Does someone have to go to RCIA to become Catholic?

[GoLatin]

In your reply to Can someone be baptized without going to RCIA? you encouraged that person to get instruction.

I am wondering if it is commonly allowed for the person to receive private instruction from a priest, and not go through the various pre-baptismal rituals associated with RCIA.

I did this and I assume that others could too.

 

[Michelle_Arnold]

GoLatin:

I am wondering if it is commonly allowed for the person to receive private instruction from a priest, and not go through the various pre-baptismal rituals associated with RCIA.

I did this and I assume that others could too.

The point of my response is that the person who wishes to become a Catholic must be willing to accept the preparation necessary for reception of the sacraments. If a person is able to find a priest willing to give private instruction, that’s fine. But – due to priest shortages, overworked priests, and other pastoral concerns – it is more likely that the person is going to be advised to enter the RCIA program. If that is the case, then a prospective candidate for baptism should accept that gracefully and supplement his RCIA education through personal reading and perhaps private tutoring from a trusted orthodox Catholic layperson.

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