Do I have to go through RCIA?!

  • Thread starter Thread starter arieh0310
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
A

arieh0310

Guest
OK, so over the last 8 months I have studied my way into the Catholic Church. I have read books by Keating, Newman, Chesterton, Armstrong, Hahn, the Catechism, the Early Church Fathers, and many more. I have fallen in love with Christ’s Church and am 100% sure I will enter.

However, I went to my first RCIA class last night (queue scary music) and was fed a load of garbage that was totally against Church teaching. The RCIA director told us that she wants to become a priest, that everyone can get to heaven if they are good (Catholicism is probably the best way to do it), was given a watered down meaning of baptism, etc.

So, my question is: Do I have to go through RCIA in order to join the Church?
 
you do have to prepare for and receive the sacraments of initiation, including baptism if you are not already baptized validly, and make a profession of faith. the priest who receives you in the church has the duty of ascertaining that you have studied enough to make that profession knowledgeably and that you are otherwise able to receive the sacraments. If the persons the priest in your parish has delegated these duties to is teaching heresy, and it certainly sounds like it, make an appointment with the priest at once. Tell him precisely what you observed, who said it, when and in what context. Tell him your entire situation and ask him to guide you in your reception into the Church. If your only alternative is to continue this program, find another parish. your short-cut to this is to call the diocesan office on Liturgy and ask to speak to the priest in charge of RCIA. tell him your difficulty and he will refer you to a sound parish.
 
First of all, welcome home! 👍

Talk to the priest there, and if he sanctions this woman’s teachings, then try another more orthodox parish if there is one close enough for you to go through RCIA. Or seek out an orthodox priest to guide you through your formation and be received under his pastoral care.

Sadly, you are entering the Church at a time when you cannot be guaranteed faithful Church teachings at every Catholic parish, and in some areas, at most Catholic parishes, especially if the bishop is heterodox in his teaching.
 
40.png
arieh0310:
OK, so over the last 8 months I have studied my way into the Catholic Church. I have read books by Keating, Newman, Chesterton, Armstrong, Hahn, the Catechism, the Early Church Fathers, and many more. I have fallen in love with Christ’s Church and am 100% sure I will enter.

However, I went to my first RCIA class last night (queue scary music) and was fed a load of garbage that was totally against Church teaching. The RCIA director told us that she wants to become a priest, that everyone can get to heaven if they are good (Catholicism is probably the best way to do it), was given a watered down meaning of baptism, etc.

So, my question is: Do I have to go through RCIA in order to join the Church?
Click to expand...
If the pastor requires it, yes you have to. Part of all that Catholic teaching you learned requires obedience, even to lousy priests, so long as they are not demanding something of you that is outside his scope of authority, such as belief in heresy or acting against Divine moral law.

I recommend you argue with your RCIA leader. She’s teaching heresy, and the charitable thing to do is to manifest your opinion, but do it nicely. Cite your sources. You will do more good teaching Catholicism in your RCIA group. Review the spiritual works of mercy, and you’ll note that there are many oppotunities to practice them in this RCIA group. Consult with the pastor on what is being taught. If the pastor agrees with such heresy, then speak with the bishop.

Good luck. 😉
 
Arieh!

Welcome to the battlezone.

Through God’s grace and your research, you’ve come to the same conclusions as many of us. Let’s just say that now that you see the terrain…but to your surprise the war that has been going on is also now visible to you.

Get initiated and join the fray. We are in my estimation still in the middle of cleaning up the heresies that have been floating around and faking as the “spirit of V2”…

I hope you have the intestinal fortitude for all of this. I’m sure in your reading of history you saw that the church was never in the clear, always embattled. We have our own share in that in our own time.

in XT.
 
