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Holly3278
Guest
Hi everyone. Would it be a sin for me to visit a Fundamentalist Baptist Church that is anti-Catholic? 
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PatienceAndLove
Guest
Noā¦but out of curiosity, what are you, if you know they are openly anti-Catholic?Hi everyone. Would it be a sin for me to visit a Fundamentalist Baptist Church that is anti-Catholic?
J
JezuUfamTobie
Guest
Assuming:
- your intentions are good
- you are not leaving the Catholic Church
- you do not miss mass
- you do not partake of their communion
H
Holly3278
Guest
Well, I am just wanting to visit cause I have friends there and I also plan on praying the rosary or the divine mercy chaplet while Iām there for the conversion of their people to Catholicism. 
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Tantum_ergo
Guest
Well, why would you be visiting? If you have family or friends who have a function there one Sunday, and you want to be a guest, thatās one thingāyouāre not going for āthe churchā but āfor the friendā. If youāre ācuriousā about the Baptist faith per se, you might want to āread upā about the religion and you might want to talk with one or two of the congregation outside of church (but make sure, if youāre Catholic, that you are firm in your faith and have a copy of the Catechism and the Bible to hand in case some sticky questions come up). Itās a lot harder to go, unprepared, just āfor a visitā to a place where people are really, really friendly and everything seems not only new but āfunā and very, very āspirit filledā, and everybody seems to āunderstandā your faith better than you do and to emphasize how similar things are except really, their way really is better and here is why. . . and theyāll look SO disappointed if you argue. . .
If youāre really firm in the Catholic faith, it is going to be hard as well, because the āantiā Catholic part will rile you and make it hard to appreciate the people as āpeopleā.
So think long and hard, thatās my advice.
If youāre really firm in the Catholic faith, it is going to be hard as well, because the āantiā Catholic part will rile you and make it hard to appreciate the people as āpeopleā.
So think long and hard, thatās my advice.
L
lizaanne
Guest
Wow! Good luck with that! Donāt expect a terrifically warm welcome though.Well, I am just wanting to visit cause I have friends there and I also plan on praying the rosary or the divine mercy chaplet while Iām there for the conversion of their people to Catholicism.
~Liza
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Holly3278
Guest
I was just wondering. It might be an occasion of sin for me to visit because I have been a member of this church before. Would that make it a sin for me to go?
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Holly3278
Guest
I decided not to go because itād be a near occasion of sin for me to go.
C
carol_marie
Guest
I think thatās best. You can pray for them without going to to their services. And since you were once a member, if there are people there who are sad because youāre no longer Baptist, seeing you there might give them false hopes that youāre coming backā¦ which could be hurtful to them.
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Blackbog
Guest
I donāt see anything wrong with it, unless your faith is shaky. In that case, it would be a near occasion of sin. For someone with a good foundation, yeah, itād be like going to a lecture or reading a book that contains views that donāt sync with the Churchās teachingsā¦ sometimes itās necessary to correct the errors of those outside the Church to first hear them out.
My only advice is to not concede anything. Although they are not always wrong, be hesitant to agree with those of other faiths on matters of spirituality, lest you give people the wrong impression about what you believe. Ecumenism is great, but once you sacrifice truth for it, it becomes something much more sinister.
My only advice is to not concede anything. Although they are not always wrong, be hesitant to agree with those of other faiths on matters of spirituality, lest you give people the wrong impression about what you believe. Ecumenism is great, but once you sacrifice truth for it, it becomes something much more sinister.
J
jrnami
Guest
Good
C
Contarini
Guest
Why on earth? Itās this kind of thing that makes people like me fear that all the ecumenical talk is really just a bait-and-switch. I know rationally that that isnāt true. I know that the attitudes represented on this board are not those of the Pope or the Catholic Church as a whole. But the fact that a significant number of converts fall into attitudes like yours is still scary.
What sin exactly would you be tempted to?
I suppose my real problem with your attitude is that I canāt imagine how anyone who had had a taste of Catholicism could possibly go back to fundamentalism (though I know that some people do). Or is the sin you are worried about the sin of getting mad at them? That I could understand.
The last time I visited a fundamentalist church which I had once attended frequently but irregularly (my family didnāt have much truck for any institutional church so we would visit different churches and have a Bible study in our own home), the pastor made some stupid and vicious anti-Catholic remarks. I will never go to that church again (and from what the pastor said to my folks I think he knew how badly he had offended me). So I guess I canāt blame you for your attitude. But I keep seeing this threads worrying about whether itās OK for Catholics to go to non-Catholic church services, in spite of the explicit and repeated encouragement of shared prayer and [non-sacramental] worship by the post-Vatican-II Catholic Church. And that really bothers me.
