All I am trying to do is keep options open. On the one hand, there are things drawing me to Roman Catholicism, but there are also things calling me to stay Anglican. In each case, it is both spritual/theological and pragmatic issues that are pulling me one way or another.
Doesn’t it make sense for me to continue involvement in the Episcopal Church as I explore involvement in Roman Catholicism? Do I not have time until I reach that decision point (i.e. profession of faith, Confirmation into the Roman Catholic Church, etc.) to make a decision? Until then, wouldn’t it be unwise to burn bridges?
Nsper, you are doing more than keeping options open. You are jumping into a ministry as an Episcopalian, when you’re not sure you want to remain one. You do not fully subscribe to what Episcopalians profess. So, with humility and honesty – and out of fairness to yourself and to your fellow Episcopalians, do not take advantage of the ministry training unless and until you are absolutely certain you can profess to believe everything held by that faith community.
Again, choosing a faith should not be for utilitarian reasons – a means to a vocation. The (obedient) faith is a means to Heaven; a vocation is a way to serve IN faith. You must also know that no one is entitled to the priesthood. After a lengthy period of discernment, a man might discern that he is being called, but a bishop can say “no.” If you do indeed swim the Tiber some day, the policy in most dioceses is that you’d have to wait a certain length of time before a discernment to the priesthood can actively begin. The bishop has a right to know that you love being Catholic and are committed to serving our Lord and His Church, no matter what. In fact, not even lay people are “entitled” to certain ministries. We can offer to serve as lectors or extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, for example, but the pastor can say no.
As for exploring Catholicism, of course you may explore Catholicism while continuing to worship as an Episcopalian. No commitment should be required of anyone who wants to inquire about the faith. You may inquire about the faith as long as you want to. In my parish, you would be encouraged to participate in RCIA. But as I stated in a previous post, you may not particiapte in the “Rite of Welcoming” or become a candidate for full communion until you are ready to demonstrate that you do not have each foot in a different pool. You’d need to demonstrate that you’re letting go of all affiliation with your former ecclesial community, and that you’re committing to catechesis and to intense preparation for reception of the sacraments in the Catholic Church. During the catechumenate period you can of course change your mind about being received into the Church (or choose to delay reception if you have some misgivings you need to resolve) – but it is a period of looking forward, not of looking back.
You must realize that catechesis involves more than sitting in a class and then “graduating.” Catechesis isn’t just someone spoon-feeding you with information – it is a process in which you would participate in the “tasks” wholeheartedly.
Catechesis: “helping to know, to celebrate and to contemplate the mystery of Christ” as understood and taught by the Catholic Church, whose founder is Christ.
Fundamental tasks (in which candidates fully participate in – these are not just something “done” by the catechists):
- promote knowledge of the faith
- teach about the liturgy
- teach how to pray
- provide moral formation
- draw people into the community
- mission people to serve
(see section 85 from the General Directory for Catechesis)
vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cclergy/documents/rc_con_ccatheduc_doc_17041998_directory-for-catechesis_en.html
In addition to the catechetical component of your RCIA process, you would have a sponsor to encourage you in your journey, and of course you would jump into the liturgy wholeheartedly (except you forgo receiving the Eucharist).
People like the OP help to motivate me to continue working on my own journey.