Can I take RCIA even if I don't want to be confirmed?

[FMLJoliecouer]

I was baptized Roman Catholic – found out later in life – but adopted at 15 months into a non-Catholic family and had no religious upbringing. I ventured into various churches in my twenties and then got married in a Protestant church. I separated from my husband, but never divorced (money is tight). I have been living in a common-law marriage for the past several years and am now 42.

A number of months ago, I started going to a Catholic church as part of my home support work and found I wanted to go every day. Of course I don’t take Communion. I have been thinking about taking the classes one takes to become confirmed, but obviously I have to deal with my first marriage and then get re-married. I would not be getting re-married in the Catholic Church. I am sure I cannot become confirmed though, as it doesn’t sit well with my conscience getting an annulment of my first marriage as my intention then was to stay together for life.

I do want to take the classes though to learn more about the faith that brought me into this world – the faith of my birth parents. Can I take the classes if I’m pretty sure I don’t want to become confirmed? I have every intention of continuing going to a Catholic church Monday to Saturday, but I currently go to a Protestant church on Sundays.

 

[Michelle_Arnold]

Anyone is welcome to take RCIA classes to learn more about the Catholic faith and is not required to participate in the sacramental initiation to do so. And, just to give you information should you decide you do want to be confirmed: If you end your “common-law marriage” and live according to the chastity expected of a married person (i.e., no romantic relationship with anyone who is not your husband), you are welcome to receive the sacraments, including confirmation. You would not have to end your first marriage or seek an annulment of it unless you decided you wanted to determine if you were free to marry or enter religious life.