Praying With Protestants

[matthew1618]

I'm reading a book called [u]The Threshold of the Catholic Church: A Course of Plain Instructions for Those Entering Her Communion by Most Rev. John B. Bagshawe[/u]

On page 97-98 it states,

[quote]"It is not lawful to join in any kind of religious worship or prayer with those out of the Church... Not because we (necssarily) disapprove of the prayers they use. They very often are, word for word, our prayers, taken from our books. Still less is it because we despise others, and think ourselves better. The reason is because they are avowedly in a hostile postion to the Catholic Church. They are Protestants: what do they protest against? Why, the claims of the Catholic Church! If we join with them we are just as much traitors against God's Church, as we should be traitors against the Queen, if we were found marching under the enemy's colours. We have nothing whatever to say against those who have had no means of knowing the true Church of Christ, but in those who do know, it can be nothing else than [b][i]sinful[/i][/b] to join them.[/quote]

Is this Church doctrine or simply human opinon? I've never heard this until I read this today. So can someone please help me out with this?

[Pontifex]

I know that Pope John Paul II thought that praying together was a way for us to strengthen our Unity. A good document to read is "Ut unum sut" That they may be one.

I would caution you from receiving communion in a Church that is not in union with Rome. I would also caution you from substituting a protestant service for the Mass. Do not make the mistake like some Catholics I have talked with who have said, "Well, I didn't go to Mass, but I went to the Four Square Baptist Church Service." That doesn't cut it. We need the Eucharist.

I say pray with anyone. What could it hurt? But do not let it pull you away from the Mass, the Sacraments, or your Catholic identity.

I hope that helps,

Fr. Pontifex