Can I go to Confession?

[Kylar_Vonzain]

The director of youth ministries at my girlfriend’s parish recently recommended that I go to confession for having missed mass on Sunday (I was making a 14 hour drive across the Utah desert that weekend). I feel like I should, and I want to, for that and many other reasons. There is only one problem: I’m not Catholic.

I was Baptized in the UCC church, but I grew up as an agnostic. This January, I started exploring in detail the religion I had assumed was just unknowable, and since then I have come to believe in both the truth of Christ and the Orthodoxy of the Catholic Church. I am beginning RCIA in Rome this September (What a blessing that I should happen to be on an oversees study program with a Jesuit College!), and I have been studying the Catechism and the history of the Church for several months in addition to the bible. I have read that in “grave circumstance” a priest may take the confession of a non-catholic, but the youth pastor assured me that as long as I understood the nature of the sacrament, I could receive it. Is this true? Is there some way that someone who has not formally started RCIA can give their confession?

 

[DL82]

I am in the same boat, starting RCIA in September.

My priest has also said that as I feel convicted and feel the desire to confess, I can go.

Basically, the priest can hear anybody’s confession, but may withold absolution until you become Catholic.

 

[mercygate]

The director of youth ministries at my girlfriend’s parish recently recommended that I go to confession for having missed mass on Sunday (I was making a 14 hour drive across the Utah desert that weekend). I feel like I should, and I want to, for that and many other reasons. There is only one problem: I’m not Catholic.

I was Baptized in the UCC church, but I grew up as an agnostic. This January, I started exploring in detail the religion I had assumed was just unknowable, and since then I have come to believe in both the truth of Christ and the Orthodoxy of the Catholic Church. I am beginning RCIA in Rome this September (What a blessing that I should happen to be on an oversees study program with a Jesuit College!), and I have been studying the Catechism and the history of the Church for several months in addition to the bible. I have read that in “grave circumstance” a priest may take the confession of a non-catholic, but the youth pastor assured me that as long as I understood the nature of the sacrament, I could receive it. Is this true? Is there some way that someone who has not formally started RCIA can give their confession?

God love ya! No: the youth minister was in error. He might even have been in error about the sinfulness of missing Mass in the circumstances you outline here – provided your Sunday drive was necessary and that you could not get to Mass, say, on Saturday night or at some other time.

If you are a validly baptized Christian, you are eligible to receive the Sacrament of Penance when the person in charge of your preparation deems that you are ready and have the proper disposition to receive it. So breathe easy; you don’t need to fret about this now.

As a convert myself, let me assure you that with the attitude you display here, when the time comes, this is going to be a landmark and the best day of your life. Everything else will be measured in terms of “before” and “after.”

At this point, since you seem eager to receive the sacrament, you might be wise to discuss this with your formator.

Godspeed, my brother.

 

[TraditionalCath]

The director of youth ministries at my girlfriend’s parish recently recommended that I go to confession for having missed mass on Sunday (I was making a 14 hour drive across the Utah desert that weekend). I feel like I should, and I want to, for that and many other reasons. There is only one problem: I’m not Catholic.

I was Baptized in the UCC church, but I grew up as an agnostic. This January, I started exploring in detail the religion I had assumed was just unknowable, and since then I have come to believe in both the truth of Christ and the Orthodoxy of the Catholic Church. I am beginning RCIA in Rome this September (What a blessing that I should happen to be on an oversees study program with a Jesuit College!), and I have been studying the Catechism and the history of the Church for several months in addition to the bible. I have read that in “grave circumstance” a priest may take the confession of a non-catholic, but the youth pastor assured me that as long as I understood the nature of the sacrament, I could receive it. Is this true? Is there some way that someone who has not formally started RCIA can give their confession?

No. you have to be baptized first before you can be going to confession. The only way you can do that is if your in RCIA. If for some reason a priest hears your confession, you will not receive absolution. You must be a baptized Catholic, or if you were validly baptized, and the church recognizes it, I believe you still have to go to RCIA before you can go to confession and recieve absolution.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

The director of youth ministries at my girlfriend’s parish recently recommended that I go to confession for having missed mass on Sunday (I was making a 14 hour drive across the Utah desert that weekend). I feel like I should, and I want to, for that and many other reasons. There is only one problem: I’m not Catholic.

