Is it wrong, as a catholic, to attend a cofe church?

[benetint]

I'd really like to start taking my toddler dcs with me to church but I find the hour long mass a bit too much for them. I found a really lovely toddler worship in our local cofe church which is just perfect for them, lovely songs, instruments and just the right length. But I do feel a bit guilty going to a cofe church as a catholic. Is it wrong? Would God mind? If I'm honest, the warm welcome we received made me want to start going to their Sunday services also, has anyone ever attended both sides of the church?

I don't think god would mind but the head teacher will if you want them to attend catholic school. If that is not an issue then keep going (we are all Christians). Our church is cofe and we have a lovely time.

God doesn't care where you worship him.
Our church meets in a cafe and a restaurant.
So a CofE church will be no problem at all.

Your priest is probably the best person to ask.
My understanding from memories of my Catechism lessons as a child is that no you should not attend other churches religious worship. But check with your priest.

Biblically we are all one church. Doesn't matter if it's catholic, CofE, baptist etc etc. So it doesn't matter where you worship.

The RC hierarchy believes that CofE bishops and priests aren't properly valid since they split from the "proper" church. But the theology is very close between the two, so I don't see why anyone would have to feel it was "wrong" just because of something that's really only about church organisation and not about what they teach about God.

I really don't think God would mind in the slightest.

The Catholic Church will not recognise that as a fulfilment of your weekly obligation to attend mass. You must also not participate in communion.

The church of England however will welcome you to worship and to take communion, thereby seeming much nicer I have always thought.

Thanks for all your replies! Really, do I couldn't attend communion at my normal catholic church for simply attending a toddler group at a cofe?!

*so not do

If it is worrying you, I would suggest you ask this question on a Catholic forum for a clear answer on how the Church sees this which I don't really want to elaborate on here but yes, if you attend a protestant service (other than say a wedding, funeral, baptism, i.e attendance for the main purpose of worship), it would be a problem.

Would God mind? Would God mind you being with these people? Shouldn't think so.

I personally think you should go where you can praise god best. Dont let the church and dogma get in the way.

I can't see any problem with attending a toddler service. Can you get to a Catholic mass on your own without your dcs e.g. on Sat evening, early Sunday morning?

With regard to communion, CofE churches welcome communicant members of other Christian churches so you'd be very welcome to join in - I'm guessing that a toddler service wouldn't be a communion service though. I understand that catholic churches do not always permit other Christians to take communion but on the rare occasion I have been to one I have asked at the start of the service and been allowed.

Of course you can still take Communion when you're at Mass. Unless you seriously break all the rules after attending the CoE toddler group, eg adultery on the way home with no chance to get to Confession afterwards....

You're just discouraged from going up for bread/wine when at a CofE service because it's not Mass, and so (to us) CofE communion is not the Sacrament of the Eucharist. From a church law perspective, weekly Mass is seen as important, from my perspective I've tried ignoring in favour of (very) irregular attendance but I've been much more settled since going weekly again.

Its mostly been said. It won't cover your "Sunday obligation", and the Catholic church would be happy about you receiving communion in a C of E church, but attending services is fine. I've done both, but having been brought up RC, am now an Anglican Lay Minister!

And no, I really don't believe God would mind!

Brought up Cathlic, large Catholic family, attended v large church run by Jesuits. They said it was fine, and also that receiving Communion there would count. However, CofE couldn't receive Communion in a Catholic church because they don't believe in Transubstantiation.

It was a long time ago, so it may have changed.

I?m Catholic. when I had toddlers I used to co-ordinate the (midweek) toddler service at our local anglican church?although being a toddler service it was really ecumenical and not a communion service. No-one seemed to mind. On Sunday?s I helped out with children?s liturgy once a month (for toddlers through to around age 7). If you feel more welcome and comfortable at the CofE church, perhaps that is where God wants you to be at the moment. If you feel a bit uncomfortable, could you volunteer to start a children?s liturgy at the catholic church? (it?s really not hard ? we had a book to follow , there weren't many children but we used to make it work with just two or three children sometimes).

Friend of mine was raised a Catholic, but they go to lovely family friendly village CofE.