Ask a Catholic

[Smalcald]

What if you wanted to attend another denomination? Say, you moved and there wasn't a RCC close by...could you go to the Baptist church and become a member there with no problem?

The Baptist Church is not the Catholic Church, so a Catholic who decided to attend Baptist Church would essentially be leaving the faith. A Catholic should try to make every effort possible to fulfill their obligation of attending Mass once a week. Now if it is a situation where they can't get to a Catholic Church because of circumstances outside of their control, than that's another matter. They should then contact the diocese, (every square inch of land, including Islands in the ocean) fall under the control of a bishop and are part of a diocese. The diocese then would have an obligation to help that person get to a Catholic Church. Good question

A little side note: I attend the Baptist Church in my home town when I visit my parents. Of course I make sure to attend the Catholic Church as well to receive Holy Communion. There is nothing wrong for a Catholic to visit another church, as long as they fulfill their obligation to the Catholic Church.

Yes it is a good question.

I am facing some of the same issues with my own tradition. Basically the answer I got was move. So much for that!

But Pax can a Catholic attend other worship services, and not join, but just go to pray and praise God if there is no Catholic Chruch available? That is basically what we often do. I

[Pax]

What if you wanted to attend another denomination? Say, you moved and there wasn't a RCC close by...could you go to the Baptist church and become a member there with no problem?

The Baptist Church is not the Catholic Church, so a Catholic who decided to attend Baptist Church would essentially be leaving the faith. A Catholic should try to make every effort possible to fulfill their obligation of attending Mass once a week. Now if it is a situation where they can't get to a Catholic Church because of circumstances outside of their control, than that's another matter. They should then contact the diocese, (every square inch of land, including Islands in the ocean) fall under the control of a bishop and are part of a diocese. The diocese then would have an obligation to help that person get to a Catholic Church. Good question

A little side note: I attend the Baptist Church in my home town when I visit my parents. Of course I make sure to attend the Catholic Church as well to receive Holy Communion. There is nothing wrong for a Catholic to visit another church, as long as they fulfill their obligation to the Catholic Church.

Yes it is a good question.

I am facing some of the same issues with my own tradition. Basically the answer I got was move. So much for that!

But Pax can a Catholic attend other worship services, and not join, but just go to pray and praise God if there is no Catholic Chruch available? That is basically what we often do. I

I added this to my last post, but you may of not seen it. There is nothing wrong with a Catholic going to another Christian Church. I know of Catholics who are married to Lutherans and attend both services. The only thing I have been warned not to do is partake in the communion service in a non-Catholic Church, and make sure I fulfill my obligation to the Catholic Church.

[Floatingaxe]

Pax---

What is the basis of such a warning--not to partake of communion in a Protestant church?

[Rebmilc]

Hi Fiosh.

As a matter of interest if you were excommunicated from the RC church for any reason, would you consider yourself as still having any future left with God?

If I may, I will give you a quick answer to this. Fiosh feel free to add anything if you see fit. Excommuncation is a Church penalty which excludes a notorious sinner or someone grossly disobedient from the communion of the fiathful. It doesn't mean the person ceases to be a Christian. Its purpose is to warn the individual that he risks losing his soul unless he repents.

Another purpose is to bring the wayward back to the practice of the faith and to obedience. The bishop of my diocese had a list or organizations that if you were a Catholic and a member of any of these organizations you were excommunicated. The purpose wasn't to ban all these people to hell, but rather try to give them a firm warning and bring them back to the faith.

Sorry Pax. A simple question demands a simple answer and your post doesn't give one. We all know what excommunication is supposed to be for. My question was

"As a matter of interest if you were excommunicated from the RC church for any reason, would you consider yourself as still having any future left with God?"

Why Can't you just say yes or no?

As an afterthought after your quote above i.e

"It doesn't mean the person ceases to be a Christian"

Does that mean Martin Luther was still a Christian after his excommunication?

Of course you could still have a future with God. You must take into consideration that I am a Catholic, so my answer would be that one needs to come back into the graces of God through the Church. This would mean following the directions of the Bishop, if one was Catholic and had been excommunicated.

