The Holy Office on Worship with Non-Catholics from 1622 to 1939 by Craig Allan Advent/Christmas 2006 Following such

h historical catalysts as the persistent Great Schism o !0"#$ the %rotestant &evolt$ and the Age o '(ploration$ there was begun by the Catholic Church a vast missionary activity throughout the world that had not been seen since the days o St) %atric*$ St) Augustine o Canterbury and St) +oni ace) +ishops and priests con ronted an array o pastoral and moral situations or which they sought guidance rom the ,oly See) -he ,oly . ice throughout this period preserved the original /ueries and the subse/uent responses care ully cra ted by its theologians and approved by the &oman %onti s) -hese collections became the standard re erences indicating the Church0s sharpened sel 1understanding vis121vis her relationship with the non1Catholic parts o the globe) -hey shred the credibility o the o t1/uoted mantra that 3nothing has changed3 in the modern Church) -he ,oly . ice$ also *nown as the &oman 4n/uisition 5&omana 4n/uisitio6$ was a congregation in the &oman curia 3dating rom 4nnocent 444 5!!7#1!2!66$ although some authorities attribute its establishment to 8ucius 444 5!!9!19"6) 4n the beginning o the thirteenth century 4nnocent 444 established at &ome an in/uisitorial tribunal against the Albigensians and other innovators o the south o France) From its irst title o &omana 4n/uisitio was derived the usage o calling this body the Congregation o the ,oly &oman :niversal 4n/uisition)))) 8ater it had the o icial title Suprema Congregatio Sanct; &oman; et :niversalis 4n/uisitionis) %ius < in his recent Constitution calls it$ simply$ Congregatio S) . icii)3! :nder the ponti icate o %aul =4$ the name o the congregation was changed to the Congregation or the >octrine o the Faith)2 -he essential unction o this o ice rom its inception was to address and authoritatively ?udge matters pertaining to aith and morals) >uring the period o !622 to !7@7$ /uestions regarding worship with non1Catholics were addressed to the ,oly . ice) -he response o the ,oly . ice to the /uestions throughout the nearly three centuries which constitute this period is without e(ception consistent$ giving one a grasp o the mens ecclesiae 53the mind o the Church36) -his article will restrict itsel to the ,oly . ice itsel $ not including statements rom popes or other dicasteries on the issue during the period) -he purpose o this article$ there ore$ is to provide an understanding o the ,oly . ice0s teaching on worship with non1Catholics during a speci ic historical period which ended ?ust twenty years be ore the summoning o the Second =atican Council by %ope Aohn <<444) 4) %articipation in ,eretical and Schismatic Borship in General 4n order to ade/uately address this topic$ we must irst consider the /uestion o engaging in schismatic and heretical worship in general) Be can then consider /uestions o participation in schismatic and heretical worship in particular) -he discussion o participation in schismatic and heretical worship is rather detailed in the documents o the ,oly . ice rom the period o the seventeenth century onwards) -he ,oly . ice addresses schismatic and heretical worship by the term o communicatio in divinis$ which later is changed into the phrase communicatio in sacris) -he terms historically meant that those who worship together communicate in divine things$ hence communicatio in divinis or in sacred things$ whence communicatio in sacris) As or communicatio in divinis with schismatics and heretics$ the ,oly . ice states that it is 3constantly and uni ormly orbidden)3@ -he ,oly . ice was principally dealing with /uestions sent by those wor*ing in mission territories where there may not be Catholic priests or where the non1Catholics tended to dominate demographically) Cet$ the ,oly . ice declared that even i one cannot ind a Catholic priest$ one

