Skip to main contentAccessibility feedback
heart
URGENT: Time is running out—our campaign ends May 17! If Catholic.com has helped you, please help keep it free for millions. We are $7,000 away from hitting our $20,000 match. Please donate today.
Has catholic.com helped you? Donations matched up to $20,000.
Give NowGive Now
Get 20 Answers: The Papacy Free.

Can a Catholic Become a Protestant Pastor?

Listen to the audio version of this content

Question:

Can a Catholic become a Protestant pastor?

Answer:

No, since this would mean leaving the Catholic Church and adhering to the Protestant community with its errors in faith and morals. However, if the priest is a military chaplain of  U.S. armed forces, he is permitted to lead a Protestant service in the absence of a Protestant minister. Of course, this means that he leads prayers and Scripture readings and hymns that are not contrary to Catholic faith as a private act for the benefit of the military personnel who attend, not as a representative of any particular Protestant denomination. Thus, he may not administer their Lord’s Supper, for example. It is also permitted for a Catholic priest or deacon to preach at a Protestant service for a good cause with the permission of the local Catholic bishop, but this would be an exceptional event.

Did you like this content? Please help keep us ad-free
Enjoying this content?  Please support our mission!Donatewww.catholic.com/support-us
By continuing to use this site you agree to our Terms and that you have read our Privacy Policy.