Yes, Martin Luther was still a Christian after he was excommunicated. However, he was not in line with Church teaching. One must remember that just because a person isn't a Catholic, they can still be Christians. My family are all Baptist and of course they are Christian. Most of the people on here are not Catholics, but are Christians as are Catholics.

If you could still have a future with God outside the RCC then why is the RCC necessary? If this is the case I can surely go my own way and still obtain salvation apart from the RCC.

However I think that you may be in disagreement with your second vatican councils decree on ecumenism which states

"For it is through Christ's catholic church alone, which is the universal help towards salvation, that the fulness of the means of salvation can be obtained"

[Guest LadyC]

so.... when we, protestants, take communion, is it somehow not holy?

also, if you went to a baptist church and didn't fulfill your 'obligation' to your RCC, what do you mean you'd be 'leaving your faith'? isn't your faith in the RCC, or is it in Christ? and isn't our faith also in Christ?

[Pax]

Pax---

What is the basis of such a warning--not to partake of communion in a Protestant church?

Taking communion in a Protestant Church is a visible public sign that I agree with the teachings of this Church. This is the reason why non Catholics are denied Holy Communion in the Catholic Church. By taking the Eucharist one says I am Catholic and believe the teachings of the Catholic Church to be correct, which Protestants obviously don't believe.

[Pax]

so.... when we, protestants, take communion, is it somehow not holy?

also, if you went to a baptist church and didn't fulfill your 'obligation' to your RCC, what do you mean you'd be 'leaving your faith'? isn't your faith in the RCC, or is it in Christ? and isn't our faith also in Christ?

Catholics believe the Eucharist is the Body, blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ and is the center of each mass. Communion in most Protestant Church is a symbol. I respect Protestants and their communion services. The reason we call Catholic communion Holy is because we believe it is the actual presence. I am not trying to slight Protestants at all.

We as Catholics believe that Christ is the head and His body is the Church. We can receive both at Mass.

[Pax]

Hi Fiosh.

As a matter of interest if you were excommunicated from the RC church for any reason, would you consider yourself as still having any future left with God?

If I may, I will give you a quick answer to this. Fiosh feel free to add anything if you see fit. Excommuncation is a Church penalty which excludes a notorious sinner or someone grossly disobedient from the communion of the fiathful. It doesn't mean the person ceases to be a Christian. Its purpose is to warn the individual that he risks losing his soul unless he repents.

Another purpose is to bring the wayward back to the practice of the faith and to obedience. The bishop of my diocese had a list or organizations that if you were a Catholic and a member of any of these organizations you were excommunicated. The purpose wasn't to ban all these people to hell, but rather try to give them a firm warning and bring them back to the faith.

Sorry Pax. A simple question demands a simple answer and your post doesn't give one. We all know what excommunication is supposed to be for. My question was

"As a matter of interest if you were excommunicated from the RC church for any reason, would you consider yourself as still having any future left with God?"

Why Can't you just say yes or no?

As an afterthought after your quote above i.e

"It doesn't mean the person ceases to be a Christian"

Does that mean Martin Luther was still a Christian after his excommunication?

Of course you could still have a future with God. You must take into consideration that I am a Catholic, so my answer would be that one needs to come back into the graces of God through the Church. This would mean following the directions of the Bishop, if one was Catholic and had been excommunicated.

Yes, Martin Luther was still a Christian after he was excommunicated. However, he was not in line with Church teaching. One must remember that just because a person isn't a Catholic, they can still be Christians. My family are all Baptist and of course they are Christian. Most of the people on here are not Catholics, but are Christians as are Catholics.

If you could still have a future with God outside the RCC then why is the RCC necessary? If this is the case I can surely go my own way and still obtain salvation apart from the RCC.

However I think that you may be in disagreement with your second vatican councils decree on ecumenism which states

"For it is through Christ's catholic church alone, which is the universal help towards salvation, that the fulness of the means of salvation can be obtained"

The simple answer to this question is, if a Protestant, Catholic, or anyone else obtains salvation it will be through the one Church established by Christ. Catholics believe this Church to be the Catholic Church. So if you are a protestant die and go to heaven this will be through the Catholic Church. How this happens is mystery.