I was Baptized in the UCC church, but I grew up as an agnostic. This January, I started exploring in detail the religion I had assumed was just unknowable, and since then I have come to believe in both the truth of Christ and the Orthodoxy of the Catholic Church. I am beginning RCIA in Rome this September (What a blessing that I should happen to be on an oversees study program with a Jesuit College!), and I have been studying the Catechism and the history of the Church for several months in addition to the bible. I have read that in “grave circumstance” a priest may take the confession of a non-catholic, but the youth pastor assured me that as long as I understood the nature of the sacrament, I could receive it. Is this true? Is there some way that someone who has not formally started RCIA can give their confession?

If you are not fully united to the Catholic Church you do not have access to the Sacraments until your pastor at RCIA allows you to go to Confession. As a non-catholic you do not yet have an obligation for attending Mass.

 

[palmas85]

The director of youth ministries at my girlfriend’s parish recently recommended that I go to confession for having missed mass on Sunday (I was making a 14 hour drive across the Utah desert that weekend). I feel like I should, and I want to, for that and many other reasons. There is only one problem: I’m not Catholic.

I was Baptized in the UCC church, but I grew up as an agnostic. This January, I started exploring in detail the religion I had assumed was just unknowable, and since then I have come to believe in both the truth of Christ and the Orthodoxy of the Catholic Church. I am beginning RCIA in Rome this September (What a blessing that I should happen to be on an oversees study program with a Jesuit College!), and I have been studying the Catechism and the history of the Church for several months in addition to the bible. I have read that in “grave circumstance” a priest may take the confession of a non-catholic, but the youth pastor assured me that as long as I understood the nature of the sacrament, I could receive it. Is this true? Is there some way that someone who has not formally started RCIA can give their confession?

The youth pastor was completely and totally wrong.:tsktsk:

First and foremost merely understanding a sacrament does not in any way shape or form enable one to receive it.

Second he situation you describe in not in a grave circumstance that could enable you to receive the Sacrament. Believe me it isn’t

Third you are not Catholic and in fact have not even started the process to become one.

Fourth depending on the formula used in your baptism you may need to be re-baptized. Some Protestant sects use baptismal formulas that are not accepted as valid by the Catholic Church and I’m not sure as to the validity of yours.

Fifth if I am not mistaken RCIA candidates leave the Mass immediately after the homily so you are not even there for the Liturgy of the Eucharist which is the single most important part of the Mass anyway. So in a purely technical sense you will actually miss Mass many times up until the time when you actually enter the Church

Sixth, from number five above you see that you have no obligation to attend Mass anyway, not being Catholic, so you have committed no sin that needs to be confessed.

Relax, don’t sweat it it at this point. You are in good shape.

I am worried about the youth Pastor though who seems to be making it up as he goes along.

 

[Subrosa]

The director of youth ministries at my girlfriend’s parish recently recommended that I go to confession for having missed mass on Sunday (I was making a 14 hour drive across the Utah desert that weekend). I feel like I should, and I want to, for that and many other reasons. There is only one problem: I’m not Catholic.

I was Baptized in the UCC church, but I grew up as an agnostic. This January, I started exploring in detail the religion I had assumed was just unknowable, and since then I have come to believe in both the truth of Christ and the Orthodoxy of the Catholic Church. I am beginning RCIA in Rome this September (What a blessing that I should happen to be on an oversees study program with a Jesuit College!), and I have been studying the Catechism and the history of the Church for several months in addition to the bible. I have read that in “grave circumstance” a priest may take the confession of a non-catholic, but the youth pastor assured me that as long as I understood the nature of the sacrament, I could receive it. Is this true? Is there some way that someone who has not formally started RCIA can give their confession?

Don’t sweat it. Even though you cannot receive the Sacrament as yet, it is a part of the RCIA process.

You will be receiving the Sacrament short term!

Congradulations on joining the RCIA and Godspeed.

Subrosa

 

[orgel_maestro]

UCC, is that Ukrainian Catholic Church? or United Church of Christ? First one is in communion with Rome, right?

 

[Kylar_Vonzain]

Thanks to everyone for their responses!

Firstly, I would like to confirm that the Catholic Church does recognize baptisms performed by the UCC (although, as I do not remember my own too well, I’m not sure if the pastor did it correctly or not… I don’t trust the UCC to take anything seriously), and so I believe I am considered a validly baptized Christian.

