what would prevent me how would anyone know i wasent catholic per say, if i practice it totally isint that enough?
2007-05-20 01:36:58 · 17 answers · asked by jupiter_11505 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
You just can't take communion but you can go.
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2007-05-20 01:41:31 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
You can attend the Catholic church but you shouldn't receive Eucharist until you are fully indoctrinated.
No one would know that you are not Catholic...but that's not the point. Fooling the priests and the laity...kind of goes against the Christian principle of honesty. Plus God would know.
The reasons that the Church requires you to learn the faith first, is because when you receive Eucharist it is the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ. St. Paul says in the Bible that "he who receives unworthily calls judgment down on himself." Pretty powerful words. So the Church has a responsibility to teach you the faith so that you will not call judgment down on yourself.
You are more then welcome to attend Mass, listen and learn. You may go forward with your arms crossed over your chest as a sign that you cannot receive. The priest will bless you. Inquire at your local parish about RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) this is a program where you can learn the faith, ask questions etc. If you decide you want to become Catholic you can complete the program and join the Church.
I'm a convert myself and have been through the program. By the time you finish...you desire the Eucharist so much. There is so much to know and understand and it's beautiful. Don't cheat yourself by just pretending to be Catholic.
2007-05-20 08:49:39 · answer #2 · answered by Misty 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
You can go and worship in a Catholic Church without actually becoming Catholic. It's not like there are bouncers at the doors turning back people who are not already members of the Church.
Having said that, worshiping in a Catholic Church, and presumably believing Church Doctrine - unless you do eventually become a Confirmed Catholic.
It's not what the person in the pew next to you knows. It's the Man Upstairs. He knows the difference between someone who is really a Catholic, and someone who is posing as one.
You seem to enjoy worshiping in the Church. I take it you do believe in Church Doctrine...Why not become a Confirmed Catholic?
Until you do, you cannot receive Communion at the Catholic Church. You are welcome to worship at mass, but reception of Holy Communion is meant for Catholics only.
You ask, "Isn't that enough?"
What's the harm in becoming a Catholic?
2007-05-20 17:37:58 · answer #3 · answered by Daver 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You could do that. Anyone can attend Mass, but only Catholics may receive the sacraments.
If you took it upon yourself to receive ANY of the sacraments without fully understanding what you were doing, and how you might need to prepare for worthy reception of them, there might be some unexpected and very serious spiritual repercussions.
1Co 11:26 For as often as you shall eat this bread and drink the chalice, you shall shew the death of the Lord, until he come.
1Co 11:27 Therefore, whosoever shall eat this bread, or drink the chalice of the Lord unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and of the blood of the Lord.
1Co 11:28 But let a man prove himself: and so let him eat of that bread and drink of the chalice.
1Co 11:29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily eateth and drinketh judgment to himself, not discerning the body of the Lord.
The bottom line is this: The proper way to obtain all the benefits the Catholic Church has to offer is to officially become Catholic, through the typical and normal means of initiation.
Feel free to attend Mass any time ... you're always welcome ... but refrain from even attempting to receive ANY of the sacraments of the church until you've actually become Catholic.
For non-Catholic Christians, that usually means completing an approved RCIA program at a local Catholic parish.
God bless you.
2007-05-20 11:21:33 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am not catholic, but I have come across that in churches I have gone to, if u don't join the church then u can't participate in any active per say, and I don't think that is right, u go to church to learn and to be taught the Love of God and to join in with other Christians not to be forced into joining just so u can participate
2007-05-20 08:58:32 · answer #5 · answered by Believer 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All are welcome to come and worship at any Catholic Church.
Please join us as we praise God, thank God for all that He gives us, and ask God for the things the world needs.
+ The Eucharist +
However with great respect, we ask non-Catholics not to receive the Eucharist (Holy Communion) until they are in full communion with us.
At the Last Supper, Jesus said, “Take this bread. It is my body.” The he said, “Take this and drink. This is my blood. Do this in memory of me.”
Catholics believe this was the First Eucharist, that through some miracle the bread and wine actually became the body and blood of Jesus Christ.
Catholics reenact the Last Supper during every Mass, where the priest, acting in place of Christ, changes the bread and wine into the body and blood of Jesus Christ.
This is a great sacrament of thanksgiving and unity of Catholics.
Anyone who does not believe in the actual presence of Christ and is not united with the Catholic faith is asked, out of respect, not to receive the Eucharist.
Catholics, out of respect for other Christian faiths, do not receive Communion in non-Catholic churches.
We pray that one day Christian unity will succeed and we will all be called to the same table.
+ Joining the Catholic Church +
If you are interested in joining or just learning more about the Catholic Church, contact your local parish and ask about information about their RCIA Inquiry group.
You can go and ask any questions you want.
This is the first step in RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) but you can stop at any time.
There is no obligation to become a Catholic.
+ With love in Christ.
2007-05-20 23:21:19 · answer #6 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jupiter,
You do not have to attend church to be a Christian nor do you have to be a Christian to attend a church.
Any real Christian church will accept you as a non-member, even the Catholic church.
If any church would require that you must join as a member then they are a cult and not a true church of God.
The purpose of a church is to educate people to the knowledge of God's word so that they may follow in the ways of God's word. When you seek the knowledge and the way of God and want to follow this from feelings of your heart then you are becoming a Christian. That is all that is required; no more than that...!
Joining any church is not necessary...believing and following in God and His ways are...
I wish you well...
2007-05-20 08:52:00 · answer #7 · answered by farplaces 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You would not be barred from attending a Catholic church but you would not be able to participate fully in the sacraments, no one would even know you were not Catholic if you behaved as everyone else around you but this would be unfair to yourself.
Catholics believe that the Eucharist is not purely symbolic but in fact the real living presence of Christ both Body and Soul under the species of bread and wine, if you attend a Catholic Mass and do not believe this yourself then it may levae you feeling uncomfortable or confused.
Yet there is nothing against a non Catholic attending Mass as long as they did not particpate in the reception of the Eucharist.
2007-05-20 08:50:33 · answer #8 · answered by Sentinel 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Do you have Catholic friends? You should attend Mass with them. When I was in university I attended Catholic Mass regularly. I had even considered conversion. Attend it, if you wish. The relationship between you and God, as with the faith you choose should be your own personal business.
2007-05-20 08:43:36 · answer #9 · answered by peskylisa 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
You are MORE than welcome to join church services. Everyone is encouraged to find out more about God. Afterall, how will people know Him if they weren't allowed to attend services to find out more about Him? As for tithing, you are not forced/obliged to give as a non-Christian. However, if you are a Christian, you would be convicted to give so that the money can be used to support missionaries, ministries, pay church bills, charities etc. "Convicted" means that being a Christian, you give out of joy, giving something back to God. You'd give because you want to. No one in the church would force you to give if you didn't want to.
2007-05-20 08:52:15 · answer #10 · answered by silverarrows_00 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You can attend all you like but you just can't receive Communion.
Please pray over this. I feel that God is calling you, that your comments express a desire for unity with His Church. Pray on this. Speak with a priest if you like.
God bless and take care.
2007-05-20 23:59:51 · answer #11 · answered by Danny H 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