God made people to know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him in this world, and to be happy with Him forever in the next.

If you know, love, and serve God - I think - that will make you a better person.

Thanks, and I think the reason Jesus said "love the Lord thy God with all they heart and with all they soul and with all they mind and love thy neighbour as thyself" is because they are two sides of the same coin. We can't love God except through our neighbour, and we can't love our neighbour except through God.

I'm going to do something I have been trying to avoid, but I just want to see what happens. My opinion is a Catholic has NO BUSINESS attending service in any other place/ religion outside of The Church. EVAH. My sister got married in an Episcopal ceremony, and the only reason I attended was because it would cause scandal and hurt feelings if I did not go. My mother sincerely asked me to attend after I said I would not go and I spoke to my Priest about this, who pointed out the "scandal" clause.

You're going against the Church on that one....what the Church allows, you have no right to forbid.

Did I forbid anyone from doing anything? I said clearly said in my opinion. Doesn't Paul say we shouldn't worship/ partake in ceremonies with non-believers? I just interpret that rather strictly.

The First Commandment FORBIDS taking part in the services or prayers of FALSE religion. The Protestants don't even recognize us as Christian. We still believe WE are the ONE TRUE CHURCH founded by God Himself. It makes no sense for a Catholic to attend any other type of service, hence the qualifier IN MY OPINION.

Overgeneralization.

Well if they considered us Christian, why did they split in the first place? Politics? Very well, those issues have been resolved, can they come back to the fold? No, because they do not believe or accept our teachings. They do not believe as we believe. They think "they" are the "true church".

Noted... and you make some interesting observations. You may want to start another thread though.

i dunno... the question was about communion in non-Catholic, non-orthodox churches and I gave my opinion on that..
someone countered saying I was prohibiting what the Church permits.. I clarified myself.. I made a blanket statement and I clarified that.. I am just stating my reasons why I MYSELF PERSONALLY believe a Catholic has no business going to a non Catholic service. If some one else wants to open up a "bring the Lutherans/ Presbyterians/ whoever" back be my guest. For now, I'm just sticking by my reasons for not attending other services. Thanks though.. I will say this: it is sad that in my opinion I can't find a happy medium when it comes to Catholic boards. One board I am too conservative, another board a heretic.

I agree with him 100%. Whoever prays with a heretic is a heretic. But whoever prays for a heretic is a child of God.

I agree, most of my Protestant friends DO believe the Catholics to be Christians-they may disagree about the role of the Pope or other things, but I've never heard any of them say 'You're not a Christian!'

I have..
and for the record I amplified my answer..
again:
Well if they considered us Christian, why did they split in the first place? Politics? Very well, those issues have been resolved, can they come back to the fold? No, because they do not believe or accept our teachings. They do not believe as we believe. They think "they" are the "true church".
Not to debate this point just clarifying and expanding my statement

That's why when I pray the rosary I say a bead for enemies of the Church, a bead for union in the Church, for a bead for conversion of non-believers...

It's because you're European. If you lived in the American South you would hear it endlessly. (I'm exaggerating slightly but I my Southron friends know what I'm talking about.)

That might be the reason, I have heard the 'American Deep South' is a lot different !

Yeah, you pretty much did, and your opinion is contrary to the Church.

i've lived in texas my whole life...and while we're not the 'american south' per se, i have never been told that Catholics are not Christian...at least not in my recollection either as a Catholic or non-Catholic... on the internet otoh, it is prevalent that to be Catholic does not always equate to being Christian...has to do with that idolatry claim

Please show me where I FORBADE anyone from doing anything. Again note the qualifier IN MY OPINION... Who am I to forbid anyone from doing anything? Who are you to say what is and isn't useless. It may be useless to you, but maybe someone else finds it useful. Show me where I went contrary to what the Church teaches. Perhaps I am wrong and I need correction.

BTW I'm praying for you..

We (that's what we say in Mass, I do, perhaps some here do not) believe... one holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.

I don't think anyone can object so far. The Church of Christ is known by Four Marks:
1. she is ONE
2. she is HOLY
3. she is CATHOLIC
4. she is APOSTOLIC

any objections?

now we get into the part where someone may differ, if so please point out my error
a Church is One because all her members agree in one Faith, have all the same Sacrifice and Sacraments, and are united under one Head. I do not know of ministers or pastors outside of the priesthood that can perform Transubstantiation and turn the host and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ. I do not know of pastors or ministers outside of the priesthood that can absolve sins.

a Church is Holy because she teaches holy doctrine. There is much doctrine in the Holy Roman Catholic Church not taught or adhered to outside of it.

a Church is Apostolic because she holds doctrine and Traditions of the Apostles and an unbroken line of succession of her Pastors from which she derives her priestly Orders and Mission.

based on these reasons, it is MY PERSONAL BELIEF AND CONVICTION, that a Catholic has no business attending service outside the Church
So Doom, where am I wrong? perhaps I have misinterpreted something and you are much wiser and learned than me and can provide brotherly correction.

Does this mean the Church is wrong in forbidding contraception and abortion? What the State permits they have no right to forbid?