Secondly, I would like to clarify: The suggestion by my gf’s youth pastor was the vehicle by which the idea that I might be able to receive confession was brought to me, but my reasons for wanting to confess have much more to do with my past 20 years of life than with simply having missed Mass (and the question of if I could have made Mass on Sunday was right out, but there was a little bit of a question about making it on Saturday). I am laboring under a mountain of sin (at least it feels like it) built up during my time as an agnostic, and I really feel that there are a lot of things in my past which get in the way of my relationship with God. When the youth pastor suggested that I go to confession, I was excited because I saw that there might be a chance to go into my RCIA training without that burden and with a cleansed soul and a less pained relationship with God, not because I had missed Mass. I may not be a Catholic, but every day we have here is a gift, and I am well aware that if I were to die with my sins unconfessed, I would have missed my chance at being justified to god (a very scary and a very saddening thought!)

I feel a little bit of a need to speak up in defense of my girlfriend’s youth pastor. I think that the reasons that he thought it would be best if I confessed not having gone to Mass were twofold. Firstly, because I have taken onto myself the obligation of going to Mass: this was the first time in just under six months that I had not attended Mass on Sunday (I was not aware that RCIA initiates were not allowed to stay for the Eucharist… I have always been told that they go up and receive a blessing instead, and stay for the rest of the Mass. That is what I do, kneeling before and after, in full awareness of the real presence.) I was aware that this was considered grave matter for Catholics, and I had voluntarily accepted the obligation of acting as a Catholic should, to the best of my abilities and to the extent to which I was allowed (simply because I have not been initiated into the Catholic Church does not mean that I should not do my best to follow its teachings and act as one in Christ… the obligation has the force of moral law derived from awareness, though not cannon). This leads to the second reason: He firmly believes that if there is even the smallest chance of mortal sin, that it should be confessed and wiped clean as soon as possible (he talks about lobbying for daily confession in his parish). I can only assume that he saw my voluntary assumption of Catholic responsibility as possibly enough to make missing Mass a Mortal sin, and therefor was legitimately concerned about the state of my soul, in accordance with Catholic orthodox teaching (he is young, and doesn’t know everything, but he is passionate about orthodoxy to a degree I have not seen in most Americans, so I can be relatively confident that he was not just making things up.)

I must admit I’m a little disappointed that the general consensus is that I should not confess, as I really feel that I should have been confessing for the past ten years. Most objections have had to do with my baptismal status, or that I don’t really need to confess, as I am not under the same obligations as Catholics. If anyone could explain to me what reasons exist for me not Confessing (since my baptism was valid), as opposed to not needing to Confess (believe me, I do… if I didn’t, my conscience wouldn’t be thirsting for it this way), I would be very grateful.

Thanks again, and God Bless.

 

[mercygate]

Thanks to everyone for their responses!

Firstly, I would like to confirm that the Catholic Church does recognize baptisms performed by the UCC (although, as I do not remember my own too well, I’m not sure if the pastor did it correctly or not… I don’t trust the UCC to take anything seriously), and so I believe I am considered a validly baptized Christian.

Secondly, I would like to clarify: The suggestion by my gf’s youth pastor was the vehicle by which the idea that I might be able to receive confession was brought to me, but my reasons for wanting to confess have much more to do with my past 20 years of life than with simply having missed Mass (and the question of if I could have made Mass on Sunday was right out, but there was a little bit of a question about making it on Saturday). I am laboring under a mountain of sin (at least it feels like it) built up during my time as an agnostic, and I really feel that there are a lot of things in my past which get in the way of my relationship with God. When the youth pastor suggested that I go to confession, I was excited because I saw that there might be a chance to go into my RCIA training without that burden and with a cleansed soul and a less pained relationship with God, not because I had missed Mass. I may not be a Catholic, but every day we have here is a gift, and I am well aware that if I were to die with my sins unconfessed, I would have missed my chance at being justified to god (a very scary and a very saddening thought!)

