Hi Kevin,

I can't speak for other Protestant denominations, but when a Catholic attends Sunday Mass to worship and give thanks to Our Blessed Lord, [he/she] is implicitly accepting, not only the Catholic Faith, but the body of beliefs that go along with being a Catholic. The same is true for receiving the Holy Eucharist. When we receive Our Blessed Lord in This Ultimate Sacrament, we are accepting and acknowledging that we believe all the Truths of the Church. This is why
non-Catholics can't receive the Eucharist in our Church.

Now to your question. If I, as a Catholic, was to go to 10:00 a.m. Sunday Mass, then later went to Bible Bob's Baptist church down the street for 11:00 a.m. services, what would I be saying?

I'd be saying:

• I really didn't believe what I said I believed at the 10:00 a.m. Mass.

I could argue that there is nothing that Bible Bob believes in, that Catholics don't also believe in, but that would be a false argument.

• Why?

Because, first, there are many beliefs in which Bible Bob's church doesn't believe; agreeing on two or three teachings isn't enough. Also, when a Catholic attends a non-Catholic Sunday service, or for that matter, even a Protestant Bible study, they are implicitly saying, whether they know it or not:

"There is something missing in my Catholic Faith that I'm finding in yours."
This is what [he/she] is witnessing to by [his/her] presence there.

As Catholics, we are called to be witnesses to the True Faith Our Lord established, even though at times we may see people who are behaving badly:

• being scandalous Christian witnesses, or
• are hard people to get along with.

That's none of our business. Being a practicing Catholic Christian is our business. Encouraging those types of Catholics to live holier lives is our business. Dealing with hard people can be difficult. It reminds me of the proverb my non-practicing Catholic mother, Dorothy, told me:

"Michael, Kill'em with kindness."

She went on to say that when you manifest this attitude, you will show a sign of maturity others lack.

If you have a strong relationship with your mother, it's important that she understand that you still love and care for her just as much, whether you remain a Methodist or become a Catholic, but that attending services at her denomination would be contrary to what you believe.

Take care,

Mike

Hi Kevin —

You are on the right track. The Church has no law against attending a non-Catholic service, and accompanying your mother is a good reason.

While Mike's concern is reasonable — that you should avoid creating a false impression of membership in a non-Catholic community — attending a service with your mother doesn't imply endorsement of any erroneous teaching.

Church law allows for Catholics to attend services of other Christian communities, though the obligation to attend Sunday Mass remains. You can even participate in most of the service:

118. In liturgical celebrations taking place in other Churches and ecclesial Communities, Catholics are encouraged to take part in the psalms, responses, hymns and common actions of the Church in which they are guests. If invited by their hosts, they may read a lesson or preach.

(That last part is surprising, eh?)

That's from a 1993 document called Principles and Norms on Ecumenism.

"Catholics United for the Faith", a good lay group that provides information about Church teaching, has a helpful page on the subject of attending a Protestant service:

• Faith Facts: Attending a Protestant Service

It's good to hear from another guy who has discovered the Catholic Church. I came in from Evangelicalism in 1980 and I remain grateful for the good things God did for me through those dear believers in Christ.

Best wishes —

— Richard Chonak