Is it alright to say "I'm Catholic" before confirmation?

[castlet]

I know that’s probably an odd question, but I am a convert from Protestantism coming into the Church and have found myself in the situation a couple of times now (Once on paperwork and once in conversation) in which I was asked my religion/faith/beliefs. I’m not sure whether to say “I’m Catholic”, “I’m becoming Catholic”, “I am a former Protestant”, etc. Is it acceptable for me to claim to be Catholic prior to confirmation? To be honest, I feel as though I’m home at last, and would love to proudly proclaim that I am Catholic, but am I…yet? Thanks for your feedback!

 

[1ke]

Yes.

Catechumens and candidates can be counted among the faithful.

 

[Dlee]

I remember asking the same question just over one year ago. The answer I received was that you are not Catholic until confirmation. I would say I was converting to Catholicism. Welcome home!

 

[PaulfromIowa]

Catechumens and candidates can call themselves Catholic. In your case, say: I was Protestant, but I have stopped Protesting.

 

[Wakire]

My 11 year old says she’s Catholic and she hasn’t been confirmed yet…

 

[Zaccheus]

As I understand it if you have been baptized into the Catholic Church you are a Catholic even if you have not yet received the Sacrament of Confirmation.

 

[OldCAFMember]

I remember asking the same question just over one year ago. The answer I received was that you are not Catholic until confirmation. I would say I was converting to Catholicism. Welcome home!

If one is being asked a question by a parish staff member, or completing a form, then I can see giving the technically correct response. However, most conversations where one is asked one’s religious affiliation are social, rather than technical. It would seem reasonable to simply answer Catholic in such situations.

 

[1ke]

The answer I received was that you are not Catholic until confirmation.

This is not accurate. You are not Catholic for the purposes of being bound by canon law until you are received into the Church by a profession of faith (regardless of whether you are also confirmed at that time or later). A baptized non-Catholic is received into the Church via profession of faith, not Confirmation. I’m sure this person got confused because they are typically done at the same time, although they need not be.

Catechumens and candidates are counted among the faithful in several areas of church law, particularly as it would pertain to a Catholic funeral should they die before they are baptized or received into the Church.

 

[castlet]

And to think I spent all those years protesting the fullness of the faith! If Protestants REALLY understood the historical aspects of their individual denominations, more and bigger Catholic Churches would become necessary at once.

 

[castlet]

Oh that’s a bit tricky. I have been baptized in a (Protestant) baptism that is recognized by the Catholic Church, so I won’t be re-baptized, but have received no Sacraments as of yet.

 

[1ke]

Oh that’s a bit tricky. I have been baptized in a (Protestant) baptism that is recognized by the Catholic Church, so I won’t be re-baptized, but have received no Sacraments as of yet.

Zaccheus was speaking of those baptized into the Church either as babies or converts.

Those baptized into non-Catholic Christian ecclesial communities or particular Churches are received into the Catholic Church by making a profession of faith. They then also receive any sacraments of initiation that are lacking (confirmation and eucharist), either at the same time as the profession of faith or sometime after.

Under the law, one is Catholic when one is baptized or received into the Church. But, as I mentioned, the Church’s law also references that catechumens (unbaptized) and candidates (baptized) seeking to enter the Church are counted among the faithful for various purposes.

Be at peace. Refer to yourself as a Catholic if you would like. Or refer to yourself as a Candidate if you like.

 

[castlet]

Thank you, I appreciate your reply as this seems a more confusing topic than it probably should be; If catechumens and candidates are considered Catholic at death, even if they die prior to receiving Sacraments, then it seems reasonable to me that the profession of Catholicism exists in the heart, as a personal choice and commitment to The Church, rather than as a particular rite of passage at any given point.

 

[1ke]

If catechumens and candidates are considered Catholic at death, even if they die prior to receiving Sacraments, then it seems reasonable to me that the profession of Catholicism exists in the heart, as a personal choice and commitment to The Church, rather than as a particular rite of passage at any given point.

It’s both.

Ecclesial law binds those who have been baptized into the Church or received into it by a profession of faith.

Why is that important? Because ecclesial law deals with the obligations we have as Catholics, they regulate the Sacraments, the form of marriage, and much, much more. Those not yet received into the Church are not bound by ecclesial-only laws. We are of course all bound by divine law.

