The God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob ...

I realize that most people here do not consider themselves to be people of faith, but I cannot let go of something I heard this morning. So, please bear with me or, if you prefer, just skip this one...

Those of us who do follow the Abrahamic traditions share much. We share a faith in the one true God, the Creator of all that is seen and unseen. We believe He has revealed His will to us through the Prophets. We have much in common. More, I believe, than our differences.

The leader of my Church, Pope Leo, recently visited the Blue Mosque (the Sultan Ahmed Mosque) in Istanbul. I have also been there. It is beautiful. It is spiritual. It is transcendent. And, while there, I prayed. Pope Leo's predecessor, Pope Francis, also prayed when visiting the Blue Mosque. Pope Leo chose not to pray while there or with the Iman's at all. As a Roman Catholic, I am disappointed.

With all that is happening in the world today, he chose to focus in that moment on differences rather than similarities.

I don't want to be too critical of Pope Leo. He is new and I don't really know much about him. But in this act, to pray or not to pray in a "different" house of God, I think we can see and draw lesson. For me, I will always choose to strive for unity and understanding, not divisiveness.

✝☦☪✡

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BohoBabe · M

The official stance of the Catholic Church is that going to a different religious house to pray is heresy, it's been that way going back to the ancient days.

sarabee1995 · 31-35, F

@BohoBabe Can you cite Canon Law for this? Pope Francis prayed several times that I know of in non-Catholic houses of worship.

BohoBabe · M

@sarabee1995 Yeah, the Catholic Church is a business, so they change with the times. One of the popes also said that Atheists can go to Heaven, which goes against Canon Law. But as far as I'm aware, they didn't change the official rules on doing non-catholic rituals or non-catholic people going to Heaven.

Keep in mind, the law is usually interpreted as "active participation" being a sin, but "passive participation" is ok. They might have kept it vague on purpose.

I think it's Canon 1258. "It is not licit for the faithful by any manner to assist actively or to have a part in the sacred rites of non-Catholics."

sarabee1995 · 31-35, F

@BohoBabe Thank you for Canon 1258, but that is not on point.

Of course it is not Kosher for Catholics to partake in non-Catholic rituals. But that's not what we are talking about.

And it is not what Pope Francis did when he visited the Blue Mosque. He simply prayed. And this is what Leo chose not to do.

BohoBabe · M

@sarabee1995 The law has usually included going to the temple of a foreign faith in order to pray, since that's a ritual in itself, especially when publicized. It's basically promoting both religions, which you don't do if you think only one of those religions is correct.
That's why it's ok to pray in a mosque or a non-catholic church if you happen to find yourself there, but not as part of a publicized trip.

sarabee1995 · 31-35, F

@BohoBabe So you're saying it was okay for me to pray while there as a tourist last year in 2024 but not okay for Pope Francis to pray there on an official visit in 2014?

I've never heard your interpretation of Canon Law before. I'm not saying you are wrong; I'm certainly no expert. But I've just never heard that interpretation before.

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sarabee1995 · 31-35, F

@BohoBabe Wait ... As an atheist, you are advising me, a Roman Catholic, on Catholic theology and Canon Law interpretation? 🤣

BohoBabe · M

@sarabee1995 I literally know more about everything than everyone.

sarabee1995 · 31-35, F

@BohoBabe Lol, we must have attended the same schools because I often find myself of a similar mind! 🤣🤣🤣

BohoBabe · M

@sarabee1995