Help! RCIA is killing me!

[Trelow]

JDHallKY:

I am a lifelong Baptist who is just beginning the inquiry phase of RCIA. For the past couple of years I have read numerous books, watched a lot of EWTN, spent a lot of time on this site, etc. Throughout that time, I have gone from being skeptical or hostile to uniquely Catholic beliefs, to being more open to them, to embracing them as my own. I have been very excited about beginning RCIA and finally coming home to the Catholic Church!

Until last night. Last night I attended my second RCIA meeting and I was told several things which greatly troubled me: “The Catechism is out of date.” “The Church no longer talks about indulgences.” Statements were also made about the Bible that I felt were way too far down the “figurative language” route.

This does not seem to be the Catholic Church of EWTN, Catholic Answers, or (it seems to me) John Paul II. It is going to be difficult persevering in an RCIA program that I feel is trying to make me LESS Catholic than I already am. To make things worth, I live in a small town and this is the only Catholic parish!

Can someone please give me some advice? Encouragement? Anything?

Heh, if you thought Catholics were crazy before, wait untill you are Catholic, or claim to be at least, you will meet some doozies.

 

[CatherineSienna]

JDHallKY:

I am a lifelong Baptist who is just beginning the inquiry phase of RCIA. For the past couple of years I have read numerous books, watched a lot of EWTN, spent a lot of time on this site, etc. Throughout that time, I have gone from being skeptical or hostile to uniquely Catholic beliefs, to being more open to them, to embracing them as my own. I have been very excited about beginning RCIA and finally coming home to the Catholic Church!

Until last night. Last night I attended my second RCIA meeting and I was told several things which greatly troubled me: “The Catechism is out of date.” “The Church no longer talks about indulgences.” Statements were also made about the Bible that I felt were way too far down the “figurative language” route.

This does not seem to be the Catholic Church of EWTN, Catholic Answers, or (it seems to me) John Paul II. It is going to be difficult persevering in an RCIA program that I feel is trying to make me LESS Catholic than I already am. To make things worth, I live in a small town and this is the only Catholic parish!

Can someone please give me some advice? Encouragement? Anything?

Hang in there! If God is calling you (and I’m sure he is), ask Him to lead you to a better RCIA program. If He insists on your staying there – READ, teach yourself, and offer up your suffering to Christ! I went through the same thing. The strange thing is that conservative Christians are entering the Church and eventually will renew it. But these RCIA programs are like a fiery trial! Lord have mercy!