Topic:  Can a Catholic visit a Protestant Church?

Source of this posting: Moderator response

Date originally posted: February 10, 2003

Moderator who originally posted this source: Father Phillip

Question:   Can a Catholic visit a protestant church, such as the Methodist church. If so what is he allowed to participate in?

Answer: 

Sure! A Catholic can visit a Protestant Church, and yes he or she can participate in the worship of that community.

The only two caveats that must be added are these:

1. A Catholic ought not to receive Holy Communion when visiting another Church since their belief about the Lord's Supper or the Last Supper or the Eucharist (however it may be called in their community) is NOT the same as ours.

2. When a Catholic visits a Protestant Church on the weekend, that Catholic should make every effort to attend a Catholic Liturgy that same weekend. For instance, if you, Will, were to attend a Methodist service at 11:00 on Sunday morning, you should have gone to Catholic Mass on the previous (Saturday) evening.

When we attend a Protestant service, we should listen to the Word, join in the prayerful singing of hymns and other songs, confess our common sinfulness with those good people, and share the fellowship of the Christian community which has gathered. We must never feel or act 'superior' to our sisters and brothers in Christ.

At the same time we should also acknowledge the fact that our two communities are different. While we share much in common -- thank God! -- we also have some very important differences of belief.

As guests in another Christian Church, we should respect those differences. We ought not "pretend" that we're all the same. Methodists, for example, are perfectly free to have their belief that Holy Communion is 'only' a symbol or sign of Christ but not His Real Presence. We should respect their point-of-view.

However, our belief is very different on this subject. We know and believe that when a validly ordained priest in the Liturgy of the Catholic Church consecrates the bread and wine, those elements are transubstantiated and become the Real Presence of Christ -- His true Body and Blood.

So, when we are guests in a Protestant Church we should be true to our core beliefs, and we should respect their core beliefs -- and NOT pretend that we're the same on these issues. That mutual respect would keep us from receiving their Communion.

While they receive Communion, a Catholic should stay in her/his place, and pray earnestly and most sincerely for God to bless those in that worshipping community and beg God for forgiveness for her/his own sins.

Sometimes at a Protestant Church, you'll hear a better sermon and sing better songs! So enjoy those gifts, but stay true to your Catholic heritage!

Thanks for your question, Will, and have a good day!

Blessings,
Father Phillip