Does an RCIA candidate have to marry before being excepted into the Church?

[danandirma]

I am a sponsor in an RCIA program, and I am wondering if a candidate or catechumin who are living with the person they plan to marry, do they have be married before they can be excepted in the Church?

 

[vluvski]

This sounds like a matter that is best left to a priest as a pastoral decision based on the individual facts of the situation. If called upon to make such a decision, these are the questions I would ask myself.

Would it bring scandal to others if this person came into the church living with a spouse-to-be?

Does the couple understand the Church’s teaching on purity and specifically, premarital relations?

Would it jeopardize the growing faith of others in the group if one of the candidates or catechumens were turned away?

As it is, I’m glad I’m not the one who has to make this decision. Very tough indeed. One would hope that as this individual grows in faith and is properly catechized, he or she would realize the lack of propriety, at best, of living with a future spouse, and make the decision to change the living situation or end the relationship without being told.

 

[Seatuck]

I am a sponsor in an RCIA program, and I am wondering if a candidate or catechumin who are living with the person they plan to marry, do they have be married before they can be excepted in the Church?

No they do not have to marry. But they do may need to change up the sleeping arrangements or perhaps one of them needs to move out if the marriage is not in the very near future. The candidate/catechumen needs to understand the churches teaching on marriage and sexuality and promise to abide by them. A talk with a priest is in order as well as spiritual direction.

It wouldn’t make much sense to enter the church and then continue living a life of sin.

 

[puzzleannie]

I am a sponsor in an RCIA program, and I am wondering if a candidate or catechumin who are living with the person they plan to marry, do they have be married before they can be excepted in the Church?

if the couple is living together without benefit of valid marriage that situation must be rectified before the candidate or catechumen can be baptized, confirmed or receive communion. A baptized candidate would also of course have to confess any sin that has arisen from this state of affairs before communion. Rectified means either they must separate and cease illicit relations, or they must get married. The candidate should be getting pastoral care from the priest in the matter in any case.

 

[dconklin]

Does the CC really check all of this? Does the church verify this before two Catholic kids get married? I thought Christ invited the sinners - not the perfect. We are only talking about being accepted in - not running for Sainthood.

They need to be ministerd to - not excluded.

 

[ComputerGeek25]

Does the CC really check all of this? Does the church verify this before two Catholic kids get married? I thought Christ invited the sinners - not the perfect. We are only talking about being accepted in - not running for Sainthood.

They need to be ministerd to - not excluded.

Yes, but what happend to “go and sin no more?”

 

[agapewolf]

Does the CC really check all of this? Does the church verify this before two Catholic kids get married? I thought Christ invited the sinners - not the perfect. We are only talking about being accepted in - not running for Sainthood.

They need to be ministerd to - not excluded.

Inviting people who are living in a public state of fornication and will try to receive the sacraments not in the state of grace is hardly “inviting the sinner”.

THis is encouraging sacriliege. It is the Church’s job to guard the sacraments and not enable sinful behavior.

 

[dconklin]

Inviting people who are living in a public state of fornication and will try to receive the sacraments not in the state of grace is hardly “inviting the sinner”.

THis is encouraging sacriliege. It is the Church’s job to guard the sacraments and not enable sinful behavior.

So, we are only going to invite the pure? Are only the pure allowed to be members? What was it that Jesus said about chucking stones at people?

Is it encouraging sacriliege or is it encouraging repentance?

 

[puzzleannie]

Does the CC really check all of this? Does the church verify this before two Catholic kids get married? I thought Christ invited the sinners - not the perfect. We are only talking about being accepted in - not running for Sainthood.

They need to be ministerd to - not excluded.

one must be in the state of sanctifying grace to receive the sacraments of confirmation and communion. One living “in sin” with another person is not in a state of grace and therefore not properly disposed to receive the sacraments. Christ invariably invited sinners to repent and sin no more, and that is what the Church does.

 

[Seatuck]

The marriage will not get the full benefit of the sacrament if one or both of the couple is in a state of mortal sin. We need to be in a state of grace in order to recieve the full effect of a sacrament( with the exception of penance of course ). Lacking in marital grace is an awful way to begin a life together so everything should be done to help the couple understand this.

With the case of a person entering the church they may be free of sin after the baptism or after first reconcilliation but if they go home and sin then they are actually in worse condition than before. They are no fully responsible for these sins.