Can you "fail" RCIA?

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I understand RCIA is not a course you need to pass to become Catholic, but that was the most succinct way I could think of to ask this question.

Can someone be rejected or not administered the sacraments after completing the RCIA classes?

A friend recently reached out to me saying she wanted to be baptized Catholic. I was very happy and started talking to her about RCIA. I am concerned she just wants to be baptized but not actually practice the faith. I did not want to discourage her, because it would be great for her to become a practicing Catholic but I also know the church doesn’t baptize people who have no intention of practicing the faith. Before anyone asks “why would she want to be baptized then at all?”, she is engaged to a fallen away Catholic who does not practice his faith but still “identifies” as a Catholic.
 
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No, you can’t necessarily “fail” RCIA. However, I’ve heard (at least at my home parish) someone in RCIA was asked by the coordinator to not receive the sacraments that year and instead remain in the RCIA program for at least another year, because the person was struggling with learning about the faith. I’m not sure what happened, but I think it could be a possibility, but I’m not 100% sure.

That said, your friend definitely should not enter the program if she has no intention of practicing the faith and just become baptized for the sake of saying that she is a “baptized Catholic” or to have some sort of “equality” or something to share with her eventual husband. That is not what the RCIA program is for at all. If you or she does mention this to a priest, then it would be most likely that she wouldn’t be admitted. Now if she lies just to join, that’s a whole different story altogether and then she is liable to God.

If you can, you should discourage her, and be honest with her that her intentions are flawed. I cannot speculate what the reaction by her would be, but you just need to let her know why she is wrong to think this way, but in the end you have to leave her with God.
 
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RCIA is the Rites for an unbaptized person over age 7 to become a Christian.

How one is prepared for these Rites varies from individual instruction from a Priest to a classroom setting.

Your friend ought speak to her priest.
 
She does not have one… so that was the first thing I told her I would help with, joining a parish.
 
TheLittleLady said:
RCIA is the Rites for an unbaptized person over age 7 to become a Christian.

How one is prepared for these Rites varies from individual instruction from a Priest to a classroom setting.

Your friend ought speak to her priest.
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That’s right; but it seems that in most parishes everyone who wants to become Catholic is guided to the RCIA regardless of their faith background. I’m rather sympathetic to todays converts because it is essentially a large commitment of time to become Catholic. I had a neighbor once who wanted to become Catholic. She met with the parish priest for an hour a week and became Catholic after 4 months.
 
It’s not really a pass or fail thing, but if there is a good RCIA team and good sponsors, a person who is not doing this for the right reason would be noticed early and addressed. Unfortunately there are RCIA programs where signing up is really all you need to do.

Maybe set an appointment with your priest and bring her so he can explain things to her. At minimum explain the obligations once one becomes Catholic.
 
ZemD said:
She does not have one… so that was the first thing I told her I would help with, joining a parish.
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This is an assumption made on here all the time. Q - I know someone who is thinking about going to RCIA. What should I tell her? A - Tell her to talk to HER priest.

Someone looking at conversion may not even know what parish they would go to let alone who the priest of that parish would be.
 
Servite said:
No, you can’t necessarily “fail” RCIA. However, I’ve heard (at least at my home parish) someone in RCIA was asked by the coordinator to not receive the sacraments that year and instead remain in the RCIA program for at least another year, because the person was struggling with learning about the faith. I’m not sure what happened, but I think it could be a possibility, but I’m not 100% sure.

That said, your friend definitely should not enter the program if she has no intention of practicing the faith and just become baptized for the sake of saying that she is a “baptized Catholic” or to have some sort of “equality” or something to share with her eventual husband. That is not what the RCIA program is for at all. If you or she does mention this to a priest, then it would be most likely that she wouldn’t be admitted. Now if she lies just to join, that’s a whole different story altogether and then she is liable to God.

If you can, you should discourage her, and be honest with her that her intentions are flawed. I cannot speculate what the reaction by her would be, but you just need to let her know why she is wrong to think this way, but in the end you have to leave her with God.
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I cannot imagine discouraging anyone from becoming Catholic, thereby vanquishing that person’s opportunity to know the faith ordained by Jesus Christ, Himself.

It’s way beyond a mere lay person’s pay grade to even think such a thing, in my opinion. We have no way of knowing the inner heart and soul and mind of anyone else. Period. Only the Holy Trinity is privy to such obscure information.