[Kabowd]

I'm not sure where you are getting the term "higher calling". But you are correct in assuming that the priesthood is considered at least a special calling. And that is mainly because the priest is the only one who can celebrate Mass and consecrate the Holy Eucharist. Every priest receives the anointing passed down from the Apostles. This anointing, which is administered by the bishop and fellow priests effects an actual filling of the Holy Spirit in a special way enabling the priest to administer the sacraments.

So how is that in some way not Gnostic, by elevating a spiritual task above a non-spiritual one?

You used the term "higher", not me.

That may very well be the first time in history that anyone even hinted that the RCC tends to Gnosticism.

We believe that the consecrated Host is the real and living Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ. How is that Gnostic?

The Holy Eucharist is the foundation and summit of life in the RCC (and outside of it, though that is not acknowledged). Without the priest we have no Holy Eucharist.

If you read thru all the info, you will note that the RCC also recognizes that we all share in Christ's priesthood.

Peace,

Fiosh

Is the calling any more special than that of a janitor?

Hi ak,

I'm honestly not sure how to answer that question. Were the Apostles "more special" than the rest of the followers of Jesus?

They were called out from among all the disciples for a special purpose, yes. Did God love them more? Were they more important? Was their calling "higher" than the rest of us? What would you say?

Whatever the answer would be to those questions, it would be the same for priests.

I can tell you that the RCC does regard all labor, as it is directed to the service and glory of God, as "special".

(Edited by mod)

I wanted to come back to this because I'm still not understanding the line of reasoning. Are you comparing the calling of the apostles to that of priests? Where do the similarities between apostles and priests end? I don't see where the question was really addressed here. You essentially raise more questions and say "whatever the answer to these would be"..etc. Does this mean you don't know the answer?

You also stated that the RCC regards all labor "as it is directed to the service and glory of God" as "special". You've yet to define what "special" means, and even more importantly, how does the RCC define what is considered a labor which is "directed to the service and glory of God"?

[Floatingaxe]

Hi Fiosh.

As a matter of interest if you were excommunicated from the RC church for any reason, would you consider yourself as still having any future left with God?

If I may, I will give you a quick answer to this. Fiosh feel free to add anything if you see fit. Excommuncation is a Church penalty which excludes a notorious sinner or someone grossly disobedient from the communion of the fiathful. It doesn't mean the person ceases to be a Christian. Its purpose is to warn the individual that he risks losing his soul unless he repents.

Another purpose is to bring the wayward back to the practice of the faith and to obedience. The bishop of my diocese had a list or organizations that if you were a Catholic and a member of any of these organizations you were excommunicated. The purpose wasn't to ban all these people to hell, but rather try to give them a firm warning and bring them back to the faith.

Sorry Pax. A simple question demands a simple answer and your post doesn't give one. We all know what excommunication is supposed to be for. My question was

"As a matter of interest if you were excommunicated from the RC church for any reason, would you consider yourself as still having any future left with God?"

Why Can't you just say yes or no?

As an afterthought after your quote above i.e

"It doesn't mean the person ceases to be a Christian"

Does that mean Martin Luther was still a Christian after his excommunication?

Of course you could still have a future with God. You must take into consideration that I am a Catholic, so my answer would be that one needs to come back into the graces of God through the Church. This would mean following the directions of the Bishop, if one was Catholic and had been excommunicated.

Yes, Martin Luther was still a Christian after he was excommunicated. However, he was not in line with Church teaching. One must remember that just because a person isn't a Catholic, they can still be Christians. My family are all Baptist and of course they are Christian. Most of the people on here are not Catholics, but are Christians as are Catholics.

If you could still have a future with God outside the RCC then why is the RCC necessary? If this is the case I can surely go my own way and still obtain salvation apart from the RCC.

However I think that you may be in disagreement with your second vatican councils decree on ecumenism which states

"For it is through Christ's catholic church alone, which is the universal help towards salvation, that the fulness of the means of salvation can be obtained"

The simple answer to this question is, if a Protestant, Catholic, or anyone else obtains salvation it will be through the one Church established by Christ. Catholics believe this Church to be the Catholic Church. So if you are a protestant die and go to heaven this will be through the Catholic Church. How this happens is mystery.

Then that is obviously an untruth! It is not through any church, but by the blood of the Lamb. Once again I see that your worship is of an institution, and not the Person of Jesus Christ.