[Stone Mountain]

Are there any Catholic churches in Berkeley built on city property? Anybody can go into a Catholic church, but a non-Catholic will be proscribed from participating in the service.

I'm not Catholic, but I've been to a few Catholic services and masses. The only part I can remember not taking part in was the wafer thing - but I didn't take part because I had no desire to. I don't remember the priest saying that you had to be Catholic to do it. How does this work in practice - does the priest ask people who is Catholic before certain services begin?

[lentulusgracchus]

The only part I can remember not taking part in was the wafer thing - but I didn't take part because I had no desire to.

If "the wafer thing" is how you think of it, then it would be better if you didn't participate. Practicing Catholicism isn't like signing up with Carnival Cruises for a five-day getaway to St. Bart's.

I don't remember the priest saying that you had to be Catholic to do it. How does this work in practice - does the priest ask people who is Catholic before certain services begin?

No. You're catechized and baptized into the faith if you're an adult, and you are further catechized, confessed, shriven, and given a penance of prayers to perform. Once this is accomplished, you may then share in Holy Communion. Baptism, confession, and Holy Communion are the three principal sacraments of the Roman Catholic Church, and they don't play around with them.