Can I return to the Catholic Church?

  • Thread starter Thread starter cominghome123
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
C

cominghome123

Guest
Hi,
I grew up in an atheist/agnostic home and as an adult I converted to Catholicism. After 5 years of being a Catholic, I found out that I was supposed to have had a “lack of form” process done (from my divorce before I converted). At the time, I had asked my RCIA director and I had been told that since I was not baptised or Christian when I had been married, then I needed to nothing before I became baptised and confirmed.
After 5 years of receiving Holy Communion and feeling that I was in good standing with the Church, I was so angry and so hurt by this mistake.
I decided to go to an Anglican Church and by time I started going to a Baptist Church (whose theology I completely disagreed with). However, after a period of less than a year, I began to realize that the Catholic Church is the right church and through prayer and questioning, I have been led back. I now have to go through this process to get these “lack of form” documents done, which is fine. However, I am afraid that I can not come back to the Church, because I denied its authority after having converted in the first place
Is this possible–can I come back and what must I do?
I appreciate any help.

D
 
The Church always offers God’s forgiveness for our sins. Go and talk with a priest, go to confession, and come home!

Either in that appointment or at another time, sit down with your pastor to discuss your marriage and how to resolve it. He’ll know what needs to be done and can guide you through the process.
 
Don’t worry cominghome, you’d just be the bajillionth “prodigal son” returning to your roots. 😉 Don’t forget Peter denied Jesus three times and he knew better himself.

You’re fine, just get some good counsel from either a parish priest or the chancery office.

God Bless,
Snert
 
cominghome123 said:
Hi,
I grew up in an atheist/agnostic home and as an adult I converted to Catholicism. After 5 years of being a Catholic, I found out that I was supposed to have had a “lack of form” process done (from my divorce before I converted). At the time, I had asked my RCIA director and I had been told that since I was not baptised or Christian when I had been married, then I needed to nothing before I became baptised and confirmed.
After 5 years of receiving Holy Communion and feeling that I was in good standing with the Church, I was so angry and so hurt by this mistake.
I decided to go to an Anglican Church and by time I started going to a Baptist Church (whose theology I completely disagreed with). However, after a period of less than a year, I began to realize that the Catholic Church is the right church and through prayer and questioning, I have been led back. I now have to go through this process to get these “lack of form” documents done, which is fine. However, I am afraid that I can not come back to the Church, because I denied its authority after having converted in the first place
Is this possible–can I come back and what must I do?
I appreciate any help.

D
Click to expand...
Welcome Home!
 
cominghome, whatever you do, don’t give up. If it makes you feel better, a family friend who was formerly a methodist minister got kicked out of RCIA classes, and then had to go get baptized by a priest who was willing to take the time to listen. He ended up being my confirmation sponsor.

What I’m saying is if it doesn’t work out the first few times, if you keep putting effort into it, things will eventually work out.
Good Luck, and I’ll be praying for you.
John
 
cominghome123 said:
Hi,
I grew up in an atheist/agnostic home and as an adult I converted to Catholicism. After 5 years of being a Catholic, I found out that I was supposed to have had a “lack of form” process done (from my divorce before I converted). At the time, I had asked my RCIA director and I had been told that since I was not baptised or Christian when I had been married, then I needed to nothing before I became baptised and confirmed.
After 5 years of receiving Holy Communion and feeling that I was in good standing with the Church, I was so angry and so hurt by this mistake.
I decided to go to an Anglican Church and by time I started going to a Baptist Church (whose theology I completely disagreed with). However, after a period of less than a year, I began to realize that the Catholic Church is the right church and through prayer and questioning, I have been led back. I now have to go through this process to get these “lack of form” documents done, which is fine. However, I am afraid that I can not come back to the Church, because I denied its authority after having converted in the first place
Is this possible–can I come back and what must I do?
I appreciate any help.

D
Click to expand...
From what I can gather from your post I’d say the only thing you need to do in order to begin receiving communion again is to go to confession.
You may think that you left the church but unless you submitted a letter to the Bishop formally renouncing your membership you hadn’t “technically” ever left.

While you are in confession you can talk to your confessor about the divorce issues. As others have stated, he will know best how to proceed.
If you are not currently married then I certainly see no impediment to your returning to the other sacraments immediately upon receiving absolution. Again, double check this with your confessor.

And - Welcome Home !!!

Peace
James
 
Snerticus said:
Don’t worry cominghome, you’d just be the bajillionth “prodigal son” returning to your roots. 😉 Don’t forget Peter denied Jesus three times and he knew better himself.

You’re fine, just get some good counsel from either a parish priest or the chancery office.

