Grave sin to drop out of RCIA?

[DoxieMama]

I’ve heard it is a grave sin to drop out of the Catholic Church, but is it a grave sin to drop out of RCIA? Just curious.

 

[triumphguy]

No. You should only complete the RCIA program if you believe you are called to be Catholic.

Our faith journeys are life long, and cannot always be shoe-horned into a 6 month program.

 

[accesscatholic]

I’ve heard it is a grave sin to drop out of the Catholic Church, but is it a grave sin to drop out of RCIA? Just curious.

No. It is a period of trying to discern thus leaving is not a grave sin. I pray you will come home to the Church and the Eucharist in the future.

 

[austenbosten]

I’ve heard it is a grave sin to drop out of the Catholic Church, but is it a grave sin to drop out of RCIA? Just curious.

That is hogwash!

Joining the Catholic Faith is a choice of Free Will, if it were a grave sin, then it wouldn’t be a free choice now would it?

My RCIA Director stressed the first few classes: “If you don’t feel ready to join, please do not move forward. You should want to come into the Faith with all of your heart. There is no right way to join the Faith through RCIA. Some do 1 course and become confirmed, others may need to take 2 RCIA courses before becoming confirmed; and others it may take them years…you should operate at the pace you feel comfortable and let the Holy Spirit guide you.”

Whoever told you it was a grave sin, I should would like to meet this fella to give him/her a smack upside their head.

 

[Scottgun]

Whoever told you it was a grave sin, I should would like to meet this fella to give him/her a smack upside their head.

Indeed. In fact, let me ask you Doxie, where did you hear this? If you were just blue-sky wondering on your own, no big deal. If you heard it from someone, you don’t have to reveal who it was specifically, but I would like to know in case there are new porkie pies being passed around by anti-Catholics.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

RCIA is a time of discernment. I always tell people that they are committing to prayer and study and that’s all. Of course I hope and pray that they will want to enter the Church, but ultimately that’s not my decision to make.

Sometimes people start and stop RCIA a few times before they decide it’s the right thing to do. Everything happens in God’s time.

 

[x1980x]

Is a person supposed to be confident in the truth of Catholicism and their intent to join before joining RCIA? Isn’t there room for people who would like to explore the CC with an open mind but aren’t at the present time convinced in its truth? Is RCIA the wong program for them?

 

[Nigel7]

My RCIA Director stressed the first few classes: "If you don’t feel ready to join, please do not move forward.

I think that’s very bad advice. Such advice implies that one should be absolutely certain of joining the Church even before going through RCIA. RCIA is a time of discernment. Those 8 months or so when people are afforded the opportunity to inquire about the Catholic faith and learn and decide if it is truly right for them.
Telling people to leave before even being afforded this valuable opportunity commits a true disservice to the potential candidates and the Church. Sounds like a real cop-out and shirking of responsibility by the Director of that RCIA program, whose job it is to inform and educate people adequately so that they are given all the information and resources needed in order to finally make that decision about whether or not to finally be confirmed in the Church.

 

[triumphguy]

At this time of year in RCIA you can choose to become a catechumen or candidate (to become a member of the church), or to go into “Inquiry” (for people wanting more information etc).

The Catechumens go through the Rite of Election on the First Sunday of Advent.

So not going on in the RCIA does not mean that the parish is abandoning those who are seriously inquiring about the faith. They have their own program to attend.

 

[frizzgrig]

I think there might be some confusion caused in part by how many parishes implement RCIA.

The RCIA is a name used to for the entire process of an adult becoming Catholic by most of us in common usage. The process is really composed of several parts:

The pre-Catechumenate: the time where a person learns more about the Church and the faith. No particular time table, could last weeks, months, years

The Catechumenate: (Usually what most people think of when they think of RCIA) the time AFTER a person has made a decision to move forward and has decided to join the Church. The beginning of this period is marked by the Rite of Acceptance into the Order of the Catechumenate. This is the part most shoehorn into a 8 or 9 month program, but in reality it should last as long as necessary for the person to be ready spiritually for celebrating the rites of initiation. It ends with the Rite of Election (usually takes place during the first Sunday of Lent) when the parish priest, RCIA team, and catechumen decide they are ready. After the rite of election the catechumens are called the elect.

The Period of Purification and Enlightenment: the elect continue their journey and receive the creed and Lord’s prayer. They examine their lives through the Scrutinies. This period ends with the sacraments of initiation.

After the sacraments of initiation, the new Catholics are neophytes and enter a period called mystagogy where they continue to learn about their new faith and being Catholic.
Mystagogy lasts a varying period of time, typically 6 months to a year in practice.

If someone is interested in learning about the Church, the pre-catechumenate is the proper place. A person should not enter the catechumenate without having at least the intention of continuing the process to its intended conclusion, but there is no problem with a person leaving the catechumenate, or even stopping after the rite of election if they don’t feel ready to complete the sacraments of initiation and live a Catholic life. It would be a grave error to continue with the process if the person was not ready.