Edwin
Edwin
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Friend_Of_Rome
Guest
The Following is for Anyone who ever wants to do what the OP proposed. I hope it helps.
I donāt mean to sound overly negative, but I have found from experience that Baptists, though very fervent and faithful, are very militant in some cases. I once entered into a friendly and kindly discussion with a Baptist gentleman. When he found out I was Catholic, he told me very calmly that I was going to hell, and that he thought it was a fitting end. I remained calm, and said that it was Godās choice, not his. I quoted the Gospel where it says Judge not, and you shall not be judged. he looked astounded, and claimed that I was in actuality a Baptist. I said NO, and that the Bible belongs to all of Christendom, not just the Fundamentalists, the Baptists, etc. . .he then went on to make me laugh by saying that 1. St. Paul was a Baptist. 2. the bible was written in 1610 by King James. 3. Queen Elizabeth killed no Catholics. (and 3.5, that Mary killed one million Baptists.)
Go with extreme caution. they will not be kind when they see you actively doing āidol worship.ā They donāt believe that the rosary is either Christocentric or that it is Biblical.
Please, try your best to convert them, but do not resort to any forms of āMilitant Romanismā as they call it. Be kind, be gentle, be loving. It will be hard, but the reward . . .Prieceless.
There is an old prayer I read, St. Patrickās Breastplate. I tihnk it may strengthen you in your coming struggle.
*I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through the belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness
Of the Creator of Creation.
I arise today
Through the strength of Christās birth with his baptism,
Through the strength of his crucifixion with his burial,
Through the strength of his resurrection with his ascension,
Through the strength of his descent for the judgment of Doom.
I arise today
Through the strength of the love of Cherubim,
In obedience of angels,
In the service of archangels,
In hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In prayers of patriarchs,
In predictions of prophets,
In preaching of apostles,
In faith of confessors,
In innocence of holy virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.
I arise today
Through the strength of heaven:
Light of sun,
Radiance of moon,
Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of wind,
Depth of sea,
Stability of earth,
Firmness of rock.
I arise today
Through Godās strength to pilot me:
Godās might to uphold me,
Godās wisdom to guide me,
Godās eye to look before me,
Godās ear to hear me,
Godās word to speak for me,
Godās hand to guard me,
Godās way to lie before me,
Godās shield to protect me,
Godās host to save me
From snares of devils,
From temptations of vices,
From everyone who shall wish me ill,
Afar and anear,
Alone and in multitude.
I summon today all these powers between me and those evils,
Against every cruel merciless power that may oppose my body and soul,
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom
Against false laws of heretics,
Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells of witches and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts manās body and soul.
Christ to shield me today
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that there may come to me abundance of reward.
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness,
Of the Creator of Creation.*
I donāt mean to sound overly negative, but I have found from experience that Baptists, though very fervent and faithful, are very militant in some cases. I once entered into a friendly and kindly discussion with a Baptist gentleman. When he found out I was Catholic, he told me very calmly that I was going to hell, and that he thought it was a fitting end. I remained calm, and said that it was Godās choice, not his. I quoted the Gospel where it says Judge not, and you shall not be judged. he looked astounded, and claimed that I was in actuality a Baptist. I said NO, and that the Bible belongs to all of Christendom, not just the Fundamentalists, the Baptists, etc. . .he then went on to make me laugh by saying that 1. St. Paul was a Baptist. 2. the bible was written in 1610 by King James. 3. Queen Elizabeth killed no Catholics. (and 3.5, that Mary killed one million Baptists.)
Go with extreme caution. they will not be kind when they see you actively doing āidol worship.ā They donāt believe that the rosary is either Christocentric or that it is Biblical.
Please, try your best to convert them, but do not resort to any forms of āMilitant Romanismā as they call it. Be kind, be gentle, be loving. It will be hard, but the reward . . .Prieceless.
There is an old prayer I read, St. Patrickās Breastplate. I tihnk it may strengthen you in your coming struggle.
*I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through the belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness
Of the Creator of Creation.
I arise today
Through the strength of Christās birth with his baptism,
Through the strength of his crucifixion with his burial,
Through the strength of his resurrection with his ascension,
Through the strength of his descent for the judgment of Doom.
I arise today
Through the strength of the love of Cherubim,
In obedience of angels,
In the service of archangels,
In hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In prayers of patriarchs,
In predictions of prophets,
In preaching of apostles,
In faith of confessors,
In innocence of holy virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.
I arise today
Through the strength of heaven:
Light of sun,
Radiance of moon,
Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of wind,
Depth of sea,
Stability of earth,
Firmness of rock.