cannot participate in schismatic worship$# even i it is a Catholic rite)" ,ere the /uestion$ as ar as the ,oly . ice was concerned$ is not whether the worship is Catholic$ but whether one can ?oin with schismatics or not) ,istorically there have been occasions where Catholics ind themselves in locations where there was no Catholic priest$ but the schismatics who were present o ered the same ritual as was o ered by the Gree* Catholics and now today by the &oman Catholics) -he ,oly . ice went on to say that Gree* &ite Catholics$ when they do not have their own church$ cannot go to the Gree* rites said by heretics and schismatics$ but they should go to the 8atin rite)6 -here ore$ i the rite to which a Catholic belongs is not o ered in his area$ he is to assist at a di erent rite said by a Catholic priest) 4 there is no Catholic Dass available Ea Catholic rite said by a Catholic priestF$ one is not held to the precept o hearing ,oly Dass) .ne cannot attend a non1Catholic Dass)G 4n connection to this discussion$ the ,oly . ice stated that Catholics were orbidden to approach schismatic churches$ when there is no Catholic Dass$ in order to hear Dass$ even i there is nothing contrary to the Faith)9 Bhen there is no Catholic priest available$ they are not held to the precept o hearing Dass) 4n relation to Gree* Catholics$ the ,oly . ice was wont to observe that they should attend a 8atin rite church$ i available$ and the same would apply to 8atins) -his would ollow since Catholics must avoid all communicatio in sacris with schismatics and heretics)7 Catholics were orbidden to give alms at a Dass o ered by a schismatic priest$!0 presumably since this would be a orm o support o alse worship and con irming the schismatic priest in his error by inancial support) Furthermore$ one cannot participate in schismatic prayer$ even i there is nothing contrary to the Faith)!! Again$ the ,oly . ice said that it is not so much a matter o whether the prayer contains anything ob?ectionable to the Faith$ but the very act that one participates with schismatics) For this reason the ,oly . ice said that by participating Ein schismatic and heretical worshipF$ Catholics give e(terior signs o segregation E romF and disapproval!2 Eo the Catholic ChurchF by uni ying themselves with those who disapprove or segregate themselves rom the Catholic Church$ since participation in liturgical actions constitutes a sign o unity)!@ +y coming together with them in unity o prayer$ in unity o cult$ in unity o veneration and worship$ one does so with perverse!# schismatic and heretical ministers)!" 4n e ect$ the ,oly . ice was saying that it is by the very coming together with those who re?ect the Faith and ?oining one0s prayer and worship to them that one is participating in worship which is done by those who re?ect the Catholic Church) -o participate with those who re?ect the aith is there ore orbidden) Bith heretics$ there are errors pertaining to matters o the Faith$!6 and given the a orementioned considerations regarding schismatic worship$ the ,oly . ice stated that participation in schismatic and heretical worship is orbidden or the ollowing reasons) First$ there is a danger o perversion o the Catholic Faith$!G i)e) there is a danger o the loss o Catholic Faith) -his indicates the implicit obligation to protect one0s aith) Second$ there is the very danger o participating in a heretical or schismatic rite$!9 or the above mentioned reasons$ i)e) the very participation mani ests a sign o disunity rom the Church by being united in worship with those not united to the Church) -hird$ participation in heretical or schismatic worship is a danger and occasion o scandal)!7 +y