Does an Orthodox have to go through RCIA?

[ASimpleSinner]

Hello there. I have a bit of a different situation. I was baptized Catholic and received my first communion in the Church as well. I left the Church in my teens and in 1996 I was confirmed in the Episcopal Church (big mistake ). I was always under the impression that I would have to go through RCIA in order to “revert”. From what I’ve been reading on this thread, that doesn’t seem to be the case. I would appreciate any (name removed by moderator)ut, because I do want to come home. Thanks!

It is quite possible that you may find a priest who will be happy to work with you privately. I note your location as being “Chicago Suburbs” I don’t think it would be all that difficult.

 

[abbot]

No the do not have to go through RCIA . Thay are all ready Catholis but coth in communion with Rome. They do have to to make a profession of faith and get confermed as a Roman Catholic but do not have to be re-Baptised.

 

[bobzills]

No the do not have to go through RCIA . Thay are all ready Catholis but coth in communion with Rome. They do have to to make a profession of faith and get confermed as a Roman Catholic but do not have to be re-Baptised.

I am not sure. I think all that is necessary for an Orthodox to convert to Catholicism is a profession of faith. I know of cases where confirmation was not required, RCIA was not required, etc.However, I think that the rule is that it is preferable for an Orthodox to join an Eastern Church, although even here, exceptions are made.

 

[lak611]

No the do not have to go through RCIA . Thay are all ready Catholis but coth in communion with Rome. They do have to to make a profession of faith and get confermed as a Roman Catholic but do not have to be re-Baptised.

Confirmation is not repeated for Orthodox who convert to Catholic. Orthodox Chrismation is a valid sacrament.

 

[a_priori]

I had to go through RCIA to convert from Orthodoxy to RC.

 

[jmcrae]

I had to go through RCIA to convert from Orthodoxy to RC.

None of the Rites of RCIA even applied to you, since you already had all of your Initiation Sacraments, so I don’t see how you could have “had to.” All you needed to do was go to Confession and then make a public Profession of Faith at the next regular Mass.

 

[a_priori]

None of the Rites of RCIA even applied to you, since you already had all of your Initiation Sacraments, so I don’t see how you could have “had to.” All you needed to do was go to Confession and then make a public Profession of Faith at the next regular Mass.

This is what they made me do. I didn’t dream it. I spent an entire cycle in RCIA before I was allowed to enter the RC. Perhaps the RC isn’t monolithic as some think it is. Your mileage may vary.

 

[jmcrae]

This is what they made me do.

“They” who? Did you do a placement interview with a priest before entering RCIA, or did they just throw you into the classes?

(Did they also make you repeat your Initiation Sacraments?)

 

[ruslan]

“They” who? Did you do a placement interview with a priest before entering RCIA, or did they just throw you into the classes?

(Did they also make you repeat your Initiation Sacraments?)

I went through this until l came to my senses. I had interviews at two different Catholic churches and called several, specifically telling those that I spoke with that I was Russian Orthodox. I was still told I had to go through RCIA. When I finally found a priest, who was a convert from Orthodoxy, that’s when I was able to join the Catholic church with a profession of faith. I hope this forum and this thread, in particular, will help others who want to convert from Orthodoxy to go and seek a priest who will listen. Five years ago I tried to convert and got the same answer - RCIA. It’s more prevalent than you might think. :coffeeread:

 

[a_priori]

“They” who? Did you do a placement interview with a priest before entering RCIA, or did they just throw you into the classes?

(Did they also make you repeat your Initiation Sacraments?)

I did extensive interviews, the priest consulted other “higher-ups” and this was the conclusion. Since this was to be my home parish, I didn’t want to make a stink so I did it.

 

[jmcrae]

I did extensive interviews, the priest consulted other “higher-ups” and this was the conclusion. Since this was to be my home parish, I didn’t want to make a stink so I did it.

Wild. I can see over-enthusiastic lay people making this mistake, since there isn’t a lot of training, and such as there is tends to be optional, in practice, even though on paper it’s supposed to be “required” - but it boggles the mind that priests would allow the situation to continue, once they became aware of it. Surely priests are aware that the Orthodox have already received valid Initiation Sacraments?

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

I posted earlier in this thread but I will repeat it here.

RCIA is really just for catechumen, for unbaptized individuals. Today it has become more. Yes, Catholics completing their sacraments and those baptized in other Churches should not have to go through it. The Easter Vigil should be just for receiving those who need to be baptized yet we have more in it now.

This is mostly due to the fact of a lack of resources and time constraints on those available to do the instruction.

Those who have been baptized should receive individual instruction but that is not always possible or practical. It would not be right for some (or one) to receive private instruction while the rest are asked to go though RCIA.

IMHO those from the Orthodox Churches should not be treated any differently. While their sacraments are valid and all they need to do is a profession of faith we do not know what their catechisis has been like and we do know for a fact that Orthodox and Catholic Teachings do differ, otherwise we would be one Church.

To say that someone does not have to go through RCIA might be true in an ideal world, but as we all know we do not live in such a thing. No one has a right to private instruction or a right not to have to attend the RCIA process. It is up to the local ordinary to decide such things and if a diocese says that everyone who wants to enter the Church must attend RCIA then they must attend RCIA.