I arise today
Through Godās strength to pilot me:
Godās might to uphold me,
Godās wisdom to guide me,
Godās eye to look before me,
Godās ear to hear me,
Godās word to speak for me,
Godās hand to guard me,
Godās way to lie before me,
Godās shield to protect me,
Godās host to save me
From snares of devils,
From temptations of vices,
From everyone who shall wish me ill,
Afar and anear,
Alone and in multitude.
I summon today all these powers between me and those evils,
Against every cruel merciless power that may oppose my body and soul,
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom
Against false laws of heretics,
Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells of witches and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts manās body and soul.
Christ to shield me today
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that there may come to me abundance of reward.
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness,
Of the Creator of Creation.*
T
Tomster
Guest
The act of walking into that particular Church by itself is not sinful. However, if it becomes an occassion of sin, leave!Hi everyone. Would it be a sin for me to visit a Fundamentalist Baptist Church that is anti-Catholic?
I remember two of the most beautiful non-Catholic sanctuaries I have ever been in. The first was the Bāhai Temple in Wilmette, Illinois. Magnificent building and grounds. A must see in the summertime when the gardens are in full bloom.
The second was many, many years ago in a northern suburb of Detroit. Our class went to an Episcopal Church, I think it was in Bloomfield Hills. Again, another magnificent structure which would put many of our post-Vatican II, Catholic sanctuaries to shame.
R
Rand_Al_Thor
Guest
Pax tecum!
Oh goodness. This is why I may carry around my BA in history to show people like that.
In Christ,
Rand
M
Mamastrocity
Guest
Baptists are very Christ-loving people, but their faith falls a little short in loving their neighbors when it comes to Catholics.
Iām married to one, not that it gives me any authority to speak on the matter, but let me advise you that if you plan to attend a service, be prepared to answer questions about yourself and your faith because they WILL ask. More than likely you will have to defend your faith, BUT, itās not that difficult if you are prepared in advance with their common objections. You need to study the scriptures they like to embraceā¦and then a few more that are distinctly Catholic and contradict mostāif not allāof the things they believe and make them our separated bretheren.
My advice is not to go if you donāt have to. If youāre praying for the conversion of souls, you can do that in your daily intentions and by praying the Rosary.
Iām married to one, not that it gives me any authority to speak on the matter, but let me advise you that if you plan to attend a service, be prepared to answer questions about yourself and your faith because they WILL ask. More than likely you will have to defend your faith, BUT, itās not that difficult if you are prepared in advance with their common objections. You need to study the scriptures they like to embraceā¦and then a few more that are distinctly Catholic and contradict mostāif not allāof the things they believe and make them our separated bretheren.
My advice is not to go if you donāt have to. If youāre praying for the conversion of souls, you can do that in your daily intentions and by praying the Rosary.
J
jmcrae
Guest
This is permission to organize distinctly ecumenical liturgies that are for the specific purpose of bringing a variety of different people together. We do this in my Fire in the Rose group - we organize ecumenical liturgies and invite people from our neighboring Anglican and United Churches to attend them.
But we are not allowed to just show up at a United Church or at an Anglican Church and participate in that.
It has to be a specifcally organized ecumenical service where the readings, prayers, and hymns have been approved by all three members of clergy - the Catholic priest, the United Church minister and the Anglican priest, as well as the Anglican Bishop and the Catholic Bishop. (There are lists that one can choose from - you donāt have to go running to the Bishop every single time - but if you want to go off the list and pick something else, then he needs to be informed of it.)
It is not permission to attend an already-existing Protestant liturgy.
We are permitted to attend the ceremonies of relatives and friends who are not Catholic (funerals, weddings, and so on) as long as we donāt participate actively - we listen and observe, but we donāt recite anything with them other than the Lordās Prayer, and we donāt partake of their Holy Communion, or be a volunteer reader, or anything like that - but this is unrelated to ecumenism - and we are not supposed to make a regular habit of attending services other than Holy Mass.
E
E_Kubena
Guest
you should avoid the near occasion of sin, many Baptists have a lot of anomosity toward Catholics and will do their best to convert you. You need to become an adroit apologist because they will be several steps ahead of you and may even cause you to question your own faith. Before you go wandering into Churchs of other denominations have you thought about visiting as a pilgrimage other Catholic Churchs. Read the auto biography of St. Theresa of Avila or the Revelations of Ven Anne Catherine Emmerich and it will humble you in just how little we really value obeidience to the Church of our Lord.
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PatienceAndLove
Guest
It hurts that we (Catholics) always have to be so on guard in apologetics
D
Dirk_Skene
Guest
It is no sin. But each of the times I have been to a Protestant Church I left feeling empty and unsatisfied like it was a waste of my time.
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