Dust's Sister Posted February 12, 2006 Share Posted February 12, 2006 Is it okay to visit your friends church every once in a while, even if you go to a Mass that you can make like let's say Saturday night mass or Sunday evening Mass? What do y'all think about that? Can Catholics go to other protestant churches and go there, yet still not believe what they believe, but just go there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norseman82 Posted February 12, 2006 Share Posted February 12, 2006 My policy is that if I go, I go as an "observer", as well as to make sure it does not interfere with my Sunday obligation to attend Mass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thessalonian Posted February 12, 2006 Share Posted February 12, 2006 A qualified yes. Not even if but only if you go to Mass as well. Also you must be sure that you are well grounded in your own faith first. It could be a major source of confusion if you are not and a major temptation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
God Conquers Posted February 12, 2006 Share Posted February 12, 2006 I agree with the other guys. As long as you understand you are not in communion with them, but are a sister in Christ. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dspen2005 Posted February 12, 2006 Share Posted February 12, 2006 You are Catholic. Why would u want to experience something less when you have experieinced the fullness? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazymaine catholic Posted February 12, 2006 Share Posted February 12, 2006 it's always good to be involved in a friend's faith, especially if by going to services with them, they might go to services with you, and get to experience catholicism. who knows how that might help them. besides, it's always good to know about other religions and faiths, especially if you want to defend catholicism. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norseman82 Posted February 12, 2006 Share Posted February 12, 2006 [quote name='dspen2005' date='Feb 12 2006, 03:29 PM']You are Catholic. Why would u want to experience something less when you have experieinced the fullness? [right][snapback]884923[/snapback][/right] [/quote] Well, if you are involved with interdenominational groups, sometimes members's churches are visited. It will also put your Catholic parish "on the calendar" for them to visit!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cappie Posted February 12, 2006 Share Posted February 12, 2006 I had a good friend who was the Rector of an Anglo-Catholic (Anglican) church in Sydney. As the saying goes they were Roman than Rome : . I used to attend Evensong on Sunday evenings. The music was superb plainsong and chant. Occasionally I attended "High Mass". The singing was excellent, the incense was overpowering, the sermon better than mine I don't think it caused me any harm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thessalonian Posted February 12, 2006 Share Posted February 12, 2006 (edited) [quote name='dspen2005' date='Feb 12 2006, 03:29 PM']You are Catholic. Why would u want to experience something less when you have experieinced the fullness? [right][snapback]884923[/snapback][/right] [/quote] Paul went to the Aeropogus. A part of the purpose I am sure was to understand the Athenians so that he could convert them. He observed their shrines and then used the altar to an unknown god as a springboard to explain Christ to them. I think it is good to understand Protestants and their worship better. To "hold to what is good" and to use what they already know and understand as a springboard to explain the Catholci faith to them in ways that they can understand it. We speak a different language from 500 years of division . The word "saved" for example for them has a completely different conotation for them than it does for us. The deny purgatory yet in looking at and understanding their doctrine of imputed righteousness I think a solid case can be made to them that they need such a doctrine more than we do with our doctrines of infused righteousness. I've actually been able to convince some Protestants that the doctrine of purgatory is not against the Gospel. But only with the help of understanding their terminology and beliefs and then presenting it in a way they could understand rather than in the straw man arguements they have had their heads filled with. A missionary from New Guinea came to our parish a while back. New Guinea had many Canabals even as late as 1948 and I guess there are some today. But he said that the concept of the Eucharist was in fact easy for them to understand. Kinda funny. In any "ecumenism" or religious dialogue (when it is with non-christians" the purpose needs to be to draw them in to the Church. Not to compromise in any way. But gently lead them out of their ignorance of the truth. We do this by understanding them and their language/terminology then using what we know to educate them. Meet them at their level. This goes for all people. Blessings Edited February 12, 2006 by thessalonian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dust's Sister Posted February 12, 2006 Author Share Posted February 12, 2006 [quote name='thessalonian' date='Feb 12 2006, 04:46 PM']Paul went to the Aeropogus. A part of the purpose I am sure was to understand the Athenians so that he could convert them. He observed their shrines and then used the altar to an unknown god as a springboard to explain Christ to them. I think it is good to understand Protestants and their worship better. To "hold to what is good" and to use what they already know and understand as a springboard to explain the Catholci faith to them in ways that they can understand it. We speak a different language from 500 years of division . The word "saved" for example for them has a completely different conotation for them than it does for us. The deny purgatory yet in looking at and understanding their doctrine of imputed righteousness I think a solid case can be made to them that they need such a doctrine more than we do with our doctrines of infused righteousness. I've actually been able to convince some Protestants that the doctrine of purgatory is not against the Gospel. But only with the help of understanding their terminology and beliefs and then presenting it in a way they could understand rather than in the straw man arguements they have had their heads filled with. A missionary from New Guinea came to our parish a while back. New Guinea had many Canabals even as late as 1948 and I guess there are some today. But he said that the concept of the Eucharist was in fact easy for them to understand. Kinda funny. In any "ecumenism" or religious dialogue (when it is with non-christians" the purpose needs to be to draw them in to the Church. Not to compromise in any way. But gently lead them out of their ignorance of the truth. We do this by understanding them and their language/terminology then using what we know to educate them. Meet them at their level. This goes for all people. Blessings [right][snapback]884942[/snapback][/right] [/quote] I agree with this, and I wished I would've asked this question yesterday because I have a situation where I have this friend who is babtist.... and she can't seem to miss her church any sunday... and now I have learned that I can't miss Mass any sunday either. So when we have a friend from Lousiana that comes; it's hard for me to decide now whether or not I should go to her church. I use to go all the time without thinking twice about, but I have been going to RCIA classes these past 8 months and now I have a deeper understanding of the truth. So this morning at the last minute I decided not to go to her church. I went to 5:30pm Mass yesterday just to go to her church today, but I ended up not doing it. I just hope she doesn't think I'm ignorant of her Faith or anything. I don't know how to explain it to her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Church Punk Posted February 12, 2006 Share Posted February 12, 2006 I think you can visit protestant churchs, like said as a visiter. Dont participate in any communion celebrations they have though. You would have to be careful what you do and dont do. The ones that simply sing and pray, I think its great to go. Some of them have great music and bands! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avemaria40 Posted February 12, 2006 Share Posted February 12, 2006 yeah, as long as you don't take communion in those churches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morostheos Posted February 12, 2006 Share Posted February 12, 2006 I think it is fine to go occasionally (provided you go to Mass as well), but it can be misleading if you go every week. The protestants start to wonder if maybe they are "winning you over" and may think you believe the same things they do. So it's important to be careful about that too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dust's Sister Posted February 12, 2006 Author Share Posted February 12, 2006 [quote name='morostheos' date='Feb 12 2006, 05:06 PM']I think it is fine to go occasionally (provided you go to Mass as well), but it can be misleading if you go every week. The protestants start to wonder if maybe they are "winning you over" and may think you believe the same things they do. So it's important to be careful about that too. [right][snapback]884954[/snapback][/right] [/quote] I think my friend knows that my Faith is very important to me now, I havn't been to her church in months, maybe even close to a year......I use to go for a long time though, but not anymore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EAnn246 Posted February 12, 2006 Share Posted February 12, 2006 I think it is ok to visit a friend's protestant church as long as you realize that you are not in communion with them. I don't think it should interfer with your Sunday obligation. I occasionally attend Sunday services with my friends or go to Sunday night Vespers (my school is Presbyterian affiliated). I always go to Saturday night Mass (the one offered on campus). I wouldn't go every weekend. It could become confusing, but I would say that every once in a while is ok. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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