scandal$ we presume the ,oly . ice meant that participation in schismatic and heretical worship can a ect the Faith o others who see Catholics involved in such worship) Fourth$ in schismatic churches there is the commemoration o some schismatics who are venerated as holyH there are images$ cult o relics or easts that are celebrated o those who died in schism as well as the commemoration o living patriarchs or schismatic bishops and heretics)20 Fi th$ by participating in their worship$ one con irms schismatics and heretics in their errors)2! -he ,oly . ice there ore observed that the Council o Carthage orbade praying and singing 5psallendum6 with heretics)22 -he Supreme Congregation stated that participation in schismatic

and heretic worship is 3universally prohibited by natural and divine law)))E rom whichF no one has the power to dispense )))Eand with respect to this participationF nothing e(cuses)32@ -hose who so participate must see* absolution in the sacrament o penance)2# 44) %articipation in ,eretical and Schismatic Borship in %articular ,aving orbidden participation in non1Catholic worship in general$ the ,oly . ice li*ewise answered /uestions about the application o this prohibition in a variety o di erent circumstances) -he irst category o circumstances is Catholics participating or attending schismatic and heretical worship and/or churches) -he second category o circumstances is with respect to non1Catholics ?oining in Catholic prayer$ worship or the reception o sacraments rom Catholic priests) As to the irst category$ the ,oly . ice addressed the /uestion about whether Catholics can receive sacraments rom non1Catholics) 4t said that Catholics may do so provided the ollowing conditions are in place)2" -he irst is that there must be grave and urgent cause)26 Second$ it must be administered by a validly ordained non1Catholic priest who administers the sacrament by a Catholic rite without any mi(ing o the condemned rite 5ritus damnati6)2G -hird$ by the communicatio in divinis$ there must be no e(ternal pro essing 5protestatio6 o alse dogma) Fourth$ it must not cause scandal) Bhile this pertains to the reception o sacraments or a grave and urgent cause$ or those occasions which are outside o those conditions$ it is orbidden) ,ence$ the ,oly . ice orbade Catholics to go to the uneral o non1Catholics$ e(cept rom a causa civilis$29 i)e) rom a civil cause) +y this$ it appears we are to understand that only those who hold a civil o ice or a position o prominence within a civic community could go to the uneral o a non1Catholic) ,owever$ those who attend a uneral or a civil cause may do so only i their presence is material$27 when there is no harm to the Catholics@0 and when they do not participate in the rites or ceremonies)@! -his means that Catholics at non1Catholic unerals cannot be pallbearers in a procession to or within the heretical church)@2 ,owever$ they can accompany the body to the cemetery but must be separate rom the non1Catholics)@@ Catholics were orbidden to carry candles in the uneral procession o schismatics$@# presumably since this would be a orm o communicatio in divinis) Bhen schismatics have a procession o the +lessed Sacrament$ Catholics are to adore the +lessed Sacrament as it passes$ however$ they cannot associate with the schismatics)@" -his would seem to indicate that Catholics should *neel or per orm some other orm o reverence while not participating in the actual procession itsel 5i)e) wal*ing in the procession6$ nor engaging in the singing in con?unction with the procession) A Catholic bishop is orbidden to go to a schismatic Gree* church to chant the do(ology)@6 Catholic priests are entirely orbidden to o er ,oly Dass in the private houses o and in places re/uented by schismatics and heretics)@G