How does your parish/RCIA program deal with the problem of cohabitation among candidates/catechumens?

[bilop]

In my reading on this topic, there is nothing in the situation under discussion to prevent anyone from being admitted into the ranks of the catecumens. However, the irregular marriage situation must be resolved to receive the sacraments of initiation. There is no rule that RCIA must be completed in a year.

It’s not an irregular marriage. They’re fornicating.

God Bless

 

[pnewton]

It’s not an irregular marriage. They’re fornicating.

As people do in an irregular marriage. As the Church does not recognize an irregular marriage their situation is canonically the same. As a point of civil law, that varies from state to state. In any case, the point remains that this is something the the OP should address to the diocesan office for a real answer.

 

[pnewton]

I found this article for the OP:

rciablog.com/2010/10/dealing-with-cohabitation-in-the-rcia/

I found this in one parish, but they do not link CCL
stjosephbeeville.org/FFrcia.cfm

Certain circumstances, such as cohabitation (living together without the Sacrament of Marriage) or divorce and re-marriage, need to be discussed early in the RCIA process for those who wish to enter the Catholic Church. In order to be initiated into the Catholic Church, these situations need to be resolved ahead of time, and the process can sometimes be lengthy.

Here is a canon lawyer’s answer

ewtn.com/vexperts/showmessage_print.asp?number=410540&language=en

Still, this situation would need to be resolved at least before the reception of the sacraments at Easter.

 

[PJM]

=clem456;10075976]**12Who can discern his errors? Acquit me of hidden faults. **

13Also keep back Your servant from presumptuous sins;
Let them not rule over me;
Then I will be blameless,
And I shall be acquitted of great transgression.

14Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.

RCIA is not simply a presentation of Church doctrine. It has to be real witness by real people, all of them sinners without exception (hence the quotation of psalm 19 above). RCIA should be a witness to a relationship with the Living God, in the person of Jesus Christ, lived through His Church. RCIA is a process, not -just- a program of doctrine. It should be assumed, because it’s fact, that catechists and candidates alike will grow in holiness. It’s not like you have those that have arrived, and those that are on the outside looking in. We invite those who have not professed the Creed to come on a journey with us. This journey lasts a lifetime.

To simply kick someone out of an RCIA process because they are sinners would be a prime example of hypocrisy and would IMHO, be an evil in itself. .

Friend,

Not just 'Sinners" BUT Very Publically KNOWN sinners. HUGE difference. But that is between you and God who must Juge each of us Justly.

Rom. 2:6 “Who will render to every man according to his works.”

Rev. 22:12 “Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to render to every man according to his works”

Rev. 20:12 “And I saw the dead, great and small, standing in the presence of the throne, and the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged by those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

Mt. 15:16 “So let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

John 3:20-21 “For every one that doth evil hateth the light, and cometh not to the light, that his works may not be reproved. But he that doth truth, cometh to the light, that his works may be made manifest, because they are done in God.

God’s Blessings for you my friend,

pat/PJM

 

[zenith15]

My situation was this:

I entered RCIA as a Christian baptized in a protestant church many years earlier. My marital history was difficult–I had been married three times before I was 21 (long story–only one involved a pregnancy) and was currently married to my fourth husband (a keeper if ever there was one) with whom I had a young son. I also had two young adult children from marriage #2 and marriage #3.

I applies right away for anullments. That was 18 months ago and they are still working their way through the system. However, there is no reason to believe they won’t be granted.

Last lent, during a time when we had extra priests visit to hear confession, I got into a conversation with one of them who happened to be a canon lawyer. I told him that my current husband and I were not able to perform the marriage act due to his health (he is awaiting a liver transplant) and did live for all intents and purposes as brother and sister, though we sleep in the same room. We live in very cramped quarters.

He let me know that due to this, I was able to be received into the Church, as long as we understood that even were he to get his transplant and feel better etc we must still remain celibate until the anullments are done and we can have our marriage validated in the Church. I then discussed this with my pastor, and the RCIA teachers, and it was also discussed with our bishop, all of whom agreed. So, I was received into the Church this past summer.

There are all kinds of different circumstances and we should not assume we know what a person’s circumstances may be.

 

[anp1215]

I found this article for the OP:

rciablog.com/2010/10/dealing-with-cohabitation-in-the-rcia/

I found this in one parish, but they do not link CCL
stjosephbeeville.org/FFrcia.cfm

Here is a canon lawyer’s answer

ewtn.com/vexperts/showmessage_print.asp?number=410540&language=en

With concern to the first article, I found myself more in agreement with the first comment from Donna below. I just don’t think it’s always feasible to require one party to move out of the house, especially if children are involved. But thank you for sharing the articles.