Q: During a visit to a city in Europe, we went to attend evening Mass at the city’s cathedral. During the day, it is visited by many tourists and has an entrance fee to support the maintenance of the building.
Upon entering the building we were stopped by an employee who asked why we were there as visiting hours were ending and tickets were not being sold. We said we wanted to attend Mass and were told Mass was in the downstairs chapel. Indeed, there was a Mass in English taking place in a lower chapel, at the same time as Mass in the upper church in the local language. We pointed to the website with the schedule but were told by multiple employees there was no Mass upstairs. While attending the Mass in English, we heard Mass taking place upstairs (bells and organ) and we later saw other people leaving the upstairs Mass.
We were dressed conservatively and my wife even had a mantilla. Looking at internet reviews of the basilica, it seems that tourists are often redirected away from Mass. There were groups of non-English speakers at the Mass we attended, so it does not seem that the employees were simply trying to be helpful by directing us to Mass in English.
Does canon law provide for preventing certain groups from attending Mass? Who would one contact if there is a violation taking place? And, if I may ask another question, although this was not our issue: could a church have a required entrance fee during Mass? –Ryan Continue reading
Canon lawyers are not responsible for the content of canon law. The Supreme Legislator is. Only Pope Francis can change the Code of Canon Law, so if you're not happy with what the law says, please take it up with him.