Catholics were orbidden to be godparents at the +aptisms o schismatics and heretics)@9 4t is not licit to receive the nuptial blessing rom a non1Catholic minister)@7 Be may surmise that this is due to the act that it is a orm o communicatio in divinis with the non1Catholic minister) As or Catholics going to the marriages o Catholics being married outside o the Church$ the ,oly . ice says this is orbidden by virtue o law 5regula6) ,owever$ it may be tolerated or a causa civilis$#0 and provided that$ scandal being removed$ there is no perversion o the Faith or contempt or ecclesiastical authority)#! -his meant that unless one had a civil cause$ one was orbidden to go to the wedding) Bhen approaching or entering a schismatic or heretical church 5building6$ the ,oly . ice had several conditions) First$ one can enter out o curiosity as long as there is no communicatio in

sacris with the schismatics or heretics)#2 -he ,oly . ice says that to go to a heretical temple as long as it is viewed as a pro ane edi ice is an indi erent moral act$#@ i)e) it is in itsel neither morally good or morally bad$ but is rendered bad based upon a depraved end 5motive6 and circumstances)## 4t appears that the ,oly . ice said that the heretical church is to be viewed as a 3pro ane edi ice3 precisely because it is not holy in the sense o having been made holy or sacred by a due rite o the Catholic Church) 'ntering a schismatic or heretical church is materially sin ul i I 5!6 one has the intention o assisting at a sacred unction o heretics$ 526 one goes and it is seen or seems to appear to be a communicatio in divinis with heretics and thus an occasion o scandal$ 5@6 such going proceeds rom an indication given by a heretical governor 5civil magistrate6 as a protestation o the Faith or religion o Catholics$ 5#6 one wills a to*en union o Catholics and non1 Catholics$ i)e) as a sign o unity o Catholics and non1Catholics)#" -his also meant that Catholics could not go to a schismatic church and pray privately during the services o non1Catholics$ even to avoid persecution)#6 ,owever$ a Catholic may enter a schismatic church$ pray be ore the images and the +lessed Sacrament$ provided there is no scandal and no ?oining in the prayers with the schismatics)#G Catholics cannot contribute to the building o heretical churches)#9 ,owever$ one could help to build the 3sacred3 building o heretics provided that 5!6 it is not viewed as a positive approbation o the alse religion$ 526 it does not have anything which directly and per se e(presses something contrary to the Catholic cult and e(presses approbation o the condemned 5damnati6 cults o heretics and 5@6 that those building the heretical church are warned not to cooperate in the heretical cult)#7 Catholics were orbidden to play the organ in heretical churches)"0 Catholics were orbidden to swear on and *iss an heretical bible)"! As or non1Catholics coming and participating in Catholic worship or receiving sacraments rom Catholic priests$ the ,oly . ice made several statements and observations) As to the reception o the sacraments by Gree* schismatics$ the ,oly . ice appears to restrict Catholic priests to administering only the sacrament o penance and only in the 3case o e(treme necessity)3"2 %resumably the operative principle is salus animarum suprema le( est 5salvation o souls is the supreme law6) 4n Catholic unerals$ schismatic priests are not to be tolerated$ e(cept$ perhaps$ i they o er a purely material presence 5passive presence$ i)e) they do not participate in the worship6 and a civil ministry)"@ Jon1Catholics are to be tolerated at Catholic worship provided they o er a mere material presence or the purpose o civil honor to the dead and they do not mi( in with the prayers and rites o Catholics)"# Doreover$ heretics cannot sing in our churches nor serve at the altar at Dass)"" %rotestants can come to Catholic +aptisms but they cannot participate 5communicatio in sacris6"6 and non1Catholics can be tolerated at Catholic weddings provided they do not participate 5communicatio in sacris6 and there is no scandal)"G -he ,oly . ice also stated that Catholic missionaries are orbidden under pain o suspensio a divinis ipso acto"9 to invite schismatic government o icials$ o er them blessed water when they enter and to e(hibit any *ind o honor$ when some east is celebrated)"7 .n a di erent note$ the ,oly . ice observes that i there is no Catholic to play the organ$ i the scandal is remote$ a non1Catholic could play the organ)60 -he Supreme Congregation stated that$ on the 'piphany$ it may be tolerated that Catholic priests with ear o coercion rom schismatics may bless their houses$ but not in any way so as to seem to communicate with them in prayer)6! 8astly$ Catholic priests may e(orciKe -ur*s 5Doslems6 but the -ur*s must be educated and persuaded about the authority o the Church to minister in this way$ which was given by Christ$ without the priests giving any alse idea that it comes rom human science or art)62

Conclusion -o summariKe$ we may recall that the ,oly . ice said that it is not so much a matter o whether schismatic worship contains anything ob?ectionable to the FaithH rather$ the problem is the very participation in worship with schismatics) +y participating in schismatic and heretical worship$ one is giving e(terior signs o segregation and disapproval) Any participation in liturgical actions would constitute a sign o unity with those who are not in union with the Church) +y coming together with them in unity o prayer$ in unity o cult$ in unity o veneration and worship$ Catholics would o er worship with perverse schismatic and heretical ministers) 4n e ect$ the ,oly . ice said that it is by the very coming together with them and ?oining one0s prayer and worship to theirs that one is participating in worship o those who re?ect the Catholic Church) -o participate with those who re?ect the Faith was there ore orbidden$ since there is a danger o perversion and loss o the Catholic aith) -here is the very danger o participating in a heretical or schismatic rite$ since the participation mani ests a sign o disunity rom the Church) %articipation in heretical or schismatic worship is an occasion o scandal and by participating in their worship$ one con irms schismatics and heretics in their errors) -he ,oly . ice there ore observed that the Council o Carthage orbade praying and singing with heretics and that participation in schismatic and heretic worship is 3universally prohibited by natural and divine law)))Eabout whichF no one has the power to dispense)))Eand with respect to this participationF nothing e(cuses)3 Craig Allan is a nom de plume or a pro essor who has earned a doctoral degree rom a ponti ical university) ,e is presently teaching at the graduate level in the :nited States) JotesI !) Catholic 'ncyclopedia 5-he Gilmary Society$ Jew Cor*$ !7!@1!7"96$ vol) <444$ p) !@G) 2) See Aames1Charles Joonan$ -he Church =isibleI -he Ceremonial 8i e and %rotocol o the &oman Catholic Church 5Amaranth$ +roo*lyn$ Jew Cor*$ !7766$ p) 69) @) Collectanea S) Congregationis de %ropaganda Fidei seu >ecreta 4nstructiones &escripta pro Apostolicis Dissionibus 5'( -ypographia %olyglotta$ &oma$ !70G6$ vol) 4$ p) 77$ n) @!! 5!G276 and Col)$ vol) 4$ p) 27@$ n) #"" 5!G6#6) ,ence orth$ the Collectanea will be re erred to asI Col)$ volume$ page$ number 5date6) #) Col)$ vol) 4$ p) 7!$ n) 26G 5!G0#6) ") Col)$ vol) 4$ p) 7!$ n) 26G 5!G0#6 6) Col)$ vol) 4$ p) 2@!$ n) @97$ ad 2 5!G"@6) G) Col)$ vol) 4$ p) "#$ n) !G! 5!6696) 9) Col)$ vol) 4$ p) "#$ n) !G! 5!6696 and Col)$ vol) 4$ p) 7!$ n) 26G$ ! 5!G0#6) 7) See Col)$ vol) 44$ p) 2@@$ n) !676$ G 5!9996) !0) Col)$ vol) 4$ p) @G!$ n) 600$ 2 5!G976)

