Case 4. An Oratorio in an Anglican Church

In a certain town, when the Anglican elementary schools needed money, the Anglicans decided to sing, on a certain Thursday in their church, the oratorio which is called Messiah, to the hearing of which the people would be admitted for a price, and the proceeds would be applied to the needs of the schools. But since the Anglican singers were not sufficient, they asked certain Catholics, among others Caius, to furnish help.

To Caius, who asked whether any religious function was to be performed at the same time, the reply was made that the Anglican minister would pour forth a general prayer at the beginning, and that nothing else besides Messiah would be done. Caius does not wish to deny help to his fellow citizens, especially since they themselves often help Catholics; nevertheless, he does not know whether in this case it is lawful to assent to the request. Hence it is asked:

1. What is participation in sacred rites, and to what extent is it prohibited with heretics?

2. Is it lawful to cooperate in promoting a false religion?

3. What is to be said of the case?

1. What is participation in sacred rites with heretics, and how far is it forbidden?

Participation in sacred rites means joining in religious functions, rites, ceremonies, with heretics and non-Catholics generally. Such an act is in general prohibited by divine and natural law as well as by positive ecclesiastical law. God has established one form of worship. He desires men to use that form when they worship Him; any other worship is displeasing to Him. That form of worship is used exclusively in the Catholic Church, the only true Church of Christ. For a Catholic, then, to take part in non-Catholic worship of God is to commit a sin against religion and the Faith. Such an act is also likely to cause scandal, and is wrong on this account. Moreover, the Church’s positive legislation must be considered. Heretics and schismatics are excommunicated, or cut off from communion with the faithful. Before the Council of Constance (1414) the faithful were forbidden to hold communication with heretics either in religion or in civil matters. By a decree of that Council (Ad Evitanda) Catholics were allowed to communicate with heretics as far as ecclesiastical law is concerned, unless such heretics had been censured by name. Heretics censured by name are to be avoided still, at least in all religious matters; intercourse is allowed with others who are tolerated, except in so far as divine and natural law forbids it.

2. Is it lawful to co-operate in furthering the cause of a false religion?

It is never lawful to co-operate formally with such a cause; but to co-operate materially with it is not wrong, provided that there be a sufficiently grave cause, provided that what is done is not in itself wrong, and provided that the intention be good.

3. The case. The Anglicans in a certain town determined to perform Handel’s Messiah in their church on a Thursday, and to admit the public on payment, in order to provide funds for the Anglican elementary schools of the town. They had not sufficient singers, and they asked Caius, a Catholic, to help them. They told Caius that there was to be no religious function besides a general prayer offered by the parson at the commencement of the oratorio. As the Anglicans have often helped Catholics in similar circumstances, Caius would like to help them in return if it is not wrong.

It is better to avoid taking any part in non-Catholic functions which in any way are connected with religion as far as possible. All the more must this be done, if scandal would be caused by such action. In some countries and circumstances such an action would be considered as a favoring of heretics and wrong; and in some it would be forbidden by positive law. This being supposed, let us see whether Caius is bound, under pain of sin, to refuse his help, supposing that there would be no scandal, and that there is no special prohibition of the Church, as might easily be the case in countries like England. Under these circumstances, we think that Caius might take part in the oratorio without committing sin. The object is to provide funds for Anglican elementary schools, but such an object is not directly religious. Caius takes no part in any distinctively Anglican religious service. His reason is, because he wishes to make a return for a similar service.