Why do people belong to two churches (or synagogues)?

My parents belonged to both the local temple and synagogue. They wanted me and my brother to be educated and confirmed or bar mitzvahed in a Reform setting but at the same time not to lose touch with the Orthodox traditions their parents maintained, especially during the High Holiday season. They also liked supporting both organizations financially. Most of my familly’s friends also belonged to both for the same reasons.

I would imagine that perhaps, as one scenario, she was living with a prolonged illness, and at times needed to leave her home and stay with an adult child for additional care. At those times, she may have attended Mass at a church more convenient to that location.

Since both were Catholic Churches, it may well have been that a couple retained ties with each of the congregations they knew before marriage. Of course, it they were members of Baptist, Mormon, JW, Catholic churches; a Jewish synagogue, and temple; and an Islamic Mosque: then this was someone who wanted to be darned sure Pascal’s wager paid off somewhere.

Catholics here go to diff churches all the time. different mass times & bishops attending etc…

My aunt belonged to two parishes also, but wasn’t really active in either anyway. She would go to the one nearby if there was time in the morning to go. If not, she would go at night to the one further away which was near a place where we’d eat dinner.

This reminds me of a story told by Alan Dershowitz in his book Chutzpah. Post WWII emigration from Williamsburg to the suburbs caused the melding of the old Brooklyn congregation into the original congregation at the newer suburban synagogue. Very quickly a problem concerning traditional observance came up. One congregation insisted that they all stand during the recitation of the Sh’mah, while the other congregation insisted that they all sit. Arguments broke out. They sought consultation with their oldest Rabbi.

“Is it not the tradition to stand when reciting the Sh’mah?” they asked. The Rabbi became silent in thought.

“No! The tradition is that we must sit when reciting!” the others said. The Rabbi remained quiet, seeming to mull it over. Then, in frustration they all said at once, “Rabbi, we must have an answer or we will be arguing forever!”

At this, the Rabbi suddenly looked to them with a light in his eyes and said, “Yes! That is the tradition!”

I love that story.

@Espiritus_Corvus I’ve got to copy that one, rambling though it may be, into my collection or terse quotes. It’s so hilariously true.

@ETpro Just learned the other day that your boys won the World Series. Congratulations bro, and Congratulations Boston!

@Espiritus_Corvus Thanks. After 95 years, they have won another at Fenway. The curse of the Bambino is finally lifted.

Now if someone would just sacrifice a goat and a black cat to Cthulhu, maybe the Cubs will actually win one.

@Seek_Kolinahr Waiting is.

My wife is Catholic and I’m Protestant.

In our case, I was raised Episcopalian and my wife Lutheran. We attend church together and it is not unusual for us to go to both churches twice in a month. I suppose we could save ourselves money by pledging financial support to only one of the churches; however, we enjoy the contemporary service at one and the traditional church at the other. (And we get the additional benefit of meeting twice as many churchgoers, attending twice the amount of pot lucks and having two church picnics in the summer – and the sermons at each church are great.) We wouldn’t have it any other way. Bloomfield CO