Allowed to skip RCIA?

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Sheeniac

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All,

I am a revert Catholic, and had attended CCD until just before Confirmation. An atheist for 25 years, I attended a 6 week Catholics Returning Home program for Catholics wanting to return to the faith. It was primarily about the differences since we’d been gone, what the Church believes, practices, etc.

It was great. I went through Reconciliation again with their pastor.

This was at another parish, and when I went to speak with my pastoral associate at my parish, she said I didn’t need to attend RCIA classes, and could just be confirmed. This was after a discussion about theology, the rosary, the Church, my readings, etc.

Is this ‘kosher’? I was considering taking Scott Hahn’s Bible study classes online, and had told her that I had been reading Frank Sheed, Archbishop Sheen, and a lot of apologetics material.

Thanks, Juli
 
Yes, this is fine. RCIA is designed more for catechumens and candidates who came from Protestant or non-Christian faiths. You would probably find the material offered redundant.
 
Sheeniac said:
All,

I am a revert Catholic, and had attended CCD until just before Confirmation. An atheist for 25 years, I attended a 6 week Catholics Returning Home program for Catholics wanting to return to the faith. It was primarily about the differences since we’d been gone, what the Church believes, practices, etc.

It was great. I went through Reconciliation again with their pastor.

This was at another parish, and when I went to speak with my pastoral associate at my parish, she said I didn’t need to attend RCIA classes, and could just be confirmed. This was after a discussion about theology, the rosary, the Church, my readings, etc.

Is this ‘kosher’? I was considering taking Scott Hahn’s Bible study classes online, and had told her that I had been reading Frank Sheed, Archbishop Sheen, and a lot of apologetics material.

Thanks, Juli
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Yes , as a returning but unconfirmed Catholic you can seek and be Confirmed without RCIA.
 
Sheeniac said:
All,

I am a revert Catholic, and had attended CCD until just before Confirmation. An atheist for 25 years, I attended a 6 week Catholics Returning Home program for Catholics wanting to return to the faith. It was primarily about the differences since we’d been gone, what the Church believes, practices, etc.

It was great. I went through Reconciliation again with their pastor.

This was at another parish, and when I went to speak with my pastoral associate at my parish, she said I didn’t need to attend RCIA classes, and could just be confirmed. This was after a discussion about theology, the rosary, the Church, my readings, etc.

Is this ‘kosher’? I was considering taking Scott Hahn’s Bible study classes online, and had told her that I had been reading Frank Sheed, Archbishop Sheen, and a lot of apologetics material.

Thanks, Juli
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The Church still teaches and believes exactly the same thing now as it did before you left. So that should not be an issue.
I would think that some form of adult Confirmation preparation would be in order, even a self study. But not a full participation in RCIA as a requirement.
 
I understood that well catechized Christians wishing to enter the Catholic Church, such as Orthodox, Anglicans, Lutherans and a few others don’t need to go through RCIA. Is this correct?
 
Ignatius said:
I understood that well catechized Christians wishing to enter the Catholic Church, such as Orthodox, Anglicans, Lutherans and a few others don’t need to go through RCIA. Is this correct?
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No, you need to go through RCIA, but NOT the full process required of catecumans. In Theory. At least that is what the US Council of Bishops would prefer.

Sometimes on these forum pages, there is a box at the top on “How To Become A Catholic”. That is what I am refering to,

In practice, most such candidates get tossed into the catecumans classes. Me for example. This is my third month of RCIA classes with the catecumans, and I have yet to find out or learn anything I didn’t know already.

😦
 
At our parish, we seem to run EVERYBODY through RCIA. Catachumens (obviously), those from any other churches, adult reverts wishing to be confirmed, adults wishing to get their marriages blessed, adults wishing to be married (but who haven’t been confirmed yet…and the list grows every week.
 
Ignatius said:
I understood that well catechized Christians wishing to enter the Catholic Church, such as Orthodox, Anglicans, Lutherans and a few others don’t need to go through RCIA. Is this correct?
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That is correct. A Catechized and Baptized Christian would not go throught RCIA. But would receive some form of catechesis and formation in the Catholic life before being received. Usually this is in a process like RCIA.

Now a Baptized but un-catechized adult would.
 
Regardless of whether or not it’s correct to skip RCIA, I think attending RCIA would be very beneficial to you. There’s a lot that you have most likely forgotten that RCIA will refresh your memory. I enjoyed it immensely. At my parish, those people in your situation attend RCIA. It can’t hurt you, but only do you good.

Welcome back Home.
 
I’m in the same situation you are. Attended CCD classes in preparation for Confirmation, but was never confirmed. Returned to the Church after an absence of 26 years, and also attended a welcome home program for returning Catholics.

I think the answer to your question depends on the parish. Most of the parishes in my area require people to go through RCIA, although a couple do offer adult confirmation classes.

I have recently discovered a wonderful small, traditional parish, and met with the pastor this week to discuss Confirmation. He said I definitely don’t need RCIA, and he has offered to meet with me 3 or 4 times to provide the instruction I need.
 
LeahInancsi said:
Regardless of whether or not it’s correct to skip RCIA, I think attending RCIA would be very beneficial to you. There’s a lot that you have most likely forgotten that RCIA will refresh your memory. I enjoyed it immensely. At my parish, those people in your situation attend RCIA. It can’t hurt you, but only do you good.