I feel a little bit of a need to speak up in defense of my girlfriend’s youth pastor. I think that the reasons that he thought it would be best if I confessed not having gone to Mass were twofold. Firstly, because I have taken onto myself the obligation of going to Mass: this was the first time in just under six months that I had not attended Mass on Sunday (I was not aware that RCIA initiates were not allowed to stay for the Eucharist… I have always been told that they go up and receive a blessing instead, and stay for the rest of the Mass. That is what I do, kneeling before and after, in full awareness of the real presence.) I was aware that this was considered grave matter for Catholics, and I had voluntarily accepted the obligation of acting as a Catholic should, to the best of my abilities and to the extent to which I was allowed (simply because I have not been initiated into the Catholic Church does not mean that I should not do my best to follow its teachings and act as one in Christ… the obligation has the force of moral law derived from awareness, though not cannon). This leads to the second reason: He firmly believes that if there is even the smallest chance of mortal sin, that it should be confessed and wiped clean as soon as possible (he talks about lobbying for daily confession in his parish). I can only assume that he saw my voluntary assumption of Catholic responsibility as possibly enough to make missing Mass a Mortal sin, and therefor was legitimately concerned about the state of my soul, in accordance with Catholic orthodox teaching (he is young, and doesn’t know everything, but he is passionate about orthodoxy to a degree I have not seen in most Americans, so I can be relatively confident that he was not just making things up.)

I must admit I’m a little disappointed that the general consensus is that I should not confess, as I really feel that I should have been confessing for the past ten years. Most objections have had to do with my baptismal status, or that I don’t really need to confess, as I am not under the same obligations as Catholics. If anyone could explain to me what reasons exist for me not Confessing (since my baptism was valid), as opposed to not needing to Confess (believe me, I do… if I didn’t, my conscience wouldn’t be thirsting for it this way), I would be very grateful.

Thanks again, and God Bless.

My friend, your desire for Confession is an unbelievably generous grace direct from the Boss!

I highly advise waiting until you are well grounded in the Catholic faith because – heck! you might find something you really can’t live with (although since you have read the Catechism, there should be no surprises). You need to talk to a priest, not a well-meaning but (unfortunately) not well informed youth director.

God love ya! I almost envy you that first confession! There is nothing like it!

 

[Kylar_Vonzain]

UCC, is that Ukrainian Catholic Church? or United Church of Christ? First one is in communion with Rome, right?

It is United Church of Christ, which assuredly is not in communion with Rome!

Interestingly enough, though, I have attended Mass at a Ukrainian Catholic Church before. I couldn’t understand a word, but it was really amazing to see the liturgy of St. John Chrysostom being used in the modern day.

 

[Kylar_Vonzain]

My friend, your desire for Confession is an unbelievably generous grace direct from the Boss!

I highly advise waiting until you are well grounded in the Catholic faith because – heck! you might find something you really can’t live with (although since you have read the Catechism, there should be no surprises). You need to talk to a priest, not a well-meaning but (unfortunately) not well informed youth director.

God love ya! I almost envy you that first confession! There is nothing like it!

In the interest of honesty, I’m in the process of reading the Catechism, I haven’t actually gotten anywhere near finishing it! (I told a local RCIA director that I was reading it, and she nearly choked and recommended that I read a three page pamphlet she had instead…)

Thank you for the advice, and it makes sense. While I’m still a bit scared about waiting to confess a whole slew of Mortal sins, we live our lives by God’s Grace anyway, and I suppose I should be less concerned about him cutting my time short before I can Confess than I should be about confessing as truly and as devoutly as I can.

 

[mercygate]

In the interest of honesty, I’m in the process of reading the Catechism, I haven’t actually gotten anywhere near finishing it! (I told a local RCIA director that I was reading it, and she nearly choked and recommended that I read a three page pamphlet she had instead…)

Thank you for the advice, and it makes sense. While I’m still a bit scared about waiting to confess a whole slew of Mortal sins, we live our lives by God’s Grace anyway, and I suppose I should be less concerned about him cutting my time short before I can Confess than I should be about confessing as truly and as devoutly as I can.

O Blessed Lord, have MERCY! Your RCIA director wanted you to read a 3-page pamphlet? I ASK you. But in my neck of the woods the RCIA people don’t want lay people reading the Catechism “because they might use it for a weapon.”

I say: What better weapon could you have?

Find another RCIA program. Welcome to the dumbed-down world of mainstream Catholicism! :hug3:

 

[orgel_maestro]

hmm, if you’re converting, I know they make u go to confession before you receive First Holy Communion. Your first confession maybe kinda a scary, I remember my first confession. I was shaking the whole time, hands n knees shaking, voice quivering n I almost forgot the act of contrition. If you were already Catholic, everyone probably would be telling u to go to confession, but since you are not yet, that’s why some are telling you to wait. I’d wait until after you guys talked about the sacrament of penance and reconciliation in your RCIA class. But, your enthusiasm is truly inspiring, if only the majority of catholics were more like u, its sad when we start thinking that there is no need for confession.