When you are talking about the law of the Church, there is a demarcation regarding when you are bound by it and when you aren’t.

Otherwise, one who is baptized is already incorporated into the Body of Christ in various ways. The unbaptized catechumens are also connected to the Church in various ways.

 

[Pup7]

A baptized non-Catholic is received into the Church via profession of faith, not Confirmation.

Actually converts who were baptized are also confirmed. The profession of faith is sort of “in lieu” of baptism, but we are most definitely confirmed.

If you have Scrutiny of the Elect, you’re included in that as well.

 

[1ke]

Actually converts who were baptized are also confirmed.

I didn’t say otherwise. What I said was, that one becomes Catholic when one is received into the Church via profession of faith.

If a person has not received the other sacraments of initiation-- Confirmation and Eucharist-- they do so after the profession of faith. That might be at the same mass, or it might come later.

If a person has already received all of the sacraments of initiation (for example an Orthodox Christian) then they are received into the Church via a profession of faith. Nothing else required.

A person is canonically Catholic after they are either baptized into the Catholic Church or if already baptized in a non-Catholic ecclesial community or particular Church, they make their profession of faith and are received into the Church.

Confirmation follows if needed, but is not the point at which one “becomes Catholic”. A person can be validly confirmed and yet not be a Catholic.

The profession of faith is sort of “in lieu” of baptism,

The profession of faith is not “in lieu” of baptism. A Candidate is already baptized. The profession of faith is a person’s declaration that they want to be received into the Catholic Church and that they accept all that the Church teaches.

If you have Scrutiny of the Elect, you’re included in that as well.

The Elect do not make a profession of faith to be received into the Church. The Elect are baptized, and they do indeed answer the questions and make baptismal promises. They are not the same thing, though.

 

[Pup7]

The profession of faith is not “in lieu” of baptism. A Candidate is already baptized. The profession of faith is a person’s declaration that they want to be received into the Catholic Church and that they accept all that the Church teaches.

I know that. I was one. I know how it was explained to me by the priest. I just did the whole process. I had the phrase in quotes for a reason, and I’ll own that it likely wasn’t the best explanation on my part.

The Elect do not make a profession of faith to be received into the Church. The Elect are baptized, and they do indeed answer the questions and make baptismal promises. They are not the same thing, though

The Elect aren’t necessarily baptized, unless you care to argue that with the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Seattle. The Scrutiny of the Elect occurs in the lead up to the Easter Vigil, three times, and includes all the Catechumens and the Candidates. You are “elect” until you are confirmed.

 

[margaret42]

The thought of being a protestant interests me in the first place. Why would someone who broke away from the Catholic Church-and it can’t really be said for those who were raised Protestant since birth- want to argue with the teachings Christ founded?

 

[Pup7]

The thought of being a protestant interests me in the first place. Why would someone who broke away from the Catholic Church-and it can’t really be said for those who were raised Protestant since birth- want to argue with the teachings Christ founded?

As a convert I wonder this now from this side of the Tiber.

 

[1ke]

The Elect aren’t necessarily baptized

The Elect aren’t baptized.

Those who are baptized are Candidates. They are not Catechumens and not Elect. Elect refers to the catechumens after the Rite of Election.

The Scrutiny of the Elect occurs in the lead up to the Easter Vigil

I am aware of that. I am the RCIA director for my parish.

and includes all the Catechumens and the Candidates

No. The Scrutinies of the Third, Fourth, and Fifth Sundays of Lent are not performed on the baptized. The scrutinies are minor exorcisms and they are proper to the Elect only. They are NOT for Candidates who have been baptized.

There is a Penitential Rite for Candidates that is proper to the Second Sunday of Lent. It is also sometimes called a “scrutiny” but it is not the same thing as the Scrutinies of the Elect. It is a completely different rite.

You are “elect” until you are confirmed.

You are part of the Elect if you are unbaptized.

You are not Elect if you are baptized. You are a Candidate.

 

[1ke]

The Elect aren’t necessarily baptized, unless you care to argue that with the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Seattle.

I think you misread my post. I was stating that the Elect don’t make a profession of faith to be received into the Church because they receive baptism and THAT is what receives them into the Church.

The Candidates make a profession of faith because they are already baptized. The profession of faith is what receives those already baptized into the Church.