It’s always been my understanding that Catholics aren’t supposed to judge others, but are to encourage them and guide them as Christ instructed the original Apostles, and each successive generation of Catholic Christians as that information has been passed down to us.

Because each person has free will, his thoughts and actions, committed and omitted, are between him and Christ, with the priest acting as both intermediary and in persona Christi, depending upon the situation.

Additionally, one’s thoughts or inclinations are not a forever circumstance, but a fluid reality that changes from time to time as one’s perceptions become more informed and more detailed. One who is on the sidelines, but looking into the Church, NEEDS the opportunity to learn more through RCIA. Without that opportunity, most often offered through the RCIA program, one’s curiosity may be extiguished.

A well-run RCIA not only informs, but piques a vital need within the participant to search further and a poignant soul-longing to receive the Holy Eucharist. It is the RCIA experience that either lights a fire within the potential Catholic, or doesn’t.

Would it not be sinful to discourage a soul from drinking from the vessel of knowledge?
 
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Horton said:
It’s not really a pass or fail thing, but if there is a good RCIA team and good sponsors, a person who is not doing this for the right reason would be noticed early and addressed.
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Anyone who wants to be baptized should be welcomed and encouraged. The RCIA team should address difficult situations by tailoring the focus on the needs of the people participating. Love for a Catholic, particularly one to whom you are married, should be revealed as a sign of Christ’s love; that is what the sacrament of marriage is all about. There is no reason to dismiss such a motivation as somehow inappropriate, as if Christ did not speak to us through marriage.

Whatever brings someone to the RCIA, the Holy Spirit is at work. It may be that it turns out to be the wrong path for some inquirers, but most Catholics will have faith that the Church ultimately is the right path and do what they can to lead all to the waters of baptism.
 
She does have a priest and a parish. She has a geographical one. All she has to do is call the parish she lives in and set up a meeting with her priest.
 
She would certainly be free to go through the class without making a commitment to “graduate.” RCIA is for those seeking information about the Catholic faith, as well as those who know they will go through with joining the church.

Most parishes have a year long class, so people have to have some level of commitment to continue attending. Catechumens who finish RCIA and are baptized have to take an oath of fidelity, so they essentially promise to be faithful Catholics.
 
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You can indeed “fail” RCIA - I flunked it this year 🙈

To be fair, it was at my instigation that I stepped back after having a conversation with the RCIA coordinator where we both agreed that I shouldn’t be going near any sacraments yet.

People have said the friend just needs to speak to her priest. Well she may have one but trust me, it’s difficult for a non Catholic to work out what parish they are in and it can be intimidating to speak to a priest if that’s something very new to you.

There’s nothing wrong with pointing your friend in the direction of RCIA. They will help and guide her and who knows how her faith will develop over the months of RCIA.
 
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Nik said:
People have said the friend just needs to speak to her priest. Well she may have one but trust me, it’s difficult for a non Catholic to work out what parish they are in and it can be intimidating to speak to a priest if that’s something very new to you.
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Thank You! So many people here just don’t get this.
 
Horton said:
It’s not really a pass or fail thing, but if there is a good RCIA team and good sponsors, a person who is not doing this for the right reason would be noticed early and addressed.
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Dovekin said:
Anyone who wants to be baptized should be welcomed and encouraged. The RCIA team should address difficult situations by tailoring the focus on the needs of the people participating.
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Didn’t I just say that. I never said to stop her from going, I said a good RCIA would notice and address it early, not on Holy Thursday.
 
Everyone on earth has a priest, non Catholics just don’t realize it. Have her find out what parish she lives in and call the office to set up an appointment.
 
It’s super easy to figure out which parish priest the person needs to contact. You just find the Catholic Church neatest your house and call them. If it’s the parish next to that, they can tell you.
“Hello, St elsewhere? Yes, I want to find out if this is my parish and I need to speak to the priest about RCIA/ becoming Catholic. Yes, Thursday at noon works for me, I’ll see you then thanks!”
 
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Where I am there are two churches equidistant from my house. I still don’t know which parish I officially belong to or how it works.

That made it difficult to work out where to go or who to speak to.

For people not brought up Catholic or in any faith community the idea of just calling a priest and having a friendly chat about religion is also quite intimidating.

I’m glad it’s easy for you, that’s great but all I’m saying is that’s not necessarily the case for everyone.
 
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