 

[Kylar_Vonzain]

O Blessed Lord, have MERCY! Your RCIA director wanted you to read a 3-page pamphlet? I ASK you. But in my neck of the woods the RCIA people don’t want lay people reading the Catechism “because they might use it for a weapon.”

I say: What better weapon could you have?

Find another RCIA program. Welcome to the dumbed-down world of mainstream Catholicism! :hug3:

Heh, good point. I think it all depends on how you read the Catechism. I’m guessing that they don’t want people reading it, looking for ways to criticize it or contest it. But I can’t imagine them having a problem with people who are reading it to understand. As one of my closest Catholic friends once told me: “Its the difference between knowing the answer, and looking for why that answer is true, and looking for the reason to try and find if the answer is true.” The Church has given us the answers, and as long as we accept that they are true, even if we do not know why, I can assume that there will be no harm in looking for the reasons for them. I started my conversion coming from a (admittedly weak) protestant background, and when I first looked at the Catechism, I did so with the arrogance of believing that I had the capacity to discern if it was true or not. That is long since gone, and I firmly believe in the historicity of the Apostolic succession and the authority of the Catholic Church as the mouthpiece of Christ, but I when I look back on my first inquisitive days, I can understand why the RCIA would not want somebody in that mindset reading the Catechism. We need to have ears to hear, before we will listen and hear truth.

The RCIA director I talked to who told me to read the three page pamphlet actually is not my RCIA director, just the local one. I have not yet started formal RCIA: that begins for me in September, when I arrive in Rome for a four month oversees program there. The campus ministry out there is actually setting up an RCIA team specifically for me: I’m really excited, as I’ve been trying to start RCIA for months, but is has been incredibly difficult because I am not permanently in residence anywhere for more than 4 months at a time (due to my schooling, family, and oversees trips).

Thank you all for your encouragements.

 

[mercygate]

Heh, good point. I think it all depends on how you read the Catechism. I’m guessing that they don’t want people reading it, looking for ways to criticize it or contest it. But I can’t imagine them having a problem with people who are reading it to understand. As one of my closest Catholic friends once told me: “Its the difference between knowing the answer, and looking for why that answer is true, and looking for the reason to try and find if the answer is true.” The Church has given us the answers, and as long as we accept that they are true, even if we do not know why, I can assume that there will be no harm in looking for the reasons for them. I started my conversion coming from a (admittedly weak) protestant background, and when I first looked at the Catechism, I did so with the arrogance of believing that I had the capacity to discern if it was true or not. That is long since gone, and I firmly believe in the historicity of the Apostolic succession and the authority of the Catholic Church as the mouthpiece of Christ, but I when I look back on my first inquisitive days, I can understand why the RCIA would not want somebody in that mindset reading the Catechism. We need to have ears to hear, before we will listen and hear truth.

The RCIA director I talked to who told me to read the three page pamphlet actually is not my RCIA director, just the local one. I have not yet started formal RCIA: that begins for me in September, when I arrive in Rome for a four month oversees program there. The campus ministry out there is actually setting up an RCIA team specifically for me: I’m really excited, as I’ve been trying to start RCIA for months, but is has been incredibly difficult because I am not permanently in residence anywhere for more than 4 months at a time (due to my schooling, family, and oversees trips).

Thank you all for your encouragements.

Right. I forgot about that Rome connection. Be careful with those Jesuits. There are twooooo Societies of Jesus. The Catholics and the who-knows-what-we-ares. Generally the former still wear black.

 

[palmas85]

Thanks to everyone for their responses!

Firstly, I would like to confirm that the Catholic Church does recognize baptisms performed by the UCC

I would like to clarify: The suggestion by my gf’s youth pastor was the vehicle by which the idea that I might be able to receive confession was brought to me, but my reasons for wanting to confess have much more to do with my past 20 years of life than with simply having missed Mass . I am laboring under a mountain of sin built up during my time as an agnostic, and I really feel that there are a lot of things in my past which get in the way of my relationship with God. When the youth pastor suggested that I go to confession, I was excited because I saw that there might be a chance to go into my RCIA training without that burden and with a cleansed soul and a less pained relationship with God, not because I had missed Mass. I may not be a Catholic, but every day we have here is a gift, and I am well aware that if I were to die with my sins unconfessed, I would have missed my chance at being justified to god (a very scary and a very saddening thought!)