To answer the question directly: no, it is not a grave sin to “drop out” of RCIA and you could even argue it would be a grave sin to continue the program (especially to the sacraments) if you were not ready.

A person’s decision to suspend their participation in an RCIA program should be acknowledged with a bit of sadness that the person is not yet ready to join the Church, and hope they will continue the journey and eventually join in the future.

 

[triumphguy]

At this time of year in RCIA you can choose to become a catechumen or candidate (to become a member of the church), or to go into “Inquiry” (for people wanting more information etc).

The Catechumens go through the Rite of Election on the First Sunday of Advent.

So not going on in the RCIA does not mean that the parish is abandoning those who are seriously inquiring about the faith. They have their own program to attend.

That should have been Rite of Acceptance.

 

[silicasandra]

I “dropped out” my first time through RCIA. I went through the Rite of Acceptance but stopped shortly thereafter. I had too many questions and didn’t feel ready to make a commitment yet. I wanted to be sure.

Two years later I was sure.

 

[Patrick1540]

I’ve heard it is a grave sin to drop out of the Catholic Church, but is it a grave sin to drop out of RCIA? Just curious.

Grave sin ,comes only if you are in the fullness of the Catholic Faith, and have full knowledge, of the Churches teaching. No one drops out of the Catholic Faith, once the have received the Sacraments.Like I was told by a protestant minister, once a Catholic,always a Catholic. Sin comes in, when we have full knowledge, of the Catholic Faith, and we rebel against her,like not going to Mass, separate ourselves from the Bride of Christ, we no longer get Sacramental graces.This has nothing to do with RCIA. This is only the case, for some one who comes in the full teachings of the Catholic Church,then rejects her.They are still Catholic, just not participating in Sacramental life, therefore absolution for sins, is not present in their life.I hope this clears it up for you.
God Bless

 

[austenbosten]

I think that’s very bad advice. Such advice implies that one should be absolutely certain of joining the Church even before going through RCIA. RCIA is a time of discernment. Those 8 months or so when people are afforded the opportunity to inquire about the Catholic faith and learn and decide if it is truly right for them.
Telling people to leave before even being afforded this valuable opportunity commits a true disservice to the potential candidates and the Church. Sounds like a real cop-out and shirking of responsibility by the Director of that RCIA program, whose job it is to inform and educate people adequately so that they are given all the information and resources needed in order to finally make that decision about whether or not to finally be confirmed in the Church.
http://forums.catholic-questions.org/images/icons/icon13.gif

What he was implying, was that one should not feel forced to join the Church and that if one is not ready, they don’t need to feel that they have failed. Everyone comes to the Faith on their own time, some join after one RCIA class…others need to drop out because they aren’t ready. He didn’t say “if you aren’t absolutely certain right now, drop.” what he said was if you don’t feel ready then don’t feel pressured to continue. He told no one to leave throughout the entire RCIA course, he simply said that it’s a time of discernment and one should not feel they are “bad” because they don’t feel ready or it’s not for them. I do not think he is wrong in assuring that just because you start RCIA and don’t finish, doesn’t mean you aren’t serious…it just means you need more time.

 

[DoxieMama]

Thanks everyone! I did not hear from anyone that dropping out of RCIA is a grave sin, I was just wondering of my own accord. I was just wondering if being in RCIA made me have vincible ignorance, and then that would mean dropping out would be a grave sin?

 

[austenbosten]

Thanks everyone! I did not hear from anyone that dropping out of RCIA is a grave sin, I was just wondering of my own accord. I was just wondering if being in RCIA made me have vincible ignorance, and then that would mean dropping out would be a grave sin?

Becoming Catholic is a very serious decision. Once you become Catholic…you will always be a Catholic. Don’t take it flippantly. Don’t feel bad if you drop out, but still want to hang around…some take years. Just pray to the Holy Spirit and have God guide you.

 

[triumphguy]

Thanks everyone! I did not hear from anyone that dropping out of RCIA is a grave sin, I was just wondering of my own accord. I was just wondering if being in RCIA made me have vincible ignorance, and then that would mean dropping out would be a grave sin?

Vincible ignorance would imply that you believe you should be Catholic but choose not to since you would rather be doing other things.

 

[DoxieMama]

Here’s where I got the idea that it’s a grave sin to drop out of RCIA.

The Catechism 846 says “outside the church there is no salvation”

It says those who refuse to enter it or remain in it will not attain salvation, upon knowing it’s founded by God through Christ.

 

[Burdensome1]

Here’s where I got the idea that it’s a grave sin to drop out of RCIA.

The Catechism 846 says “outside the church there is no salvation”

It says those who refuse to enter it or remain in it will not attain salvation, upon knowing it’s founded by God through Christ.

This is exactly the reason we all hope you feel ready to join the Church before you die.

However, it’s never, ever good to lie, and that’s what you would be doing if you joined but secretly had serious doubts or reservations.

So, always be honest, especially with yourself, and try to work through any difficulties, actively and industriously.

Good luck.