Another Annoyed at RCIA thread

[jmcrae]

PS: I forgot to mention that the sponsor also needs to have been Confirmed in the Catholic Church. It’s one of those things that I just take for granted because it seems obvious to me, but every so often, it comes up.

(Your Catholic friend who is not Confirmed should come to the RCIA with you, though, and both of you need sponsors. )

 

[starling]

I sympathize with the original poster. I’m a cradle, cultural Catholic, but my wife is of mainstream Protestant background. She loves going to our local Catholic basilica, but she will not go to RCIA and I don’t blame her.

It’s silly for Catholic parishes to require other legitimately baptized Christians to attend an official RCIA for the better part of a year, and even worse to humiliate them by lumping them in with catechumens. We’re all Christians. This is a practice which must stop. If her Baptism was good enough for us to be married in a Catholic Church, she shouldn’t have to spend months attending RCIA. You can’t make me believe that Catholicism is so much more complicated than the average Protestant denomination that it takes going through hoops for a baptized Protestant to be accepted into it. There should be a totally separate conversion stream for such people, and it need not require more than a few sessions with a Priest or Deacon. Anything else and you pick it up along the way, the same as anyone who grows up in the Catholic Church.

Should I choose to, I, the Catholic, can attend my wife’s church anytime and fully partake in everything it has to offer. It’s fully open and welcoming to me (and her denomination goes right back to the original Reformation). I find it embarrassing that the reverse isn’t true.

The Church needs to loosen its collar.

 

[Texas_Roofer]

I sympathize with the original poster. I’m a cradle, cultural Catholic, but my wife is of mainstream Protestant background. She loves going to our local Catholic basilica, but she will not go to RCIA and I don’t blame her.

It’s silly for Catholic parishes to require other legitimately baptized Christians to attend an official RCIA for the better part of a year, and even worse to humiliate them by lumping them in with catechumens. We’re all Christians. This is a practice which must stop. If her Baptism was good enough for us to be married in a Catholic Church, she shouldn’t have to spend months attending RCIA. You can’t make me believe that Catholicism is so much more complicated than the average Protestant denomination that it takes going through hoops for a baptized Protestant to be accepted into it. There should be a totally separate conversion stream for such people, and it need not require more than a few sessions with a Priest or Deacon. Anything else and you pick it up along the way, the same as anyone who grows up in the Catholic Church.

Should I choose to, I, the Catholic, can attend my wife’s church anytime and fully partake in everything it has to offer. It’s fully open and welcoming to me (and her denomination goes right back to the original Reformation). I find it embarrassing that the reverse isn’t true.

The Church needs to loosen its collar.

Actually attending for 35 - 40 session is not so bad but it is not the requirement. The priest decides, so by all means discuss with him legitimate alternatives (a study guide and some testing or subject reviews with the priest (deacon)?) We try hard never to humiliate anyone. A couple of years ago we removed from the name tag all but the name. Even though this thread is a little contradictor - the publications we read does not separate the baptized into any subgroups. In our case the entire group moves together as a single block, through the process together.

I hope you and your wife pick a priest or deacon and develop a relationship with them to assist you clearing up any differences or confusion with the church, it is easier than you imagine. Slow but easy

 

[jmcrae]

I wish there was something separate for baptized candidates, too, but I have no idea how we would implement something like that.

We already have enough trouble booking rooms for the various periods of RCIA (during Lent, there are three going on at the same time), and getting enough volunteers to lead these.

Having a separate class for baptized candidates would mean that yet another room is needed, and at least two more volunteers - and we still need rooms and volunteers for the programs we run for the Catholic population, as well - Legion of Mary, Knights of Columbus, Catholic Women’s League, the Bible Study groups, children’s Sacramental Prep programs (First Confession, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation), marriage preparation, baptismal preparation, Catechism classes for children and teens, the youth group, the Squires, the Challenge Girls, and so on.

There are only so many evenings in the week, and only so many rooms available - and we already have a shortage of volunteer lay leadership.

 

[RCCDefender]

Should I choose to, I, the Catholic, can attend my wife’s church anytime and fully partake in everything it has to offer.

Ummm… actually, the answer is no, you can’t. As a Catholic you are not suppose to take communion in a protestant church.

It’s fully open and welcoming to me (and her denomination goes right back to the original Reformation). I find it embarrassing that the reverse isn’t true.

I don’t know what the point is for bringing up her church being a part of the “original Reformation” is, perhaps you can elaborate on why this is so important. How is the Catholic Church not welcoming her the way her church welcomes you?

The Church needs to loosen its collar.

No, this is the last thing the Church needs to do.

 

[Karin]

Ummm… actually, the answer is no, you can’t. As a Catholic you are not suppose to take communion in a protestant church.

I don’t know what the point is for bringing up her church being a part of the “original Reformation” is, perhaps you can elaborate on why this is so important. How is the Catholic Church not welcoming her the way her church welcomes you?

No, this is the last thing the Church needs to do.

Great post!