I feel a little bit of a need to speak up in defense of my girlfriend’s youth pastor. I think that the reasons that he thought it would be best if I confessed not having gone to Mass were twofold. Firstly, because I have taken onto myself the obligation of going to Mass: this was the first time in just under six months that I had not attended Mass on Sunday (I was not aware that RCIA initiates were not allowed to stay for the Eucharist… I have always been told that they go up and receive a blessing instead, and stay for the rest of the Mass. I was aware that this was considered grave matter for Catholics, and I had voluntarily accepted the obligation of acting as a Catholic should, to the best of my abilities and to the extent to which I was allowed . This leads to the second reason: He firmly believes that if there is even the smallest chance of mortal sin, that it should be confessed and wiped clean as soon as possible (he talks about lobbying for daily confession in his parish). I can only assume that he saw my voluntary assumption of Catholic responsibility as possibly enough to make missing Mass a Mortal sin, and therefor was legitimately concerned about the state of my soul, in accordance with Catholic orthodox teaching (he is young, and doesn’t know everything, but he is passionate about orthodoxy to a degree I have not seen in most Americans, so I can be relatively confident that he was not just making things up.)

I must admit I’m a little disappointed that the general consensus is that I should not confess, a. Most objections have had to do with my baptismal status, or that I don’t really need to confess, as I am not under the same obligations as Catholics. If anyone could explain to me what reasons exist for me not Confessing (since my baptism was valid), as opposed to not needing to Confess (believe me, I do… if I didn’t, my conscience wouldn’t be thirsting for it this way), I would be very grateful.

Thanks again, and God Bless.

Even though you have apparently accepted many of the teachings of the Church you are not yet a member of the Church, even if your baptism is valid. True you more than likely are part of the broader Christian community, but the Sacraments are for those in communion with the Catholic Church, which you are not..

I suppose that if you truly feel the need to confess you could, however you would need to point out to the Priest that you are NOT Catholic and as such no absolution could be given. Since no absolution could be given and no graces received the confession itself would pretty much be the same as an alcoholic does during the AA steps ie: confess your transgressions to another person.

I commend your desire, and I truly wish more people had it, but it and of itself shows a lack of understanding of the sheer depth of the Catholic faith. The Catholic faith is not an easy thing to accept in many cases and can be very difficult to understand and practice correctly. . In fact that is one of the biggest objections many people have to it. It is too difficult to understand, too difficult to practice and too legalistic. The Church does have a lot of rules that are not optional and in fact are hard and fast requirements.

Sorry kid, thats just the way it is.

As far as the Pastor, he should know what he is talking about and should not be giving out advice based on what he feels to be correct or what he thinks might make a potential convert feel more a part of the overall community, which I somehow suspect was his intention. As far as his orthodoxy, well, I would have to question that as well.

 

[Kylar_Vonzain]

Even though you have apparently accepted many of the teachings of the Church you are not yet a member of the Church, even if your baptism is valid. True you more than likely are part of the broader Christian community, but the Sacraments are for those in communion with the Catholic Church, which you are not..

I suppose that if you truly feel the need to confess you could, however you would need to point out to the Priest that you are NOT Catholic and as such no absolution could be given. Since no absolution could be given and no graces received the confession itself would pretty much be the same as an alcoholic does during the AA steps ie: confess your transgressions to another person.

I commend your desire, and I truly wish more people had it, but it and of itself shows a lack of understanding of the sheer depth of the Catholic faith. The Catholic faith is not an easy thing to accept in many cases and can be very difficult to understand and practice correctly. . In fact that is one of the biggest objections many people have to it. It is too difficult to understand, too difficult to practice and too legalistic. The Church does have a lot of rules that are not optional and in fact are hard and fast requirements.

Sorry kid, thats just the way it is.

As far as the Pastor, he should know what he is talking about and should not be giving out advice based on what he feels to be correct or what he thinks might make a potential convert feel more a part of the overall community, which I somehow suspect was his intention. As far as his orthodoxy, well, I would have to question that as well.

