Would it be a sin to visit a non-Catholic Church?

[Holly3278]

Hi everyone. Would it be a sin to visit a non-Catholic church just because you have nothing else to do and you’re not going to take communion or otherwise participate except for maybe just listen to the music?

 

[SeekerJen]

I don’t think so, as long as you know that it doesn’t absolve you of the requirement to attend Sunday Mass.

 

[LilyM]

No. I’ve attended Baptist and Orthodox churches - no problem. Don’t receive their communion and do attend a Mass as well to cover your Sunday or Holy Day obligation when necessary.

 

[ricmat]

Lead me not into temptation?

 

[Abira]

Lead me not into temptation?

don’t be silly!!

I think the more that we mix with one another, the more chance there is that one day we might be united on more common ground. It helps dispell myths about one another. It’s not as if they’re going to watch a pole dancer!! It’s just a church that worships the same God…and has more in common then it does differences.

S

 

[mcs7474]

Lead me not into temptation?

lol, c’mon theres nothing appealing about churches for heratics. So no temtation there.

 

[jmcrae]

Hi everyone. Would it be a sin to visit a non-Catholic church just because you have nothing else to do and you’re not going to take communion or otherwise participate except for maybe just listen to the music?

Be sure to attend Sunday Mass as well, and don’t make a regular habit of going to the same Protestant church all the time, in order to avoid seeming to have converted to it.

But if you want to do the rounds and see what they look like, that’s fine, as long as you don’t miss Sunday Mass while doing so. While you’re at it, visit a synagogue, a Buddhist and/or Hindu temple, and a mosque, as well, if there are any in your area, to get a better-rounded education on what goes on in your neighborhood with regard to local religious expression.

 

[LilyM]

Be sure to attend Sunday Mass as well, and don’t make a regular habit of going to the same Protestant church all the time, in order to avoid seeming to have converted to it.

But if you want to do the rounds and see what they look like, that’s fine, as long as you don’t miss Sunday Mass while doing so. While you’re at it, visit a synagogue, a Buddhist and/or Hindu temple, and a mosque, as well, if there are any in your area, to get a better-rounded education on what goes on in your neighborhood with regard to local religious expression.

I got to visit the largest Buddhist temple in the Southern Hemisphere here when it opened - that was something else. Though I enjoyed the Asian Art Exhibition they had there more than the actual temple. :yup:

 

[ricmat]

lol, c’mon theres nothing appealing about churches for heratics. So no temtation there.

I’ve heard that they have pole dancers (OK, just kidding about that one), and that their music is quite often much better

Some people go to church to be entertained, not to worship. * So the temptation would come in that form, for some.

Would you try smoking, as a unifying gesture towards those who smoke? Or take drugs to show your commonality with those on drugs?

Note: I’m not against going to another church if you have a good reason (e.g. relative getting married in another church). But to go there just out of curiosity, because you’re bored…that seems to me to be tempting fate.*

 

[jmcrae]

I got to visit the largest Buddhist temple in the Southern Hemisphere here when it opened - that was something else. Though I enjoyed the Asian Art Exhibition they had there more than the actual temple. :yup:

Sounds wonderful! I’ve been to the Chinese Cultural Centre here, I’ve seen the dragon races in summer, and the dragon dances at New Year, and we also have a very good Asian exhibition at our museum here, but I have never had the opportunity to visit the temple, yet. One of our RCIA participants is coming in out of the Buddhist religion, though, and she has some very interesting stories to tell.

 

[Leperchaun]

If you are well grounded in your faith, then I see no sin in it. It is a wonderful way to learn, first-hand, more about the religion. I personally recommend that if you go to another religion’s service, that you go with a friend who is of that religion, that way they can explain things to you, guide you along, and generally help you not make a fool of yourself. It’s also good to be towards the back so you can follow the people in front of you.

I would say the only real rule is to never compromise your faith. Also, as noted by some of the previous posters, you still need to go to a Catholic Mass for your Sunday obligation. In my experience, going to a non-catholic service helps me to greater appreciate the beauty of the Catholic Mass and transubstantiation.

 

[OraLabora]

I’m married to an evangelical Anglican. I don’t go often but out of respect for my wife, at Christmas I the whole family would go to the Christmas eve 4 pm family service, then my wife and I would go to midnight Mass at a nearby Benedictine abbey. Lately she has been finding the midnight Mass too late for her. My kids are also Anglican…they were taken into that church by my wife when I had lapsed in my own Catholic faith (I returned in 1997).

