Find out *why *your friend does not want to attend RCIA. Is it because of practical difficulties such as scheduling conflicts or a need for transportation? Such problems can be worked around and I would recommend that your friend talk to the pastor of a local Catholic church for help in finding solutions.
Or is it that your friend is simply uninterested in attending classes and just wants to be baptized without preparation? In that case the problem is far more serious. If your friend wants baptism, then your friend will have to be willing to meet the requirements to receive baptism.
You might use this as an analogy: If a person who has never had a driver’s license wishes to be licensed by the state to drive, ordinarily he must study written materials and practice driving with a licensed driver before he can apply for his driver’s license. Then he must take a written test, an eye exam, and a driving test. He cannot simply show up at the department of motor vehicles and expect to be handed a driver’s license. This is not because the state wishes to deny him a license but because the state must assure itself that the applicant is fully trained in the rules of the road and has demonstrated his ability to drive.
If the state takes such care in licensing drivers, should it be surprising that the Church is equally careful about distributing the sacraments? With adult catechumens, the Church must assure itself that the catechumen is fully prepared for and has demonstrated a willingness to accept the duties a Christian assumes upon baptism.
DISCLAIMER: Catholic Answers has turned over the archive to Catholic-Questions.org and no longer owns, manages, or moderates the forums. For additional apologetics resources please visit www.catholic.com.
