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youngone88
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| Joined: | Wed Apr 30th, 2008 |
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| Posts: | 20 |
| First Name: | Stephen | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lutheran-Evangelical-soon to be Catholic? (still seeking) |
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Posted: Fri May 30th, 2008 01:29 am |
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Hi, I'm not Catholic yet, but I'm well on my way. I was just curious if this is correct...
"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."
I ask because my mom wants me to take her to a service with my Grandpa (methodist church). I'd hate to upset her, but if it is sinful to go I shouldn't go. I don't intend to take communion, but is it wrong to be there?
Last edited on Fri May 30th, 2008 01:32 am by youngone88
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sewnsew
Member
| Joined: | Mon Oct 9th, 2006 |
| Location: | Arizona USA |
| Posts: | 842 |
| First Name: | Kim | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | cradle Anglican, Episcopal /Catholic-04/07/07 |
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Posted: Fri May 30th, 2008 01:44 am |
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| You will find that many of us converts still have family members -spouses and children living at home that still attend wherever we converted from- to keep the peace many of us go to Mass on our own and then attend the protestant service with our family- not partaking of communion but other wise being respectful of the what is going on in the service. IT does NOT count as our Sunday Mass obligation- so go to church with your mother and grandpa. When we visit my in laws we do attend their church politely by the same token they have attended Mass somewhat less politley to be honest. (sit like lumps the whole time and make NO attempt to follow our prayers)
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Credo Catholic
Member
| Joined: | Sat May 5th, 2007 |
| Location: | Greenville, South Carolina USA |
| Posts: | 1382 |
| First Name: | Marsha | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Baptist, Catholic |
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Posted: Fri May 30th, 2008 02:29 am |
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| Stephen, if your Mom is wanting you to take her to a specific service, or to go there every now and then, it would be the obediently "good son" thing to do for her. But I don't recommend someone who is in the process of moving from non-catholic to catholic to regularly attend a protestant service, unless it is to keep peace in the family as Kim said above. You are trying to make sense of a way of worshipping God that is new and different to you, and to continually be in a situation where you are hearing the very things you are moving away from could be confusing and cause doubts. Be good to your mother as Christ has instructed us to do, but don't go more than you have to!
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youngone88
Member
| Joined: | Wed Apr 30th, 2008 |
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| Posts: | 20 |
| First Name: | Stephen | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lutheran-Evangelical-soon to be Catholic? (still seeking) |
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Posted: Fri May 30th, 2008 09:34 pm |
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Thank you for your replies. I suppose that it counts as a special occasion, since I believe it is for father's day.
Still, I get confused on issues like this. From what I've read on Catholic forums, 2 different camps seem to be both present and arguing opposite view points. Considering how important this issue is (some claim it is a mortal sin), it's unnerving to see such uncertainty. I've heard different views even from different priests.
This especially troubles me because it comes close to defeating the very purpose I desire to leave Protestantism, which is doctrinal ambiguity and uncertainty.
Last edited on Fri May 30th, 2008 10:01 pm by youngone88
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sewnsew
Member
| Joined: | Mon Oct 9th, 2006 |
| Location: | Arizona USA |
| Posts: | 842 |
| First Name: | Kim | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | cradle Anglican, Episcopal /Catholic-04/07/07 |
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Posted: Fri May 30th, 2008 11:50 pm |
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Still, I get confused on issues like this. From what I've read on Catholic forums, 2 different camps seem to be both present and arguing opposite view points. Considering how important this issue is (some claim it is a mortal sin), it's unnerving to see such uncertainty. I've heard different views even from different priests.
This especially troubles me because it comes close to defeating the very purpose I desire to leave Protestantism, which is doctrinal ambiguity and uncertainty.
I think that part of the reason you are getting mixed repies is that on this forum you are dealing with converts- Some of us were single or had families already grown so that they are not directly impacted by our conversion. However many of us have spouses and /or children still in the home who are not ready to convert(and may never be) .Clearly we will no longer be WORSHIPING in a protestant church and it is pretty clear in my case that I am now Catholic. I do not take communion in a protestant church- for about 6 months my two teens and husband continued to go to our old church and then one Sunday they said enough and have been attending the Catholic church with me, during those 6 months as I have said I went to their church but ALSO attended Mass. I made it clear that I was present at their church for family NOT to worship. They are still at differrent stages in to their journey home but we still have extended family that are protestant. You want to make it clear to your family that you have issues with the protestant church and that you are accompanying them becuase it is a special Sunday for them or if they are elderly becuase they need the escort but NOT because you agree with their doctrine and that you are now or will be Catholic. Do not confuse attending a protestant church from time to time for the sake of family with being able to worship interchangealbly. When my out of town family visits they do expect to come to church with US but that doesn't mean that they can have communion with us.
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sewnsew
Member
| Joined: | Mon Oct 9th, 2006 |
| Location: | Arizona USA |
| Posts: | 842 |
| First Name: | Kim | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | cradle Anglican, Episcopal /Catholic-04/07/07 |
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Posted: Fri May 30th, 2008 11:53 pm |
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| Remember that Father's day only comes once a year- but be clear that you will not be taking communion with the family.
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Robert
Member
| Joined: | Mon Nov 12th, 2007 |
| Location: | Germany |
| Posts: | 118 |
| First Name: | Robert | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | The whole spectrum from black to white, now 100% Catholic! |
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Posted: Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 01:58 pm |
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It is not at all forbidden to visit the services of other Christian denominations full stop.
BUT a non Catholic service will not satisfy your Sunday obligation. There is also a danger contained within communal prayer if they contain protestant doctrine in opposition to catholic teaching.
The Our Father is never a problem, but it could get a little “sticky” when folks start praying for others to come out of that “Catholic System”.
It think it is also quite obvious that participation in “the Lord’s Supper” or similar rituals is not at all in accord with Catholic teaching.
For my part, I really don’t like going to services outside of the Catholic Church, and I always feel that something is missing.
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Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15)
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Dave Armstrong
Network Apologist
| Joined: | Fri Nov 2nd, 2007 |
| Location: | Melvindale, Michigan USA |
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| First Name: | Dave | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Evangelical (1977): Diverse Protestant Influences / Catholic in 1990 |
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Posted: Mon Jun 2nd, 2008 10:18 pm |
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It's not sinful to go, but don't take communion, because that implies (by particpation) agreement with the teaching on that, which would be dishonest. I think Catholics aren't allowed to do so anyway. But simple attendance is not forbidden, as far as I know.
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