Thanks. I fully understand how much I do not understand, although I am not sure how my desire to Confess my sins and have them forgiven by God shows a lack of understanding about the Catholic faith. I would hope that my asking about this here, in a community of Catholics, would show that I recognize how little I know of the Catholic faith (its richness and complexity are things which I find attractive about it, not repellent or off-putting) despite the time I have spent learning about it, and that doing so would show how seriously I take this. I did not mean to give the impression that my baptism in any way entitled me to participate in the sacraments: I only mentioned it to show that I am part of the greater Christian community, and to answer the question of another poster. If the Church teaches that the Sacraments are only for those who are in Communion with the Catholic Church, then that is in and of itself enough reason for me to postpone my confession until such a time as I am eligible to do so. Until then, I will continue to pray for forgiveness.

I recognize that you did not mean any disrespect, but I am a little bothered by your implication that I’m being rather flippant about this whole thing: I assure you, I am not, and if I appear to be, it is certainly not because I do not understand the gravity of Church tradition. If I have in any way been disrespectful to the Church or God, please show me how, or if you have any resources or aids you could give me in better understanding what I “lack in understanding,” I would greatly appreciate them. If you can somehow help me appreciate my “lack of understanding of the sheer depth of the Catholic faith”, and come to know it better, I would thank you. Even knowing what I do not know would help. But simply being told that I don’t understand, that I’m not a Catholic, and that Catholicism is very complex does not help me at all; I know these things, thats why I’m posting on this forum.

However, on a purely academic note, I am curious about your statement. Truly, I have not been properly catechized and therefor do not understand the Sacraments as a Catholic does, but in what sense do you mean “In Communion with the Catholic Church?” I was under the impression that before someone could partake of First Holy Communion, they had to go to Confession (or, at the very least, that it was encouraged strongly). Thus, in what sense are they in Communion with the Catholic Church? By virtue of baptism? I could, of course, be wrong about the order of this, as I haven’t been properly catechized, but your objection makes me wonder about the issue. I had a similar question about the requirement of RCIA candidates to confess before receiving confirmation and the Eucharist at Easter Vigil, but I think that was (somewhat) satisfactorily answered here: Confession for RCIA Candidate

Academic curiosity asside, it seems that the general consensus here is that the Church teaches that I should not go to Confession, at least not until I have been properly catechized. I can’t say that I disagree, although I am of course disappointed. If anyone has any advice for me in the meantime, it would be greatly appreciated.

 

[quiet52]

Kylar,

If the RCIA is done correctly, the RCIA leader will schedule some major and minor liturgical rites with your pastor. These rites serve as gateways to particular periods of conversion during the catechumenate process for the catechumens (unbaptized) and the candidates (baptized). They are celebrated during the mass because they also involve the rest of the community.

1. Major rites – Rite of Acceptance (for the unbaptized) and Rite of Welcoming (for the baptized). These rites are scheduled when the individuals are ready to commit to an intense period of catechesis in their journeys of conversion. Kylar, when you celebrate the Rite of Welcoming, you’ll receive certain rights – e.g., if something happens to you and you die, you have a right to a Catholic funeral mass. It is my understanding that after this right, after preparation, discernment, prayer, and consultation with your pastor and/or RCIA leader, you may receive the sacrament of Reconciliation (confession) if you long to, but this is highly individual.
2. Major Rites – on the First Sunday of Lent, which serve as a gateway to the period of Purification and Enlightenment (lent). Catechesis continues, but the participants commit to progress in self-knowledge through serious examination of their lives and repentence.
   a. for the catechumens – **Rites of Sending **(done at the parish level during mass) and Rite of Election (done in the cathedral, presided by the bishop).
   b. for the candidates – Rite of the Call to Continuing Conversion. Sometime during this period the candidates are required to receive the sacrament of Reconciliation.
3. Minor Rite – on the Second Sunday of Lent – Penitential Rite (for the candidates only).
4. Minor Rite – on the Third, Fourth and Fifth Sundays of Lent – Scrutinies (for the catechumens only).
5. Major Rites – of Baptism, Confirmation and First Eucharist – usually during Easter vigil mass. After reception into the Catholic Church, new Catholics are called “neophytes” and enter the formal period of Mystagogy for one year.

 

[quiet52]

A note re: someone’s comment about “Dismissal” during mass. This only applies to the catechumens (unbaptized) after their Rite of Acceptance. When the catechumens attend mass, they are dismissed (with kindness) after the homily but stay together (and with an RCIA leader) to “break open the Word” and reflect together.

Candidates (the baptized) may join the catechumens after Dismissal to share about the Word together, but candidates, being baptized, are still expected to attend an entire mass every Sunday – which means that if they are to join the catechumens after dismissal, they’d need to attend another mass in its entirety.