Why no USA flag in Catholic Church?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Angainor
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
A

Angainor

Guest
I will state my idea on the matter which may be a Protestant misconception. Correct me if it is.

It is my understanding that the United States flag is banned from the inner church itself (I’m not sure what you call the inner church. Is that the sanctuary?). It is also my understanding that this is because the authority of the United States is not recognized in that area. I think of it as Catholics viewing the santuary as a little piece of Rome where only the Vatican has true authority.
 
If so, our church stands in error. We have one there, towards the front of the church, not too far from the tabernacle.

CARose
 
40.png
Angainor:
I will state my idea on the matter which may be a Protestant misconception. Correct me if it is.

It is my understanding that the United States flag is banned from the inner church itself (I’m not sure what you call the inner church. Is that the sanctuary?). It is also my understanding that this is because the authority of the United States is not recognized in that area. I think of it as Catholics viewing the santuary as a little piece of Rome where only the Vatican has true authority.
Click to expand...
Here is a thread that may help:

Are flags permitted in church?

PF
 
I never heard of this. It sounds like someone’s overactive imagination at work.

I have also seen American flags in the sanctuary, but I don’t think it’s common. In fact, I wouldn’t think it proper, although somewhere else in the nave or the narthex would be OK.

The sanctuary, or altar space is an intimate setting where the Holy Sacrifice is enacted, we don’t need an excuse to justify keeping extraeneous things (and people) out of that space.
 
American flags are most likely not present near the altar because they do not belong there. We worship God, not the state, although we submit to the authority of the state, so long as it does not compromise us as Christians. Lex orandi lex credendi dictates that the flag should be out of view when worshipping.

My question is: Do you hoist the Vatican flag above the American flag?
 
My church has the Vatican flag on one side of the Altar and the American flag on the other side – both flags are of equal height.
 
40.png
Madaglan:
My question is: Do you hoist the Vatican flag above the American flag?
Click to expand...
Not unless you want a visit from the State Department or the FBI.
 
40.png
Angainor:
I will state my idea on the matter which may be a Protestant misconception. Correct me if it is.

It is my understanding that the United States flag is banned from the inner church itself (I’m not sure what you call the inner church. Is that the sanctuary?). It is also my understanding that this is because the authority of the United States is not recognized in that area. I think of it as Catholics viewing the santuary as a little piece of Rome where only the Vatican has true authority.
Click to expand...
That is not correct. Many Catholic churches have American flags i the sanctuary area. The only ban that I’m aware of is that the American flag must be removed from a casket before the Pall is placed on the casket. The American flag is then replaced at the end of the Rite of Christian burial after the casket leaves the church.
 
Kevin Walker:
Not unless you want a visit from the State Department or the FBI.
Click to expand...
Technically they should be flown from separate poles of equal height.
 
By displaying a political flag a Catholic Church is entering the political arena.

And by displaying a U.S. flag rather than a state flag, a Catholic church is taking the political position that the state in which it is located is subordinate to the Federal Government. It is also saying that the Federal Government should interfere in the internal affairs of the state. In other words, it is taking a position against state’s rights.

If the same church displayed a United Nations flag, it would be saying that the United States should be subordinate to the United Nations. It would also be saying that the United Nations should interfere in the internal affairs of the United States. And many people would object to this dangerous nonsense.

When we come to Mass we should be taught the truths of the Catholic Faith, not be the target of a bunch of political propaganda.

When a U.S. flag or any other political flag is displayed in a church, it sends a message. The message is that the government is superior to God. And the laws of the government are superior to the Laws of God. Some people may object that this isn’t true. But this is exactly how it plays out in real life
 
In our parish there is both an American flag and a papal flag in the sanctuary. But really, the sanctuary is not a place for flags of any sort. I think we ought to leave them out; or put them in the vestibule if it’s thought necessary to have flags in church.
 
We have a US flag in our Sanctuary, but my parish is a military parish, on a military base…

We also have numerous dispensations for many things that other churches can take for granted, because we share our building with the other religious communities on the base.
 
Chris Jacobsen:
By displaying a political flag a Catholic Church is entering the political arena.

And by displaying a U.S. flag rather than a state flag, a Catholic church is taking the political position that the state in which it is located is subordinate to the Federal Government. It is also saying that the Federal Government should interfere in the internal affairs of the state. In other words, it is taking a position against state’s rights.

If the same church displayed a United Nations flag, it would be saying that the United States should be subordinate to the United Nations. It would also be saying that the United Nations should interfere in the internal affairs of the United States. And many people would object to this dangerous nonsense.

When we come to Mass we should be taught the truths of the Catholic Faith, not be the target of a bunch of political propaganda.

When a U.S. flag or any other political flag is displayed in a church, it sends a message. The message is that the government is superior to God. And the laws of the government are superior to the Laws of God. Some people may object that this isn’t true. But this is exactly how it plays out in real life
Click to expand...
That is hog wash, and I don’t swear that often either.

Using this logic you are saying that every County building, City Hall, Public School is saying that the State is subordinate to the Federal Government because they fly the State flag under the U.S. flag or on a shorter pole! I don’t think so.

By the way the Vatican flag is not the flag of the “Catholic Church” but the flag of the Vatican City-State, a sovereign national entity.
 
I know this shouldn’t be news to anyone but the State, County, and municipal governments ARE subordinate to the national government
Says so in the Constitution and it any debate on the issue was settled in April 1865

but that is besides the point

The church I grew up in had the national flag on one side of the Alter and the Papal flag on the other
Nothing obtrusive…just there in the background

I don’t recall seeing either one at my current parish
But I’ve been accused of being unobservant before
 
The Church is a spiritual and eternal kingdom. I don’t believe that flags of earthly and temporal governments have any business being there.
 
Br. Rich SFO:
That is hog wash, and I don’t swear that often either.

Using this logic you are saying that every County building, City Hall, Public School is saying that the State is subordinate to the Federal Government because they fly the State flag under the U.S. flag or on a shorter pole! I don’t think so.

By the way the Vatican flag is not the flag of the “Catholic Church” but the flag of the Vatican City-State, a sovereign national entity.
Click to expand...
I am glad someone had the good sense to say this. Thanks Bro. 👍
 
Originally Quoted by Br. Rich SFO:
Click to expand...
By the way the Vatican flag is not the flag of the “Catholic Church” but the flag of the Vatican City-State, a sovereign national entity.
Click to expand...
Correct. But isn’t the head of the Catholic Church (the pope) also the head of Vatican City-State? Or does the Vatican City-State no longer have the pope as its head???
 
We have a flag outside of the church. I really dislike the idea of having one inside the church. I thought that was a Protestant thing. The church should be universal, not nationalistic.

I wonder if other countires display their flag inside of the Catholic Churches? I somehow doubt it, since Americans are much more flag crazy than other countries, I’ve noticed. The display of the American flag is commonplace to the point of losing it’s meaning.
 
we have a US and Vatican flag in our student center, but NO flags in the church.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top