You CAN go to another Parish for RCIA. You also can go through instructions with a priest one to one if he is willing.
 
perhaps you should look at being present in this RCIA class as redemptive suffering. 😛

There are options as listed …
Going to a different parish is number one on my hit parade because the person heading up the class would not be there without the pastor’s okie-dokie. Of course if the nearest parish is 50 miles away, you got problems. In that case, redemptive suffering may be the solution
 
40.png
arieh0310:
… I went to my first RCIA class last night (queue scary music) and was fed a load of garbage that was totally against Church teaching. The RCIA director told us that she wants to become a priest, that everyone can get to heaven if they are good (Catholicism is probably the best way to do it), was given a watered down meaning of baptism, etc.

So, my question is: Do I have to go through RCIA in order to join the Church?
Click to expand...
It is great that you have the discernment to know you are being taught heresy.

I would “shake the dust off your sandals” and leave this parish to seek out a parish that has an orthodox RCIA program. I don’t see how it would be good for your spiritual formation to go to war with the woman priest-wannabee, nor to confront the pastor that allows her to teach RCIA. You don’t need this hassle. Flee Babylon, and find an orthodox parish.

May God bless you on your journey home!
 
Thanks for all the replies. Let me articulate the situation a little more clearly.

First of all, one of the priests was there during the RCIA session and he said nothing. So I challenged the pastor and said “but the male priesthood has been infallibily defined doctrine, it can’t change” to which he agreed but he agreed in a very “pastoral” way in order not to ruffle any feathers. I think he is being non-abrasive because he is a young priest (34) and he has only been pastor there 2 years.

The reason I chose this parish is because they celebrate mass right, no abuses. The pastor’s homilies are also great. But I think he is a little gun shy about discipline, which is unfortunate. Also, of all the parishes around me, the nearest one that is orthodox is an hour drive away. Maybe if I find that this parish only has a facade of orthodoxy (because of the wonderful way they celebrate mass) I may have to drive an hour every Sunday.
 
I say stay and when the heresies spring up lay the smack down. We should all stand up for the faith, in a charitable way but stand up for it.

It might be good for your faith to be able to defend the faith. Just be careful in getting into the thinking you are always right. Just stay quiet, research and question when things look out of line. If there is anything blatant question it and keep everything orthodox.

God Bless and welcome to the Church,
Scylla
 
40.png
scylla:
I say stay and when the heresies spring up lay the smack down. We should all stand up for the faith, in a charitable way but stand up for it.
Click to expand...
Fighting with the catechists in an RCIA program is not something that a candidate should endure, nor would that be good for the candidate’s spiritual well being.

If the Masses and the homilies at this parish are good, then go to Mass there. An hour drive to attend RCIA at another parish would be worth the time invested to receive proper instruction in the faith.

RCIA should be something that you look forward to, not dread.
 
40.png
arieh0310:
Thanks for all the replies. Let me articulate the situation a little more clearly.

First of all, one of the priests was there during the RCIA session and he said nothing. So I challenged the pastor and said “but the male priesthood has been infallibily defined doctrine, it can’t change” to which he agreed but he agreed in a very “pastoral” way in order not to ruffle any feathers. I think he is being non-abrasive because he is a young priest (34) and he has only been pastor there 2 years.

The reason I chose this parish is because they celebrate mass right, no abuses. The pastor’s homilies are also great. But I think he is a little gun shy about discipline, which is unfortunate. Also, of all the parishes around me, the nearest one that is orthodox is an hour drive away. Maybe if I find that this parish only has a facade of orthodoxy (because of the wonderful way they celebrate mass) I may have to drive an hour every Sunday.
Click to expand...
It is unfortunate that he is allowing this woman to dominate the class and impose her personal ideas onto candidates and catechumens. If it’s too hard to go to another parish then do stand up for the truth when this woman puts her own ideas forward as Church teaching. Talk to the priests and get their support by letting them know you will support them. I guarantee you there are good people in that parish who are sick of the heterodox running things and would be jubilant to see that element sat on. 😉 You will be in my prayers, please pray for me.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top