Can one cease to be catholic?

[happilycatholic]

If a person takes a sacramental vow before God, can that person simply change their mind?

I would like to get both catholic and non-catholic opinions on this. I am particularly curious to know what those in RCIA think about this.

I personally think one cannot cease to be catholic. I know, I’ll get severely chastized by catholics and non-catholics alike on this one. I’ll just go ahead and give you my position on this now so you’ll have a complete understanding of where I’m coming from.

I am of the opinion that if we as catholics say, “If you are a catholic and believe in abortion, the death penalty, etc. you might as well not “be catholic””, we are giving those who fall away from the Church a way out.

I think we used to call this heresy. I wouldn’t do that now because I don’t believe that when person’s faith is challenged and/or when a person falls away, they are necessarily a heretic. I think that’s really strong language for someone who is misguided. Maybe it’s just the too politically correct society I live in, but I believe in giving someone support and not always finding fault. That, in my opinion drives people away. I’ve seen that type of thing here.

Rather, I think that if a person is confirmed catholic and then falls away, they simply become disobedient. IMHO, simply changing to another faith if you don’t like what the Church is teaching is very protestant in nature. Not, that it’s particularly bad, but just that it’s not catholic teaching to simply leave when you disagree.

But I guess the argument could be circular.

Any thoughts.

 

[bpbasilphx]

Perhaps if a baptized person apostacized and actually embraced another religion, such as Hinduism, he would cease to be Catholic or Christian.

 

[wisdomseeker]

St Paul actually says something about those who are baptised but do not exercise their faith. they are like not having been baptised at all, just like Jews who were circunsized but did not practice their faith. it was if they have never been circunsized.

there you have it.

 

[DorianGregorian]

The Church teaches that Baptism imprints an indelible mark on the soul. One that can never be washed away. There is a similar teaching with Confirmation and Holy Orders.

A Baptized Catholic who stops going to Church remains a Catholic.
A Baptized Catholic who joins the Lutheran Church remains a Catholic.
A Baptized Catholic who becomes a hindu shaman, remains a Catholic in the eyes of the Church.

Once you’re in…you’re in.

Laus Deo

 

[SpaceNeedle]

If what you say is true about “once in, you’re in”, when my fiance returned to the Church, why was he asked (upon stating in college he left the Church) if he had formally renounced his faith, ir if he had just “fallen away”? There clearly is a difference to the Church, I figure, or the priest wouldn’t have asked.

 

[tbcrawford]

The Church teaches that Baptism imprints an indelible mark on the soul. One that can never be washed away. There is a similar teaching with Confirmation and Holy Orders.

A Baptized Catholic who stops going to Church remains a Catholic.
A Baptized Catholic who joins the Lutheran Church remains a Catholic.
A Baptized Catholic who becomes a hindu shaman, remains a Catholic in the eyes of the Church.

Once you’re in…you’re in.

Laus Deo

Quite right
I think the catholic church believes in one baptism.A lapsed catholic is still a catholic just not practising, a heretic is someone who “renounces” their faith and has excommunicated themselves by their actions and committed a grave sin.This is the reason i think the priest would have asked your fiance space needle.I think in this instance the priest before giving confession to someone would need approval from the bishop if they had renounced the catholic church.If someone has more knowledge i hope they will comtribute but i think i am correct.
God bless