How do I know if I am Catholic?

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Kinzie1125

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I was baptized Catholic as a child. My mom had me baptized Mormon when I was 8; at 13 I started attending a Catholic church again at times with my family mainly on holidays… I still do some times. Since I was 15 or 16 I have been off and on attending some Protestant church by my own doing.

Am I Catholic?
 
You can only be baptized once…it leaves an indelible mark on you despite the ritual you received from the Mormon church.

The first thing I would do, is go talk to a priest and if you have received any sacraments other than baptism, like reconciliation…go make a heartfelt confession. If you have not received any further sacraments, consider exploring the Rite of Christian Initiation for adults, which involves classes beginning pretty soon leading up to the Easter Vigil mass where you will be fully initiated into the Catholic church by receiving your missing sacraments including Confirmation.

Baptism is not a magic bullet…once you are baptized, you are going straight to heaven like some Protestant faiths profess as long as you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. So consider getting more catechesis…start listening to Catholic Radio online if you can…relevantradio.com or avemariaradio.com are two great places to start. God bless you!
 
I believe that since you were baptized into the Church, that makes you Catholic. Hopefully someone else can come along to either affirm or correct me though since I am not 100%.
 
I was baptized Catholic as a child. My mom had me baptized Mormon when I was 8; at 13 I started attending a Catholic church again at times with my family mainly on holidays… I still do some times. Since I was 15 or 16 I have been off and on attending some Protestant church by my own doing.

Am I Catholic?
In as much as you have been baptized you are a part of the Catholic Church. But it all depends on whether you accept the teachings of the Catholic Church. There are many people who were raised in the Catholic Church and then fell away and ended up going to protestant churches. They wouldn’t be called Catholics really. The Church would consider them one of their own; kind of like the prodigal son who left his father. They hope these protestants will return.

It seems to me that you are asking where you should be. I would say that if you feel that the Catholic Church is where you should be then you should probably talk to a priest about this and about recieving the other sacraments. You will always be welcome in the Catholic Church.
 
Since you had baptism as a Catholic, (one baptism for the forgiveness of sins), regardless of further baptisms, attendances, doubts, journeys, etc. etc., yes, you are a Catholic. In fact, if you had been baptised in any other tinitarian Christian faith, at any time, you would be Catholic, even you had not been baptised specifically as a Catholic, since it is the one universal Christian church of Christ, (one Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church). Then it’s just a matter of your degree of communion with the Church, which we hope will evolve along the lines of you seeking to enjoy the rest of your sacraments some day.

Until that day,

Peace,

Steven
 
Go through the RCIA program. I believe they sometimes have a ceremony (not a rebaptism) that will formally make you a member of the church and ease any of your doubts. You won’t need to be baptised again if you were baptised as a baby and have your baptism certificate to prove it.
 
You are CAtholic by virtue of your baptism, which is permanent and cannot be repeated. any rebaptism in any other sect is meaningless and has no effect. The good feelings, love for Jesus, fellowship with other Christians and other graces that seem to come from the re-baptism actually are part of the original baptismal graces, and the movements you have experienced leading you closer to Christ are in fact movements of the Holy Spirit whom you received for the first time in baptism.

What remains is now to learn about your faith before your reject it completely. If you are still in school you can do this through joining the religious education or youth group or lifeteen at your neighboring parish, or Catholic campus ministry at your college, preferably where some of your friends are already going, but don’t worry, you will make friends.

If you are already out of school, simply start attending Mass at the parish near you that you like best–and it is fine to check them out by going to several. When you feel ready to learn more and esp. to ask questions, ask about RCIA. These programs usually start this time of year so it is a great time to get in and start asking questions, like the one that has brought you here.

There is no obligation to go further, but if you do, you will be prepared for first communion, profession of faith and Confirmation, again at a pace and timing that works for you and you will decide with the advice of your RCIA team and pastor when you are ready. You will also, at some point before confirmation, prepare for and make a general confession of all sins of your past life, which returns your soul to the pristine sinless state you enjoyed at baptism, which is a terrific blessing.
 
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