out here will ask "What Parish do you go to?’ rather than asking at what church one attends Mass - meaning the same thing.

 

[commenter]

All Catholic parishes are churches, but not all churches are parishes. A “church” can include shrines, chapels attached to a school, hospital, or religious house, as well as an “oratory” or mission, which may be an annex or outreach of a parish. In my opinion, it is the presence - constant or occasional - presence of the Blessed Sacrament that makes a building, or room, a “church”.

A “parish” is usually a geographic area, though sometimes an ethnic designation, specifically assigned by the bishop, with a “pastor”, the priest having responsibility. A parish has some responsibility to everyone in its boundaries, including inactive Catholics or non Catholics. Most Protestants have what’s called “congregations”. If most members now live in a suburb, they simply sell the old building, and buy or build a new one convenient to where most live now. It is far more traumatic when a Catholic parish closes.

I don’t like the trend of some Catholic parishes to avoid using that word - for instance, “St. John’s Community”. Call me suspicious, but I have seen a hint of congregationalism, where the local church regards itself as autonomous, redefining its relationship to a “pastor”, who now becomes the hired employee of the congregation, just a “presider”; and the community wants to be only loosely affiliated with the bishop, not “under” a bishop. The “community” doesn’t regard the pastor or bishop as shepherds, but as equals. For awhile, every “community” was writing its own “mission statement”, different from other Catholic parishes. I think it’s only a short step to each “community” announcing which Catholic doctrines are currently relevant to it; and which aren’t; perhaps by means of a vote.

So, even though other kinds of Catholic churches also have a role, I urge that Catholic “parishes” be clearly defined as such.

 

[FrDavid96]

All Catholic parishes are churches, but not all churches are parishes. A “church” can include shrines, chapels attached to a school, hospital, or religious house, as well as an “oratory” or mission, which may be an annex or outreach of a parish. In my opinion, it is the presence - constant or occasional - presence of the Blessed Sacrament that makes a building, or room, a “church”.
…

All of that is articulated in canon law.

A “church” is actually a parish church. Chapels, shrines, and oratories are not, by definition, “churches.” This becomes relevant when the issue is the location of a wedding (church yes, shrine no), or a permanent tabernacle.

It isn’t the tabernacle that makes it a church. It’s the other way around. If it is a church, then it may (must) have a permanent tabernacle. However, if it’s a chapel or shrine, then it cannot have a tabernacle unless the bishop makes an exception. A typical example of that would be a hospital chapel. It is not a parish church, but for obvious reasons the bishop gives permission for a permanent tabernacle.