This past Christmas my 16 y.o. son surprised me, he’s not particularly religious, but he asked to be relieved of the obligation to go to the Anglican service so he could come to midnight Mass instead. The reason: he says the music sucks at the Anglican church. It point of fact it does

The Abbey on the other hand conducts its main services (Lauds, Mass, Vespers) in Gregorian Chant, and its other offices (vigils, tierce, sexte, none, compline) in French plainchant with Gregorian hymns.

But to answer the question, no, not unless you are weak in your faith and you fear you may apostasize. Of course don’t take communion (although Orthodox is OK).

 

[jmcrae]

Orthodox is OK …

Only in theory; not in practice. From the Catholic Church’s point of view, it would be okay for us to receive Holy Communion in the Orthodox Church because we recognize their Church as being Apostolic, but they don’t allow us to receive there because they don’t recognize our Church as being Apostolic; they believe that we lost the Apostolic Succession in 1055 at the time of the Eastern Schism.

 

[mcs7474]

I’ve heard that they have pole dancers (OK, just kidding about that one), and that their music is quite often much better

Some people go to church to be entertained, not to worship. * So the temptation would come in that form, for some.

Would you try smoking, as a unifying gesture towards those who smoke? Or take drugs to show your commonality with those on drugs?

Note: I’m not against going to another church if you have a good reason (e.g. relative getting married in another church). But to go there just out of curiosity, because you’re bored…that seems to me to be tempting fate.*

It could be a temptation for some, but for me thier is no way it wouldbe a temptation. I honestly look at protestants and non-christian people with a sense of sadness. Better put, I feel sorry for them. So visiting thier “church” is no temptation for me.

I don’t think we should equate the situation here with drugs, and smoking.

 

[justthefacts]

Yes it is a sin to visit a Protestant as far as I know. Where does the Church teach that it is Ok to visit a Protestant Church??? If people could back up their understanding with a magisterial quote it would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

 

[DallasCatholic]

Yes it is a sin to visit a Protestant as far as I know. Where does the Church teach that it is Ok to visit a Protestant Church??? If people could back up their understanding with a magisterial quote it would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

Or perhaps you could back up your position with a magisterial quote or two? Or maybe you could explain which part of visiting a Protestant church is sinful? Personally, I go to my wife’s Baptist church most Sundays after I have attended Mass. My pastor and my Spritiual Director (a Jesuit) both approve.

 

[LilyM]

Yes it is a sin to visit a Protestant as far as I know. Where does the Church teach that it is Ok to visit a Protestant Church??? If people could back up their understanding with a magisterial quote it would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

Did you read nothing about Pope Benedict’s most recent visit to Turkey? He visited a mosque and prayed there and attended an Orthodox liturgy as well.

As far as I know every Pope since Paul VI has attended both meetings with and services of different Protestant denominations, as well as Orthodox, Muslim and possibly Jewish too.

 

[Seatuck]

Did you read nothing about Pope Benedict’s most recent visit to Turkey? He visited a mosque and prayed there and attended an Orthodox liturgy as well.

As far as I know every Pope since Paul VI has attended both meetings with and services of different Protestant denominations, as well as Orthodox, Muslim and possibly Jewish too.

I’m pretty sure Pope Benedict is well grounded in the faith and was under no risk to damage it, understands the difference between the faiths( he did not receive communion at the Orthodox Church for instance) and he did not give the appearance of Communion between Catholicism and those other religions.

However, for the rest of us the following answers the question nicely.

dwc.org/questions/services.shtml

Also ,

cuf.org/Faithfacts/details_view.asp?ffID=261

and

cuf.org/faithfacts/details_view.asp?ffID=225

 

[kangnamdragon]

Yes it is a sin to visit a Protestant as far as I know. Where does the Church teach that it is Ok to visit a Protestant Church??? If people could back up their understanding with a magisterial quote it would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

So, it is a sin for me to go to my grandfather’s funeral? It was a sin for the pope to visit a synagogue or mosque?

 

[Seatuck]

Yes it is a sin to visit a Protestant as far as I know. Where does the Church teach that it is Ok to visit a Protestant Church??? If people could back up their understanding with a magisterial quote it would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

Please read my sources.