God Bless,
Snert
Click to expand...
Ahem…lol, someone mentioned Prodigal Son, 😉

Deep down, part of you never really left the church, you did a little exploration, it’s clear that is all that it was when it boils down to it. Now that you realize where you are supposed to be at, … Welcome Home, time to throw you a great big party!!!:D:D:D May God keep you in his embrace!
 
Welcome Home. You are doing the right thing. Discuss the matter with your parish priest.
 
cominghome123 said:
Hi,
I grew up in an atheist/agnostic home and as an adult I converted to Catholicism. After 5 years of being a Catholic, I found out that I was supposed to have had a “lack of form” process done (from my divorce before I converted). At the time, I had asked my RCIA director and I had been told that since I was not baptised or Christian when I had been married, then I needed to nothing before I became baptised and confirmed.
After 5 years of receiving Holy Communion and feeling that I was in good standing with the Church, I was so angry and so hurt by this mistake.
Click to expand...
A “lack of form” means that one, either you or your ex-wife, was Catholic and did not get married in the Church. This “lack of form” means that the Catholic did not participate in a sacramental marriage. It sounds like your wife was the Catholic at the time of your marriage. This is simple paper work, not an issue. It has nothing to do with you receiving the sacraments, IF you did not get remarried.

Your RCIA director was not entirely correct - if ONE is Christian, your previous marriage is not automatically annulled, even though you were not baptized at the time of your marriage. One must exercise the “Pauline privelege” in such cases. If EITHER person is Christian at the time of the marriage, SOME sort of paperwork/process must be undergone for a new marital relationship to be valid in the eyes of the Church.

Of course, if you are not married currently, there is no impediment to receiving the sacraments. The “lack of form” applies to the first marriage, nullifying it and allowing you to marry in the eyes of the Church a different woman.
cominghome123 said:
I decided to go to an Anglican Church and by time I started going to a Baptist Church (whose theology I completely disagreed with). However, after a period of less than a year, I began to realize that the Catholic Church is the right church and through prayer and questioning, I have been led back. I now have to go through this process to get these “lack of form” documents done, which is fine. However, I am afraid that I can not come back to the Church, because I denied its authority after having converted in the first place Is this possible–can I come back and what must I do?
I appreciate any help.

D
Click to expand...
D,

Go to confession and ask God for forgiveness. If you are planning to remarry or already married again, get the lack of form documents completed. ALL sins are forgiveable, when one is repentant. Do not be anxious, my friend.

Regards
 
Thank you all so much for posting and making me feel so welcome.
Whoever thinks that Catholics are really down on people who have been divorced, should read your posts.
Thank you and God Bless to all of you.
 
cominghome123 said:
Thank you all so much for posting and making me feel so welcome.
Whoever thinks that Catholics are really down on people who have been divorced, should read your posts.
Thank you and God Bless to all of you.
Click to expand...
You ARE welcome.
I’m glad we could help you.

Yes there are those who take a very dim view of the Catholic position on divorce, there are also many catholics who take a rather dim view of the Church’s position on annulments, possibly with some justification.
However, such opinions and positions should not prevent us from Loving those who are trying to rectify situations that are often very messy and difficult.
Those who Judge others harshly in these matters do much harm.
 
cominghome123 said:
Thank you all so much for posting and making me feel so welcome.
Whoever thinks that Catholics are really down on people who have been divorced, should read your posts.
Thank you and God Bless to all of you.
Click to expand...
I would hope no one would mix up “the act of divorouce” with the “divoroucee”… We have no place to be judging people who have experienced this heart break, rather we should be praying for all such people finding them selves in that terrible position.

The act, however, is something we should have a dim view of. It’s something we should view as being highly undesirable, and due to this we should be donig whatever it takes to avoid it. But sometimes it can’t be avoided, and in those cases (like yours), you have our prayers.
 
cominghome123 said:
Thank you all so much for posting and making me feel so welcome.
Whoever thinks that Catholics are really down on people who have been divorced, should read your posts.
Thank you and God Bless to all of you.
Click to expand...
I was part of another thread a short while back. The gal that posted there was pregnant and there was no way for her to work it out with the father of the child for marriage. The outpouring of support and prayers were quite overwhelming, and a stunning example of how us Catholics really are, no where within it was she judged or condemned, in fact, just the opposite, she was beating herself up harshly over it, and we helped to console her, not condemn her…

I was listening to Catholic Answers radio yesterday and on one of the talk shows, guess what topic popped up from one of the listeners calling in… The same one as you. He also gave the same answers you are given here, that only in extreme cases and even those, where the former parishioner is unrepentant were not allowed to return, and even then, if the person were to repent, it was most likely would be readily accepted back into the church. You obviously are not an extreme case at all, just saying, it supports what others are saying here.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top