Author Topic: Working for Protestants (Read 11355 times)

Vladimir · « **on:** August 14, 2011, 06:38:20 PM »

Some members here said that working for a Protestant church is not OK, so maybe they should explain....

LordPhan · « **Reply #1 on:** August 14, 2011, 06:47:39 PM »

Quote

Could you indicate whether I can perform classic country acoustic guitar folk music for income?

It is perfectly permissible to perform old time country folk music for income. It is to be understood, however, that there can be no sensual or immoral themes behind the lyrics used in the songs, and that the style remains that of folk music, refusing the deformations of Jazz and Rock.

It is perfectly permissible to perform old time country folk music on TV, even on TV run by a heretical organization.

It is not permissible to perform Gospel music, either on TV or in public. For this kind of music is an expression of the false protestant religion, and is consequently an active participation in the propagation of a false religion. It is consequently not permissible to perform Gospel music in a nursing home.

It is perfectly permissible to adapt the medium of "Gospel" music, that is the style, to Catholic use, and to write Catholic lyrics yourself, to go with commonly known Gospel style tunes. The popular medium could then be used to popularize and propagate the Catholic Faith. Under these conditions you could sing publicly in a nursing home, or on Christian TV, even if the producers or organizers were not aware of the fact that the music that you are singing, actually expresses Catholicism and not Protestantism. To do so would be to perform a good deed, for the salvation of souls.

It is perfectly licit, as a professional performer, to perform at secular ceremonies, including secular marriage ceremonies, that is when there is really no religious service, even if a minister of religion is present. It is certainly permissible to perform at wedding receptions. It is not permissible to actively participate in a Protestant religious ceremony by which a person would marry. This distinction may sometimes be a little difficult to make.

I do hope that these few remarks help you to decide what to do, and I pray that God will bless you and enable you and your guitar to edify as well as to please. [Answered by Fr. Peter R. Scott]

Vladimir · « **Reply #2 on:** August 14, 2011, 08:43:20 PM »

OK

how does playing the ____, or even singing, for a Protestant church make you more protestant.

musical performance is...musical performance. It is not actively participating in religion.

Does playing Mozart make one promote Fɾҽҽmαsσɳɾყ?

does playing Vivaldi say that you encourage priests to become laicized, etc (actually not sure if Vivaldi was laicized, but from his musical output it is hardly likely that he ever fulfilled any of his priestly duties)?

if you see someone playing Beethoven is your first impression that they are a humanist?

albeit the line can be hazy..how can say that *just* playing (and musically enjoying it) an instrument or singing, etc in a Prot. church after sunday Mass be sinful

MaterDominici · « **Reply #3 on:** August 14, 2011, 08:48:31 PM »

Vlad,
I think it has more to do with helping to facilitate the Protestant service, not so much a concern that the musician would be corrupted.

Sigismund · « **Reply #4 on:** August 14, 2011, 09:14:59 PM »

That is the issue, I think. I don't see any problem with a Catholic musician giving a concert in a Protestant church, or participating in a secular event that happens to take place in one. (I am thinking of an Independence Day event that took place every year in the town I grew up in. They had it in a big Presbyterian Church just because of the size of the building.) However, playing music for a Protestant service is not just attending but taking a leadership role in Protestant worship. I probably take a more permissive view of such things than many here, but I can't see how it would be okay to actually lead Protest worship, ot to lead the music for such a service.

What about the reverse? Could a Protestant musician play in a Catholic service? One of the best church musicians I ever know was an Episcopalian. He played at a Catholic Church, and the music at the Mass he played for was both much better aesthetically and much more orthodox than the folk nonsense at the other Masses.