How should we help candidates in bad RCIA programs?

[lak611]

In another thread, a poster who is in RCIA said this:

The problem is that the Church has a hard time telling the difference between Tradition and tradition. I listened to the local heretic in charge of religious instruction in this parish poisoning the flock by telling them that Paul “supposedly” met Jesus - clearly denying the inspiration of the Scripture - and the priest stating that Luke “places” Acts 2 at Pentecost, as if Luke were writing a novel. He also regards the Gospel writers as in conflict with one another. All reverence for Scripture is stripped away under the guise of tradition masquerading as Tradition. The Church cannot be trusted to feed its people. Therefore you must go elsewhere - to the Scriptures, and directly to the Spirit of God.
For me, the Catholic Church has successfully vindicated Presbyterian theology in this area by its performance.

How should we encourage candidates who are in RCIA programs that are clearly heterodox? What can be done to prevent candidates from failing to join the Catholic Church due to the RCIA? It seems that RCIA is driving this person away instead of drawing him closer to the Church.

 

[puzzleannie]

volunteer as a sponsor for RCIA so you can work privately with your candidate and gently assist him in examining and correcting what is taught in class. In the meantime, prepare to lead and catechise in your parish RCIA program, and report abuses to the pastor and bishop.

 

[mercygate]

volunteer as a sponsor for RCIA so you can work privately with your candidate and gently assist him in examining and correcting what is taught in class. In the meantime, prepare to lead and catechise in your parish RCIA program, and report abuses to the pastor and bishop.

Yup. That’s why I teach 6th grade CCD.

Have you advice on answering a candidate who says: "But *FATHER *said . . . " when what Father said is clearly a problem?

 

[Sr_Sally]

If you are in a parish with a poor program, than you are obviously being called to assist! Volunteer to be a sponsor, volunteer to teach, at the very least volunteer to organize a “fair” with representatives from orthodox groups in your parish/diocese.

If you hear a lot of “But FATHER said…” then you should probably start asking Father questions yourself. Not defensively or disrepectfully! Simply ask things like, “How does that (xyz opinion given by the person) fit in with this (abc paragraph from the CCC)? Putting the two together is confusing for me.” That will give Father a chance to explain. Perhaps he has a shade of meaning that the original person didn’t understand.

Priests work in pastoral situations and may not always come down as clearly or as hard as we would in a hypothetical situation since they are dealing with real people and not just ideas.

 

[mercygate]

If you are in a parish with a poor program, than you are obviously being called to assist! Volunteer to be a sponsor, volunteer to teach, at the very least volunteer to organize a “fair” with representatives from orthodox groups in your parish/diocese.

If you hear a lot of “But FATHER said…” then you should probably start asking Father questions yourself. Not defensively or disrepectfully! Simply ask things like, “How does that (xyz opinion given by the person) fit in with this (abc paragraph from the CCC)? Putting the two together is confusing for me.” That will give Father a chance to explain. Perhaps he has a shade of meaning that the original person didn’t understand.

Priests work in pastoral situations and may not always come down as clearly or as hard as we would in a hypothetical situation since they are dealing with real people and not just ideas.

Good counsel.

In my parish, they won’t let me NEAR RCIA because I’m a big fan of the Catechism and management does not want laymen reading the Catechism “because they might use it as a weapon.”

 

[Sr_Sally]

In my parish, they won’t let me NEAR RCIA because I’m a big fan of the Catechism and management does not want laymen reading the Catechism “because they might use it as a weapon.”

Mercygate, I am so sorry to hear that. I will be praying for your parish and priests!

 

[dressager]

I would love to hear from those who have had wonderful experiences with RCIA. Hearing successful stories may help those experiencing difficulties and frustrations.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

In another thread, a poster who is in RCIA said this: How should we encourage candidates who are in RCIA programs that are clearly heterodox? What can be done to prevent candidates from failing to join the Catholic Church due to the RCIA? It seems that RCIA is driving this person away instead of drawing him closer to the Church.

The Sponsor is the key person in correcting errors. This needs to be brought to the pastors attention or the Bishops if necessary.

 

[TantumErgo90]

It is sad the there are RCIA and RCIC programs that teach heresy. Teachers that don’t teach truth in Catechetical programs should not teach until they are properly Catechized. One must remember that sometimes it is the ignorance of the teacher about the faith, not necessarily a liberal heterodox heretic.

 

[JohnnyReb]

Good counsel.

In my parish, they won’t let me NEAR RCIA because I’m a big fan of the Catechism and management does not want laymen reading the Catechism “because they might use it as a weapon.”

Wow, wonder what they would say to someone like me, who read the Catechism for the purposes of seeing how wrong the Catholic church was, and signed up for RCIA today because of it?