!!) Col)$ vol) 4$ p) 7!$ n) 26G 5!G0#6) !2) Col)$ vol) 4$ p) !00$ n) @!! 5!G276) !@) Col)$ vol) 4$ p) 6#2$ n) !!G6 5!9"76) !#) ,ere$ the term perverse does not necessarily re er to the Si(th and Jinth Commandments as it tends to in modern 'nglish parlance) &ather$ it is a broader nomination) !") Col)$ vol) 4$ p) !00$ n) @!! 5!G276) !6) Col)$ vol) 4$ p) !00$ n) @!! 5!G276) !G) Col)$ vol) 4$ p) 77$ n) @!! 5!G276 and Col)$ vol) 4$ p) 6#2$ n) !!G6 5!9"76) -he C4C/!G 5can) 2@!66 observes that those who participate in schismatic and heretical worship are suspect o heresy) !9) Col)$ vol) 4$ p) 77$ n) @!! 5!G276) !7) 4bid)H Col)$ vol) 4$ p) 2@!$ n) @97 5!G"@6 and Col)$ vol) 4$ p) 6#2$ n) !!G6 5!9"76) 20) Col)$ vol) 4$ p) !00$ n) @!! 5!G276) 2!) 4bid) 22) Col)$ vol) 4$ p) 6#2$ n) !!G6 5!9"76) 2@) Col)$ vol) 4$ p) !00$ n) @!! 5!G276) 2#) 4bid) 2") -hese conditions are ta*en rom Col)$ vol) 4$ p) 2@!$ n) @97 5!G"@6 and Col)$ vol) 4$ p) 672$ !2"G$ 6 5!96#6) 26) 4t would appear than an e(ample o this would be the danger o a Catholic dying in the state o mortal sin) 2G) A ritus damnati would be a rite o the non1Catholic priest which has been condemned or which contains heresy or alse worship) 29) Col)$ vol) 4$ p) #29$ n) G2G 5!9!96 and Col)$ vol) 44$ p) #!!$ n) !@62$ 2 5!9G!6) See also Col)$ vol) 4$ p) "!7$ n) 72!$ 2 5!9#!6) 27) +y material presence is meant that it is not ormal$ i)e) they are not voluntarily and actively ?oining in the actual rites o the uneral) @0) Jormally$ this is understood in the sense that$ by going to the unerals o heretics$ there must be no danger to the Catholic0s aith) See below)

@!) Col)$ vol) 4$ p) #29$ n) G2G 5!9!96) @2) Col)$ vol) 4$ p) !90$ n) @"# 5!G"!6 and Col)$ vol) 4$ p) 2!G$ n) @G7 5!G"!6) @@) Col)$ vol) 4$ p) 2!G$ n) @G7 5!G"!6) 4n some places$ this translated into accompanying the body to the cemetery but not actually entering the non1Catholic cemetery) @#) Col)$ vol) 4$ p) #0"$ n) 6G2$ ! 5!90@6 and ibid)$ p) 672$ n) !2"G$ ! 5!96#6) @") Col)$ vol) 4$ p) 27#$ n) #"9 5!G"!6 and ibid)$ p) 672$ n) !2"G$ " 5!96#6) @6) Col)$ vol) 4$ p) "!7$ n) 72! 5!9#!6) @G) Col)$ vol) 4$ p) 2@0$ n) @99$ ! and 2 5!G"@6) @9) Col)$ vol) 4$ p) @G!$ n) 600$ ! 5!G976H Col)$ vol) 4$ p) #0"$ n) 6G2$ 2 5!90@6 and Col)$ vol) 4$ p) 672$ n) !2"G$ ! and # 5!96#6) @7) Col)$ vol) 4$ p) #20$ n) G!G 5!9!G6) #0) See above on discussion o unerals o non1Catholics) #!) Col)$ vol) 44$ p) G6$ n) !#!0$ ! 5!9G#6) #2) Col)$ vol) 4$ p) #29$ n) G2G 5!9!96) #@) Col)$ vol) 4$ p) #29$ n) G2G 5!9!96) ##) Col)$ vol) 4$ p) #29$ n) G2G 5!9!96) #") All our o these are ta*en rom Col)$ vol) 4$ p) #29$ n) G2G 5!9!96) #6) See Col)$ vol) 4$ p) 70$ n) 26# 5!G0#6) #G) Col)$ vol) 4$ p) 27#$ n) #"9$ ! 5!G6#6) #9) Col)$ vol) 4$ p) 672$ n) !2"G$ 9 5!96#6) #7) Col)$ vol) 4$ p) 672$ n) !2"G$ !0 5!96#6) "0) Col)$ vol) 44$ p) 2#0$ n) !G!@ 5!9976) "!) Col)$ vol) 4$ p) #@2$ n) G@7$ ad 2 5!9206) "2) Col)$ vol) 4$ p) 2@!$ n) @97$ ad @ 5!G"@6) "@) Col)$ vol) 4$ p) 26@$ n) #!!$ ad 2 5!G"96) "#) Col)$ vol) 4$ p) 6#2$ n) !!G6 5!9"76)

"") Col)$ vol) 4$ p) 672$ n) !2"G 5!96#6) "6) Col)$ vol) 4$ p) 296$ n) ##G 5!G6@6) "G) Col)$ vol) 44$ p) G6$ n) !#!0$ ! 5!9G#6) "9) A suspensio a divinis ipso acto is a canonical penalty in which a priest is stripped o his aculties and his ability to e(ercise his priesthood) A suspension is ipso acto when the priest is suspended by per orming the very act to which the suspension is attached and not based upon a ?udgment o a superior) "7) Col)$ vol) 4$ p) 2@0$ n) @99$ " 5!G"@6) 60) Col)$ vol) 4$ p) #@2$ n) G@7$ @ 5!9206) 6!) Col)$ vol) 4$ p) 26@$ n) #!!$ ad @ 5!G"96) 62) Col)$ vol) 4$ p) @@2$ n) "@G$ ! 5!GG76)