Welcome back Home.
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I believe it would be much better if every parish would provide a high quality Adult Catechetical program, instead of using RCIA for everything.
 
Br.Rich_SFO said:
I believe it would be much better if every parish would provide a high quality Adult Catechetical program, instead of using RCIA for everything.
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Let’s just agree to disagree on all facets of this topic.

I’m of the mindset that there will never be too much catechesis regardless of who you are. Apparently, you take the attitude that less is best. :nope:
 
Br.Rich_SFO said:
I believe it would be much better if every parish would provide a high quality Adult Catechetical program, instead of using RCIA for everything.
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I agree. My parish has no adult formation classes. Its totally lacking in its RCIA program and how is this going to turn out?
:rolleyes:

As for taking it, well I cant say it cant hurt like others did. Thats assuming the RCIA class is not teaching heresy of course. But for someone like the OP its likely a formation class that would be helpful IMHO not RCIA - at least not RCIA I went through that is for sure. A pure waste of time.
 
Damascus said:
As for taking it, well I cant say it cant hurt like others did. Thats assuming the RCIA class is not teaching heresy of course. But for someone like the OP its likely a formation class that would be helpful IMHO not RCIA - at least not RCIA I went through that is for sure. A pure waste of time.
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In my frame of reference, RCIA is the only adult faith formation available at my parish. The RCIA program at my parish is excellent, that’s why I feel it can be beneficial to so many. I don’t know of any parishes that have catechism classes for adults. If I did, I’d be there in a heart beat. Catholicism is so rich in its depth and history, there’s always more to learn.
 
LeahInancsi said:
In my frame of reference, RCIA is the only adult faith formation available at my parish. The RCIA program at my parish is excellent, that’s why I feel it can be beneficial to so many. I don’t know of any parishes that have catechism classes for adults. If I did, I’d be there in a heart beat. Catholicism is so rich in its depth and history, there’s always more to learn.
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Well, I guess in the Midwest there are more offerings in more parishes, to be sure. I think we agree, that a good RCIA class is fine. I am happy your parish offers a good one.

The thing is, RCIA is different in each parish and if it were the same program everywhere taught by a Priest that was going by the book, well great!

Its not the same everywhere though. And if I had bought everything they told me in RCIA, I would be believing some extreemly heretical things.

I guess its not a matter of what you and I think, its up to the Bishop as to what a candidate must undergo no? In the end, thats what it is.
 
Br.Rich_SFO said:
I believe it would be much better if every parish would provide a high quality Adult Catechetical program, instead of using RCIA for everything.
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I agree with you 100%. Since 24 September, the 1st Sunday the combined Candidates/Catecumans RCIA class started at the local church, there has been no study of the catechism. Period. Just a couple of mentions that it exists.

Still, the catichism is available for sale, and I have a copy. I also have my five days a week at…

catechismclass.com

…which is high quality Adult RCIA program, the way it should be done.

If anybody knows of a better on-line classs, I would like to be informed of it, of course.
 
I plan on taking the class offered at salvationhistory.com ( I think) by Scott Hahn. However, I read spiritual readings every night.

By spiritual, I mean Sheed, Sheen, Chesterton, and also the Catholic Register, the Wanderer, and Catholic mags (of the orthodix variety).

I know a lot more already than anything I could get from an RCIA class.

I spoke informally to a priest at an event a few weeks ago. There was a discussion about the possibility of married and/or women priests. The priest announced that he thought that once the ‘old pope in Rome’ was replaced, that married priests would happen, as well as women priests.

The notion of respect for the office of the Pope, and the idea of dogma/doctrine seemed to escape him. Oh Pope St. Pius, pray for the American Catholic Church, my diocese, and the parishes in my general area.

Thankfully, I was excused from attending RCIA…
 
Hi…I am a baptized Christian since I was 13 in the Baptist denomination. I have attended church,taught SUnday School,etc,and do MANY Bible studies. I have watched EWTN going on 4 years now,and have read the catechism,and several other books. I am very sick…I have cerebral or CNS vasculitis,and its a life-threatening disease. I am to start chemo soon. I also have Lupus and Sjogrens. Its difficult for me to attend church,much less RCIA classes…isnt there some way of fast=tracking me through RCIA? I know I was raised Protestant,but have considered myself CAtholic for the last 4 years. I want to b e confirmed before my health gets too much worse…any suggestions? Vicki in Plano
 
keesiemom56 said:
Hi…I am a baptized Christian since I was 13 in the Baptist denomination. I have attended church,taught SUnday School,etc,and do MANY Bible studies. I have watched EWTN going on 4 years now,and have read the catechism,and several other books. I am very sick…I have cerebral or CNS vasculitis,and its a life-threatening disease. I am to start chemo soon. I also have Lupus and Sjogrens. Its difficult for me to attend church,much less RCIA classes…isnt there some way of fast=tracking me through RCIA? I know I was raised Protestant,but have considered myself CAtholic for the last 4 years. I want to b e confirmed before my health gets too much worse…any suggestions? Vicki in Plano
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there is a provision in the RCIA for the abbreviating the rites in exceptional circumstances and this is exactly the type of situation they are thinking of. Speak to your Catholic priest about this.
 
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