Conflict with RCIA and the Protestant Church

[tscott]

I’m a life long Protestant that has a calling to the Cathloic Church.

I’m going to sign up for the RCIA class this year, but here’s the problem.

I don’t want to quit my Protestant Church. I’ve been attending both the Catholic and Protestant Churches since last fall. As a Catholic or RCIA student, will I be expected to quit attending my Protestant Church?

 

[rfournier103]

What might your reasons be for wanting to stay with your Protestant church?

 

[1ke]

I’m a life long Protestant that has a calling to the Cathloic Church.

I’m going to sign up for the RCIA class this year, but here’s the problem.

I don’t want to quit my Protestant Church. I’ve been attending both the Catholic and Protestant Churches since last fall. As a Catholic or RCIA student, will I be expected to quit attending my Protestant Church?

If you’ve been called to the Catholic Church you have to think about what you have been called out of, and how would it make sense to believe you could be both, attend both.

While you are inquiring, it is perhaps reasonable to believe you might still attend your current ecclesial community’s services, but if you become a Catholic it is not reasonable at all.

It is something you need to talk to the priest about. I do understand your sentimental attachment to your current church, but you really cannot continue as if you are both.

 

[jwinch2]

Initially in RCIA you will not be asked to make any commitment whatsoever. However, there will come a time when you have to make a decision as to what you want to do and what you believe. Some decide to put it off and end up going through RCIA more than once before being received into the Church. You will not be judged or pressured regarding your decision, merely informed that eventually you must make one, even if it is to wait another year.

If, at some point, you decide that the Catholic Church is for you and you are received and profess your faith, you will be expected to worship as a Catholic. That should not come as a surprise. This does not mean that you must cut off all contact with your former church, merely that you have moved to a point where you do not believe the same things that they do. That difference in belief should be reflected in the manner in which you worship God.

 

[po18guy]

If you are convicted the the Catholic Church holds the fulness of truth, you have a moral obligation to that truth to pursue it, wherever it leads you. Let us also consider our Lord’s words:

Luke 9:62
Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA)
Jesus said to him: No man putting his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

And James:

James 1:8
Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA)
A double minded man is inconstant in all his ways.

James 4 is also a good meditation in this vein.

 

[tscott]

What I get from the Protestant Church I don’t want to give up:

Incrediable praise and worship before and after the sermon. I really sense the presence of the Holy Spirit during this time.

The sermons challenge and convect me when I need it. They also equip me for evangilism and service to others.

My viewpoint may change when I learn more about the Catholic faith thru RCIA, but that’s where I am at now.

If you are asking why am I converting…?? I can’t explain it other than it is what I know I am suppose to do deep in my heart. I love my parish, and I guess I am getting the best of both worlds.

 

[po18guy]

What I get from the Protestant Church I don’t want to give up:

Incrediable praise and worship before and after the sermon. I really sense the presence of the Holy Spirit during this time.

The sermons challenge and convect me when I need it. They also equip me for evangilism and service to others.

My viewpoint may change when I learn more about the Catholic faith thru RCIA, but that’s where I am at now.

If you are asking why am I converting…?? I can’t explain it other than it is what I know I am suppose to do deep in my heart. I love my parish, and I guess I am getting the best of both worlds.

I most strongly suggest that you inquire at your parish regarding when they offer adoration of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. Then, go and spend time before Him in prayer and reflection. You might be amazed sooner, or you might be amazed later, but you will be amazed. Many have experienced miracles in prayer before our Lord.

Do you have a copy of Catholicism for Dummies? It is an excellent resource for all Catholics, and may be used a a catechism. I learn each time I open my copy.

You will receive everything in the Catholic Church that you now love in your current faith, and more. It is presented differently, using different terms, but as to its richness, none of us will live long enough to fully probe the depths of Catholic spirituality.

What you are feeling now is quite common among converts. It is a natural hesitancy, since you know the good that is in your current denomination. Yet, much more awaits.

 

[Neofight]

Much of the RCIA program involves inquiry. I would think the church would be happier with you taking the time to investigate the faith before entering into the church, rather than entering only to become a CEO (Christmas, Easter Only) Catholic.

 

[bmullins]

As long as you are earnestly inquiring about becoming Catholic, you can still go to your protestant church during the process of RCIA. I do think that once you find out the teachings of the church you will want to go to catholic mass instead. If you truly believe that Jesus is present in the Eucharist… being there before him will mean more to you than anything else.

That being said, I would think that if during the RCIA process you didn’t find yourself attending the Catholic church more often than the protestant one, then you likely aren’t being drawn to the church. Make sure that whatever you do, you do it with honest intentions. Only join RCIA if you truly do think you are being called to be Catholic. Taking it as a ‘bible study’ on Catholic faith is very dishonest. There are better ways to learn Catholic teaching than to show up once a week and pester those who are earnestly inquiring with questions on doctrine.

 

[stephe1987]

^ You can investigate as long as you want. But at some point if you want to be in full Communion with the Catholic Church and receive the Sacraments, you will have to leave your other church.

 

[St_Francis]

You might think about the Israelites as they left Egypt; they constantly wanted to go back to enjoy certain aspects of their lives there which they could not experience in the desert.

Not saying that you should give up the Protestant church before you’re ready, just saying that if that time comes, it may be still be quite difficult.

 

[Nicea325]

I’m a life long Protestant that has a calling to the Cathloic Church.

I’m going to sign up for the RCIA class this year, but here’s the problem.

I don’t want to quit my Protestant Church. I’ve been attending both the Catholic and Protestant Churches since last fall. As a Catholic or RCIA student, will I be expected to quit attending my Protestant Church?

