Converts who can't receive the Sacraments

[chasingcars]

In my home diocese people who are living in invalid marriage can be received into the Church but obviously they can’t receive the Sacraments.
There’s no misunderstanding in this: when I was in RCIA, our pastor stated very clearly that if one wants to join the Church but is in an invalid marriage and doesn’t live as brother and sister with their new spouse, they can still be received into the Church but not be admitted to the Sacraments.
I’ve been wondering this for the last two years but I don’t want to ask anyone face to face because they would probably tell me to mind my own bussiness.
I just don’t understand why anyone would become a Catholic if they can’t receive the Sacraments. Because in my understanding, being a Catholic who can’t receive the Sacraments is practically the same thing as being a non-Catholic. Sure, Catholics in invalid marriage can pray, go to Mass, read the Bible, do spiritual communion, do works of mercy etc. but so can non-Catholics.
I’ve heard that in the US people in invalid marriage can’t become Catholic unless they live celibate or get an annulment. Is this true? Then why are rules different in my home diocese?

 

[Duane1966]

In my home diocese people who are living in invalid marriage can be received into the Church but obviously they can’t receive the Sacraments.
There’s no misunderstanding in this: when I was in RCIA, our pastor stated very clearly that if one wants to join the Church but is in an invalid marriage and doesn’t live as brother and sister with their new spouse, they can still be received into the Church but not be admitted to the Sacraments.
I’ve been wondering this for the last two years but I don’t want to ask anyone face to face because they would probably tell me to mind my own bussiness.
I just don’t understand why anyone would become a Catholic if they can’t receive the Sacraments. Because in my understanding, being a Catholic who can’t receive the Sacraments is practically the same thing as being a non-Catholic. Sure, Catholics in invalid marriage can pray, go to Mass, read the Bible, do spiritual communion, do works of mercy etc. but so can non-Catholics.
I’ve heard that in the US people in invalid marriage can’t become Catholic unless they live celibate or get an annulment. Is this true? Then why are rules different in my home diocese?

1.) Whether they converted or not, they would still be in an invalid marriage correct? You seem to be saying if they don’t convert, that somehow that makes the marriage valid.

2.) If they are convinced that the Catholic Church is the means which Christ established for the salvation of the world, then to not convert actually puts their soul at risk.

 

[thistle]

In my home diocese people who are living in invalid marriage can be received into the Church but obviously they can’t receive the Sacraments.
There’s no misunderstanding in this: when I was in RCIA, our pastor stated very clearly that if one wants to join the Church but is in an invalid marriage and doesn’t live as brother and sister with their new spouse, they can still be received into the Church but not be admitted to the Sacraments.
I’ve been wondering this for the last two years but I don’t want to ask anyone face to face because they would probably tell me to mind my own bussiness.
I just don’t understand why anyone would become a Catholic if they can’t receive the Sacraments. Because in my understanding, being a Catholic who can’t receive the Sacraments is practically the same thing as being a non-Catholic. Sure, Catholics in invalid marriage can pray, go to Mass, read the Bible, do spiritual communion, do works of mercy etc. but so can non-Catholics.
I’ve heard that in the US people in invalid marriage can’t become Catholic unless they live celibate or get an annulment. Is this true? Then why are rules different in my home diocese?

That is not correct. If they live as brother and sister and have no sexual relationship at all they simply have to confess and they may receive Communion.

 

[FrDavid96]

In my home diocese people who are living in invalid marriage can be received into the Church but obviously they can’t receive the Sacraments.
There’s no misunderstanding in this: when I was in RCIA, our pastor stated very clearly that if one wants to join the Church but is in an invalid marriage and doesn’t live as brother and sister with their new spouse, they can still be received into the Church but not be admitted to the Sacraments.

Yes, this is true. However, it’s not the “usual” way. Everything about receiving someone into the Church presumes that such a person will be eligible to receive the Sacraments when the moment arrives. Both canon law and liturgical norms presume that this is the situation.

Baptism remits all past sins, so from the moment of baptism, a person is eligible to receive Confirmation and Communion.

Likewise, a previously baptized person would go to Confession as part of being received into the Church, and would then be eligible to receive the Sacraments.

The difficulty is this: knowing that a person will resume committing the sin in the future, and probably the very near future. That is the reason why such persons are generally not received into the Church.

The situation is complicated pastorally. In brief, yes it’s possible, but it’s certainly not the usual (normative) way that things do happen nor should happen.

I want to be clear in that I am not encouraging or suggesting this, I am merely saying that is is possible.

I’ve been wondering this for the last two years but I don’t want to ask anyone face to face because they would probably tell me to mind my own bussiness.
I just don’t understand why anyone would become a Catholic if they can’t receive the Sacraments. Because in my understanding, being a Catholic who can’t receive the Sacraments is practically the same thing as being a non-Catholic. Sure, Catholics in invalid marriage can pray, go to Mass, read the Bible, do spiritual communion, do works of mercy etc. but so can non-Catholics.

At least being a full member of the Church (even if not admitted to the Sacraments) is still better than not-a-member.

We cannot reduce membership in the Church to just what we are allowed to do versus not allowed. Membership itself is an important value.

I’ve heard that in the US people in invalid marriage can’t become Catholic unless they live celibate or get an annulment. Is this true? Then why are rules different in my home diocese?

Yes, that’s true, as it applies to the usual way things are done. The rules are actually the same for both places.

There is a difference between saying “yes, this is possible” versus “we encourage it this way” or “this is the typical way.”

My hope is that the priest was merely explaining that such a thing is possible (and maybe does happen), but without encouraging it or presenting it as the usual way things are done.

I will add (lest someone misunderstand or misconstrue) that for me personally, in order to do what you’re describing, there would have to be some very compelling reason behind it.