A reader writes:
What is the official Church teaching and/or guidance on attending both Mass and
a church service at another Christian denomination on Sundays? Here is some
more specific background information. My family (wife + kids) and I are
currently members of a Protestant church. I have been reading up on
the Catholic faith for a number of years now and I’m considering pursuing it
further and possibly joining the Catholic Church. However, my wife does not
share this desire.I was wondering if I could attend both on Sundays if I
became Catholic. I’m assuming that on days when our Protestant church serves
communion that I would need to refrain. I have not really brought up the issue
of the kids with my wife either, but one step at a time.
Thank you for writing! I pray that God will smooth your journey as you work your way through these issues.
You are correct that, as a Catholic, you could not receive communion in your current church since Protestant churches (unfortunately) did not retain a sacramental priesthood and therefore, apart from very exceptional circumstances, do not have the Real Presence when they celebrate the Lord’s Supper. Canon law does not allow Catholics to receive communion in these circumstances (CIC 846 ยง2).
Present canon law does not, however, prohibit Catholics from attending non-Catholic services. Therefore, you would be able to continue to attend Protestant services with your wife and family as long as doing so does not pose a problem for your Catholic faith.
You would have the obligations other Catholics do, such as the duty to attend Mass. In some mixed-marriage families this is solved by attending Mass on Saturday evening and then going to Protestant services on Sunday morning, or the reverse, or by going to both services on Sundays (e.g., a morning service at once church and an evening service at the other). In some cases, both spouses go to both services.
Hope this helps, and God bless you!
My wife (Presbyterian) and I (Catholic) have attended both services for 35+ years. While it occasionally has presented some scheduling conflicts it has been rewarding for us and has made us stronger in our respective faiths (although my wife is more inclined to Catholic teaching than I am of Protestant doctrines).
Hope that your search brings you into the Catholic Church.
I was received into the Catholic Church in June 2004 and was prepared to attend Mass (7:30 AM) and the service at my old non-denominational Evangelical Protestant church with my wife and children. My commitment to remain the spiritual head of my family seems to have had an impact on my wife. Around Christmas she suggested we forego the Protestant service on Sundays and was very receptive to the baptism of our three young daughters into the Catholic faith. While she hasn’t made a move to follow me across the Tiber, we are as close as ever. Bottom line, I think doing both is the way to go (although it can be cringe-fest)!
When I was exploring Catholicism, (before I committed myself to reconciling to the Church), I made it a habit to attend Saturday evening Mass, and then my Baptist Church on Sunday mornings.
At least for a single, that is quite workable.
May God bless you and your family on your journey together.
When my parents got married, my mom was Catholic and my dad, Lutheran. As a child, I remember going to Mass on Saturday evenings and the Lutheran service on Sunday mornings. Our family kept this up faithfully until my dad entered the Church in 1987. I think it’s important for spouses to support and respect each other’s faith journey, whether they are both Catholic or are of different denominations.
My mom never asked my dad to enter the Church – it was his journey, but I feel her commitment to the Faith and love and respect for my dad and his faith practices helped to foster his entrance into the Church.
yes, we did.
Jimmy, thanks the answer helps. And thanks to the folks that left comments. I appreciated them as well.
Just a note w/regard to the term “mixed marriage”: some couples prefer the term “interchurch” when referring to a marriage where both the Catholic and non-Catholic spouse retain their committments in their respective churches. “Mixed marriage” is felt by some to be too broad a term, since it can encompass marriages where only one or neither party is a practicing Christian.