I am sorry,but I do not follow your logic here. If you have a calling to the CC,then why would you possibly hold on to your Protestant church? I am sorry, but I am not one who goes 50/50,but 100%!

 

[LegoGE1947]

^ You can investigate as long as you want. But at some point if you want to be in full Communion with the Catholic Church and receive the Sacraments, you will have to leave your other church.

My wife, who converted to Catholic when I did, has left the Church and has gone back to being Baptist. We don’t worship together. I don’t want to be protestant and she doesn’t want to be Catholic. She can’t understand what I see in Catholicism. I go to Mass at 6:30 in the morning. Then I come home and she goes to the Baptist community. I don’t know what to do. Recently I found all her Catholic books on my study desk. We also had a statue of “Our Lady of Guadalupe” that suddenly disappeared. When I asked her about it she said she threw it in the trash because it was “idolotry” to have it. I do have a picture of the “Divine Mercy” image which so far hasn’t been disposed of! My most favorite devotions are reciting the Rosary and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, I go to bed praying the Prayer to St Michael and I also read the Bible and Catechism cover to cover during the course of a year. Right now I’m doing the Divine Mercy Novena which I started on Good Friday.

 

[MSSheBear]

tscott: I assume you have some time before you start RCIA. I hope you think about why you are considering the Catholic Church. I converted from an Evangelical church and I realized pretty soon that it was an either/or deal. Once I immersed myself in RCIA and a some parish activities I found myself thinking more and more as a Catholic. I now wouldn’t consider attending a Protestant service expect for a funeral.

Isn’t there theological differences between the homily and the sermon? Don’t you ever cross yourself at the Protestant Church? How about the Protestants that are determined to convert Catholics?

 

[LegoGE1947]

tscott: I assume you have some time before you start RCIA. I hope you think about why you are considering the Catholic Church. I converted from an Evangelical church and I realized pretty soon that it was an either/or deal. Once I immersed myself in RCIA and a some parish activities I found myself thinking more and more as a Catholic. I now wouldn’t consider attending a Protestant service expect for a funeral.

Isn’t there theological differences between the homily and the sermon? Don’t you ever cross yourself at the Protestant Church? How about the Protestants that are determined to convert Catholics?

Actually it would be a struggle for me to even go to a Protestant service for a funeral! Like you, I soon realized that when I was converting to Catholic it was going to be an either/or situation. Since I grew tired of Protestantism and every protestant community I was ever part of preached a different message from any others and it was messing with my mind, choosing to become Catholic was for me a no brainer!

 

[Annabelle_Marie]

Actually it would be a struggle for me to even go to a Protestant service for a funeral! Like you, I soon realized that when I was converting to Catholic it was going to be an either/or situation. Since I grew tired of Protestantism and every protestant community I was ever part of preached a different message from any others and it was messing with my mind, choosing to become Catholic was for me a no brainer!

We haven’t been back either…

to the OP—At some point you should make a decision…and if you decide to become fully Catholic…then you can not take communion at the Protestant Church nor does their service fulfill the Sunday obligation.

Not that its all bad…I listen to christian non-denominational music…but I have found that some of my Protestant friends tried to make me change my mind.

But no…while you are in RCIA…it’s just that…inquiry. I would pray about it as you go along.

 

[SecretGarden]

What tscott is talking about, I understand totally. I miss my church’s worship. It becomes engrained in you somehow. I no longer attend my former Pentecostal church, but that has to do with mainly distance. My former Pentecostal church is 2 hours away by public transit while my Catholic is 40min. When I was exploring, I was told, I could keep my Pentecostal community and still be Catholic at the same time. There was a person who I know who does it. I think this is something tscott will have to take to the Lord and see where it leads.

The joys of being Catholic is that you have three masses to attend. Therefore if tscott doesn’t mind spending more time in church, a simple idea is to attend either a Saturday or Sunday evening mass and then maintain your community in the morning. Going between two communities will be difficult especially when the Evangelical one probably won’t understand the reasons for the switch. If you decide to become Catholic, it might be a good idea to take a break from your Evangelical church for about a year or so until you have given yourself some time to get settled into your new home. That is what I had to do. I miss the worship and my old friends at my former church like crazy. My former church was extremely special but that said, I’ve also been blessed with a wonderful, caring parish as well. I love both denominations and of tscott has the same love, it’s the power to it. Who knows maybe tscott will be an ambassador between his Evangelical church and the Catholic church. We need more of that.

If you have questions, message me and I’ll be more than happy to help you out or answer your questions.

 

[tscott]

Thanks SecretGarden, and also those others who took the time to write a thoughtful response.

I now know what I have to do.

 

[Nicea325]

My wife, who converted to Catholic when I did, has left the Church and has gone back to being Baptist. We don’t worship together. I don’t want to be protestant and she doesn’t want to be Catholic. She can’t understand what I see in Catholicism. I go to Mass at 6:30 in the morning. Then I come home and she goes to the Baptist community. I don’t know what to do. Recently I found all her Catholic books on my study desk. We also had a statue of “Our Lady of Guadalupe” that suddenly disappeared. When I asked her about it she said she threw it in the trash because it was “idolotry” to have it. I do have a picture of the “Divine Mercy” image which so far hasn’t been disposed of! My most favorite devotions are reciting the Rosary and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, I go to bed praying the Prayer to St Michael and I also read the Bible and Catechism cover to cover during the course of a year. Right now I’m doing the Divine Mercy Novena which I started on Good Friday.

I am sorry,but your wife must have not grasped RCIA very well?

 

[LegoGE1947]

I am sorry,but your wife must have not grasped RCIA very well?

She was the one who originally got all excited about Catholicism and I just came along “for the ride” 5 years later I was still excited about being Catholic but her enthusiasm “went south”