 

[MariaG]

,

It can be hard when you are not getting the knowledge that you desire and the questions answered that you need answered.

But I did have a thought. There is a man who is working on becoming a deacon in our Church. It has taken longer than expected and at times he has felt he is being treated like an idiot.

He finally decided God was trying to teach him humility and patience through this whole process.

Maybe God is trying to teach you a similar lesson? (I know when God works on trying to teach me patience and I almost tear my hair out. Some of it finally “took” but I think I will always be a work in progress when it comes to patience )

Whatever the case for you, I pray that God will give you peace and joy in your decision you make, I pray the Holy Spirit will lead your group and give you the answers you need, and I pray that soon I will be able to say “Welcome Home sister.”

Your sister in Christ,
Maria

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I sympathize with the original poster. I’m a cradle, cultural Catholic, but my wife is of mainstream Protestant background. She loves going to our local Catholic basilica, but she will not go to RCIA and I don’t blame her.

It’s silly for Catholic parishes to require other legitimately baptized Christians to attend an official RCIA for the better part of a year, and even worse to humiliate them by lumping them in with catechumens. We’re all Christians. This is a practice which must stop. If her Baptism was good enough for us to be married in a Catholic Church, she shouldn’t have to spend months attending RCIA. You can’t make me believe that Catholicism is so much more complicated than the average Protestant denomination that it takes going through hoops for a baptized Protestant to be accepted into it. There should be a totally separate conversion stream for such people, and it need not require more than a few sessions with a Priest or Deacon. Anything else and you pick it up along the way, the same as anyone who grows up in the Catholic Church.

Should I choose to, I, the Catholic, can attend my wife’s church anytime and fully partake in everything it has to offer. It’s fully open and welcoming to me (and her denomination goes right back to the original Reformation). I find it embarrassing that the reverse isn’t true.

The Church needs to loosen its collar.

I totally agree with you as does the Church in her Rite. It says that a Baptized and Catechized Christian should not be required to do any more than necessary. Each person is an individual and each person will require different amounts of time and formation in the Catholic practice and life.

The Church however is following the same tradition it has for entry into the Church for the last 2000 years.

 

[montanaman]

When my wife was going through RCIA (just before I proposed to her) it was such a struggle that I had to attend every single meeting with her. It got so bad she almost decided to quit. And I have to admit–it was a grueling, almost pointless process. She was spoonfed 99% of what she already believed as a non-denom, and the new stuff then introduced a bunch of new, tough questions for her. A couple of times we got into some significant fights because of it.

She’s now a confirmed Catholic, but she’s unlike any of the converts I find on this board. For her, she was pretty much grudgingly moved into the truth. Yeah, she’s extremely proud, but she knows she has no choice but to follow wherever the truth leads her. Still, I’m finding that I have to push myself several levels up on the “spiritual leadership” ladder to keep her Catholic, it seems.

Anyway, we go to a good, orthodox church, but the RCIA program leaves a lot to be desired. (When our bishop finally caved and allowed altar girls, ours was one of the two that didn’t opt for them.) But as one of the new 8th grade CCD teachers, I can see that educating people in the faith is HARD. When you’ve only got a few people to teach in whatever capacity, and a large, mixed bag of converts (or kids), you can only do the best you can.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I wish there was something separate for baptized candidates, too, but I have no idea how we would implement something like that.

We already have enough trouble booking rooms for the various periods of RCIA (during Lent, there are three going on at the same time), and getting enough volunteers to lead these.

Having a separate class for baptized candidates would mean that yet another room is needed, and at least two more volunteers - and we still need rooms and volunteers for the programs we run for the Catholic population, as well - Legion of Mary, Knights of Columbus, Catholic Women’s League, the Bible Study groups, children’s Sacramental Prep programs (First Confession, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation), marriage preparation, baptismal preparation, Catechism classes for children and teens, the youth group, the Squires, the Challenge Girls, and so on.

There are only so many evenings in the week, and only so many rooms available - and we already have a shortage of volunteer lay leadership.

If you carefully look at the General Directory for Catechesis and the National Directory for Catechesis as well as OHWB.

You find that the Church says that Adult Catechesis is first and foremost when it comes to parish catechetical resources.

RCIA being first, second is Adult Faith Formation (for Baptized Christians), for Baptized Catholics seeking Confirmation or general catechesis.

Legion of Mary, Knights of Columbus, Catholic Women’s League, the Bible Study groups, Catechism classes for children and teens, the youth group, the Squires, the Challenge Girls, and so on. All come after Adult catechetical programs are fully staffed and fully funded.

 

[jmcrae]

Okay - I didn’t know that. I’m sure my priest doesn’t know that - or if he does, then he’s still working on a plan to make that work.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Okay - I didn’t know that. I’m sure my priest doesn’t know that - or if he does, then he’s still working on a plan to make that work.

Problem is usually parish politcs dictates that Youth Ministry gets the lions share of parish resources followed by Children’s programs. Adult programs get the hall closet down on the end.

 

[becka01101]

Thank you for the replies about sponsors!